It wasn't really that much of a surprise that Odin was already in Odin sleep when Volstag had carried the old king to the healers room.

Thus, Loki and Thor could visit their father… But he was a sleep. His face looking ash gray and.. Old.

So very very old.

With a pang Thor remembered, Odin had already put Odin sleep off! Just like the last time, he had also fallen into Odin sleep then!

That's also why Thors coronation had been pushed, Odin was unsure he would even wake again if he fell into Odin sleep.

He had woken the last time, but… That time the knife which had hit him wasn't poisonous…. There was just no telling if he would wake or not.

Loki was in a state of pure confusion and a whirlwind of emotions… It was hard to blame him, there was so much between him and Odin right now, all those secrets… All the hurt. Loki had naturally wished for revenge.

And yet, Odin was still Lokis father…. And now he was just laying there, looking so very frail. So vulnerable.

Thor wasn't really sure what to think either…. Neither had he managed to figure things out with Odin in the other timeline.

After the whole dark elf incident, Thor had left… He had needed time to figure himself out. So he had spend time on earth. Aided the avengers, tried to find out who he was.

And then the realms had started to act up and Thor had been busy traveling the realms. When he finally returned to Asgard well… Loki had been there in Odins place, and when they finally tracked Odin down…. Time had run out.

Thor though was glad, that in his final moments Odin had seemed kind, and very genuine as he said he loved them.

If for nothing else, that had convinced Thor that for all his faults and mistakes… Odins feelings for them were indeed real.

That at least, Thor was assured of.

Soon Thor and Loki were allowed to leave the healers room, to no ones surprise Loki had locked himself away not wanting to see anyone.

Thor did go to visit him regularly, at least ones a day, and often found Loki with his nose deep down into a book claiming he was doing just fine and didn't need any pity.

When Thor wasn't with Loki, he was back on the training ground, practicing swing with his left arm.

It hurt, a lot. When-ever he swung with his left arm, a pang of pain would go through the right one even though he wasn't using it, and then cement through his entire body, traveling down his spine if the impact was extra harsh.

His aim was abysmal to say the least, and the weight behind his swings pretty laughable for his own standards.

Thors friends would come, and then hesitate… Not knowing what to do.

Thor just laughed, asking them to join him, to spar with him.

No one wanted to…

Finally Sif stepped forward and obviously took it easy on Thor, Thor could tell, she was way stronger than this and Thor sighed.

"Come now Sif, I am not an invalid." Thor informed.

"But..." Sif bit her lip.

"Or are you scared?" Thor teased. "Scared to be taken down by the one armed Prince?!"

"What?! No." Sif exclaimed.

"Then what's stopping you?" Thor asked, grinning slightly. "My little delicate maiden of the flowers."

Sif blinked, then finally she seemed to get the message and get into position. "All right, you asked for it." she stated and soon Thor was down on the ground and in severe pain. "Oh no I am so sorry!" Sif gasped.

Thor though was laughing as he got up on his knees. "No Lady Sif! This, this is prof that we are all alive! HAHAHAHA!" he grinned. "Again my lady."

Sif blinked astounded, then she smiled lightly. "No, I think you had enough now." She stated. "Tomorrow."

"Fine, but then swear you wont start holding back again." Thor asked. "I am aiming to regain my strength! It just wont do for you to go easy on me."

Sif halted, the others to looked slightly stunned, then she smiled softly. "As you wish, my prince." she bowed for him.

And so it were, Thor sparring with at least one of his friends every day, and every day he would be send to the ground.

The others seemed to finally get the message, that this was what Thor wanted, and even as he was cast back, shouting in pain, bend to his knees. He still laughed every time. Remarking it took them a bit longer than yesterday to get him to his knees.

Now he could hold his own for three entire minutes and not just two seconds!

Thor was just about to ready himself to face Hogun just as a figure stepped in, all turned and were shocked.

It was Loki! Blue skinned and visible, out of his room.

Thor blinked then he beamed. "LOKI!" he grinned.

"You." Loki seethed then pointed a finger at Thor. "I am not going to loose to you!" he stated.

Thor blinked. "What?" he asked.

"You think I haven't figured you out?!" Loki asked. "You now lack the use of an arm, and yet you are out here! Taking every humiliation without stepping back. And I am looking a coward hiding myself in my room."

"Huh?" Thor blinked confused.

"Well I am not going to loose!" Loki stated. "So you are going to rise up in spite of your arm! In spite of what people are witnessing. Well fine! I wont be held back either! People can look, people can laugh! I wont just sit back while you rise to a challenge! Not ever! You are not going to be better than me!"

Thor was still as confused, he had little idea what Loki was talking about.

The rest looked pretty confused to. "Wait." Sif squinted her eyes. "Are you saying… Because Thor is not hiding in his room. You wont do either because it'll make you look bad in comparison to him?" she asked.

"Any issue with that?" Loki asked in a snort.

"Erh… No." Sif blinked. "That's… a positive thing. Right?" she asked, the others shrugged. They were all pretty confused.

Thor shook his head. "Well then Loki, I challenge you." he stated stepping forward. "I have only one arm, but I will do what I can so I can rise to what-ever challenges that faces me. What are you going to do Loki?" he asked.

"I'll handle any challenges better than you ever could!" Loki stated stepping forward. "I wont just hide away."

Thor smirked quite amused. "Really? Are you sure. I thought you didn't want anyone to see you."

"Let them all have a good look!" Loki exclaimed. "I don't care! I wont be left behind by you!"

Thor chuckled. "All right, all right." he stated. "Up for some sparring?" he asked.

"Well now you're asking so nicely." Loki smirked his red eyes glistening. "Oh I've been waiting for this my entire life." he sighed and… One minute after Thor was on the ground.

"urgh." Thor groaned then turned to Loki with a smirk on his lip. "So, you beat me in a fight. How did it feel?"

"Like it doesn't count..." Loki pouted. "It doesn't count!" he exclaimed. "How stupid are you! You are not back at full strength! Any wins right now doesn't matter! I can't work with this, you need to work harder and get back to full strength!"

Thor laughed loudly as he sat up. "Okay then, if that is what you demand."

Loki quieted as he looked at Thor. "You really aren't faking it..." he breathed he looked at Thors useless arm. "You're flinching to… It hurts you. It hurts a lot, doesn't it?"

"It's just my new reality, I just need to deal with it." Thor stated. Though he was gritting his teethe holding the broken arm with his good one.

Lokis eyes widened, then he bit together. "Fine, if that is how we are playing. I wont act like my change is anything special either." he turned his head away.

Thor shook his head. "What-ever works for you Loki." he smirked. "Join us for dinner." he asked.

Loki bit his lip. "I… I'm not."

"I thought you said you weren't going to treat this as a big deal." Thor commented. "Or… Are you scared?" he asked.

"No." Lokis cheeks were now a darker shade of blue.

"What? Can't tolerate a few people looking at you?" Thor asked.

"You call all of Asgard a few?!" Loki exclaimed. "Because most have never seen a Jotnar before and those who have, only in battle! I am like a damn display piece! It..." he halted.

Thor sighed. "I know." he stated. "But we have to move forward, that's why I am here every day. You didn't want to be left behind right? So… No choice but to move forward."

"Seriously! How can you be so okay with this?!" Loki asked. "Everything is different! I mean." he was lost for words.

"Well, Loki... I prefer this reality." Thor informed. "You know the place I came from, I am happy about the trade."

Loki swallowed then he sighed, groaning. "Norns!" he cursed making Thor chuckle. "Dinner then?" Loki finally asked.

Thor nodded. "Aye." he smiled quite happy, and of course, Loki not wanting to show he was weak, truly did show up for dinner in the actual eating hall that night.

And then came again next morning, people were indeed looking just like Loki had said, but now Loki had found a new form of stubbornness.

If Thor could take being beaten down on full display every day, surely Loki could eat his stupid meals!