Loki was laying on his bed, repeating the action of throwing a tiny ball up in the air and then catching it again, when his brother Thor knocked on his bedroom door before opening it.

Loki turned his head lazily.

"What?" He asked.

"Father told to invite you to dinner." Thor answered.

"How thrilling," Loki commented dryly, before turning his head and continuing to throw the ball.

Thor watched him.

"He says you went to Muspelheim." Thor said.

"Among other realms," Loki mumbled.

"How did you do it?" Thor asked, now getting in. "How did you get past Heimdall?"

"You have your looks… I have my skills." Loki said.

Thor was quiet for a moment.

"Father also says you met a Princess."

Loki stopped throwing the ball, closing his fingers around it now.

"I didn't know there was one in Muspelheim." Thor said.

"Neither did I." Loki mumbled.

"What was she like?" Thor asked.

Then he smirked a little.

"Pretty?" He asked.

Loki sighed, shaking his head.

"No." He mumbled. "Not just pretty. Exquisite. Like out of a dream. The Asgard girls got nothing compared to her."

"Wow." Thor said, looking impressed as he blinked.

"You know, I've always been curious about the Midgardian ones." He then added, smirking a little as he raised his brows. "I've heard they're gorgeous, too."

Loki turned to look at him, and then raised his brows a little.

"But Loki and a princess…" Thor then smirked wider. "Who would've thought? And not just any princess! The princess of Muspelheim! She must be a fiery one."

He winked at Loki.

Then Loki sighed, and shrugged as he got up.

"Well, I am never going to see her again." He said. "So… That was that."
Thor frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Father said I am not allowed to use the Bifrost again." Loki said. "Not before I'm… Wiser. And older. And who knows when he decides that is."

"So you'll see her then," Thor shrugged.

"No, Thor," Loki mumbled. "Once… Once I get access to the bridge again, she's long forgotten me. She's found herself a prince. And probably rules Muspelheim by then."

"Well haven't you got a positive attitude towards this," Thor snorted, smiling a little.

"Shut up." Loki just growled, and walked past Thor to the hallways. "Or I'll turn into a snake again and bite you in the arse."

The smile on Thor's lips faded away, as he frowned a little annoyedly.

"Hey! That was never funny!" He said, before rushing after Loki.

—

Agni sat by the dinner table, pursing her lips together.

Hephaestus glanced at her.

"Agni, you haven't touched your food." He said.

"I'm not hungry." Agni answered.

Hephaestus stared at her with a small frown, before he raised his hand up a little, and the waitress that had just poured him water turned around and walked out of the hall.

"You have to eat." Hephaestus said. "It's delicious."

"I said I'm not hungry." Agni said, turning to look at her father.

Hephaestus didn't say anything for a moment.

"Is this about the boy?" He asked.

"Don't be ridiculous." Agni narrowed her eyes a little. "Can I go? I have to finish my book."

Hephaestus looked at her.

"Which book?"

"History of Muspelheim." Agni answered fast. Her father eyed her a little suspiciously for a moment, before nodding.

"Alright." He said. "Go."

"Thank you." Agni said, and got up.

She walked out of the dining hall, and glanced behind herself to be sure no one was following her, before she sneaked her way to the library. She walked to the back of the room, and stopped as she placed her hand on the wall.

Then she looked around once more, and turned back to the wall.

"Anoígo," She said, and the wall in front of her opened, revealing the forbidden books- section.

Agni made her way in, and the wall behind her closed, as she made her way to one of the shelves, and grabbed the book;

History of Asgard.

—

Later that day Agni was in her bedroom, twirling a finger around in the air bored, causing small sparkles of fire to shoot out of it, when one of the maids; Celtera, the oldest one - walked in.

"Oh-" Celtera spoke, starting to back out. "Miss Agni - I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bother your highness."

"It's okay," Agni said, and Celtera smiled carefully, before she made her way back in, and begun to fold Agni's bedding.

"Celtera…" Agni started, and Celtera turned to her immediately.

"Yes, Princess?" She asked.

"Have you ever heard of the realm called Asgard?" Agni asked.

Celtera raised her brows a little.

"Asgard?" She asked.

"Yes," Agni said. "It's one of the nine realms."
"Of course," Celtera said, smiling a little. "Miss Agni… Haven't you?"

Agni frowned a little confusedly.

"No," She said. "I have never. Why?"

"Well, I would've thought," Celtera said, now a little confused too. "Princess, your mother - She was an Asgardian. Right?"

Agni's eyes widened as her lips parted.

"What?" She asked.

Celtera frowned.

"You… didn't know?"

"No," Agni said, shaking her head. "I... No."

Celtera's lips parted.

"Oh, my-" She blurted out. "I am so, so sorry. Me and my big mouth. Please, Princess - forgive me."

She dropped down to her knees and put her hands on the floor.

Agni looked at her.

"Celtera- What are you doing?" She asked.

"Aren't you angry?" Celtera asked. "I went beyond my lines. I never should've…"

"It's… okay," Agni said. "Please. Get up."

Celtera glanced at Agni, who nodded at her reassuringly. Then Celtera got up.

"Thank you," She said. "You're… You're so kind."

Agni smiled a little.

"Like your mother." Celtera added.

"Are you sure that she was an Asgardian?" Agni then frowned. "As you know, I... I never knew my mother. And my father, he… He never told me. Anything."

Celtera looked at her.

"The death of your mother was very hard for the King." Celtera said, quietly. "I've worked in this palace for more than three thousand years, Princess. I remember his pain. Your father wouldn't let anyone see him for months."

"I know," Agni said. "Which is exactly why I'm asking you, Celtera. I know you know things."

Celtera twisted her mouth.

"These are not the things I should talk to you about, miss Agni…" She said. "I shouldn't be talking to you at all, for the matter of it."

"Please, Celtera," Agni said, grabbing her arms. Celtera flinched a little at this. "I need to know. Father isn't telling me, and he's not letting me out there either. If my mother truly is an Asgardian, then…"
Short silence.

"Then everything my father has taught me about traveling between realms has been a lie." Agni said.

Celtera didn't speak for a moment. She glanced down, and then turned her gaze back to Agni.

"That thief…" The maid started. "Was he an Asgardian?"

Agni looked at her, and then let go of her arms.

She nodded.

"Yes," She answered. "He's a prince."

Celtera smiled a little.

"A prince, hm?" She asked.

Agni smiled a little, as she blushed and glanced away, embarrassed.

"Do you fancy him?" Celtera asked.

"I don't even know him," Agni now shook her head as she looked at Celtera.

Celtera smiled.

"That doesn't mean anything." She started. "But he's a thief, Agni."

"I know," Agni sighed, sitting down. "But he... There was something about him."

"Oh, I know," Celtera chuckled. "He's a handsome, dark stranger. Of course you're intrigued by him. And a prince, too."

She continued to fold Agni's bedding.

"But my father… He'd never agree." Agni mumbled.

Celtera pursed her lips.

Then she turned to look at Agni.

"Yes." She said.

Small silence.

"Did he mention his name?" Celtera asked.

"Loki." Agni answered.

"Hm." Celtera just hummed.

"What was she like?" Agni then asked.

"Who?" Celtera asked.

"My mother." Agni said.

Celtera looked at her for a moment, and then started to smile.

"She was beautiful," She said. "And brave. A lot like you."

"But if she was from Asgard…" Agni was a little confused. "How come she was still a woman of fire?"

"Your highness…" Celtera shook her head a little, not wanting to go there.

"Please, Celtera," Agni said. "I won't tell anyone."

Celtera was quiet for another small moment, before she sighed.

"Very well." She said. "May I sit?"

"Of course," Agni said, and Celtera nodded.

"Thank you." She sat down.

Agni looked at her, waitingly.

"When your mother was born… Asgard was very different." Celtera said. "It was violent."

"Violent?" Agni frowned.

"Yes." Celtera nodded. "And… She was the daughter of a blacksmith. He wasn't making a lot of money, so they didn't exactly live under the best circumstances. But your mom, she could control fire."

"So… Mom was just… lucky?" Agni quirked a brow.

Celtera snorted.

"Not exactly." She said. "Your mother was adopted. The blacksmith wasn't her actual father; nobody knew who her real parents were, not even your mother herself. For all anybody knows it could've been possible that she was just the daughter of two witches; but different, that she was. And she never felt like she belonged."

"And when she was about your age; a little older, she ran away from Asgard. Things were getting too awful." Celtera continued. "That's when she discovered our realm. Muspelheim. The land of fire. She felt like she belonged here; like in here, she wasn't different."

"And that's when she met your father. The Prince - of that time." Celtera smiled a little. "Your mother was always very kind towards all of us. She never treated us like we were… slaves. Or somehow lower. Not that your father would treat us any differently, of course. The Queen just had… another kind of compassion."

Agni looked at Celtera.

"Celtera…" She then started. "I don't feel like I belong here."

Celtera frowned a little.

"Dear, it is your birthright to rule this realm one day." She said.

"I know it is, it's just…" Agni shook her head. "This whole place!"

She threw her arms up.

"It's so depressing!" She blurted out. "There's nothing but fire and darkness everywhere! It's dull! Celtera, I- I don't think this is where I'm meant to be!"

She got up.

"I want to travel. I want to see the realms, I want to- I want to go to Midgard one day!" She said, and Celtera dropped her jaw.

"Oh my lord, Princess!" Celtera said, shocked as she got up too. "You should lower your voice, you'll upset the King if he hears!"

"To hell with my father! He doesn't understand!" Agni said, and Celtera's eyes widened.

"Miss Agni - that is not the way to talk about your father," She said. "You ought to show some respect."

"But Celtera, you've traveled!" Agni let out a whiny sound. "You've seen the other realms! You know what it's like out there!"

"Yes," Celtera said. "But that was when I was a child."

Agni looked at Celtera, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I don't wanna just get stuck in here." She spoke, her voice shaky. "I want to see what the universe has to offer me. I want to see what I have to offer."

"You're going to make a great queen one day, miss Agni. That's what you have to offer." Celtera smiled.

"But I wanna be more than that." Agni said. "More than just a queen. Of Muspelheim."

"That's very ambitious." Celtera said, not exactly in a flattering way.

Agni just looked at her, not saying anything.

Celtera twisted her mouth, and then sighed, shaking her head.

"And… In this fantasy. If you were to leave Muspelheim." She started, turning her gaze back to Agni. "What would happen come the day your father passes? Hm? You know Surtur would take over. He would destroy everything."
"Surtur isn't real, Celtera," Agni said. "He's just a horror story to tell children."

"Surtur is very real, miss Agni," Celtera frowned. "And it is part of your responsibility to rule this realm. To protect it. To protect the other realms; to keep our horrors locked."

Agni frowned at her.

"Your mother would want you to do that, too." Celtera added. "Just like your father."

Agni glanced down.

"My father, he..." She started. "He wants me to become something that I'm not. He wants me to... to become him."

Celtera looked at her.

"And I am not him," Agni said, shaking her head. "I'll never be. And..."

Small silence.

"Sometimes... I swear, he blames me for what happened." Agni let out a breath, shaking her head again.

Celtera pursed her lips as she looked at the young girl.

She was quiet for a moment, before she started;

"No." She said.

Agni lifted her gaze back up to her.

"Firstly, Princess; What happened, was absolutely not your fault. Your father knows that. He would never blame you for it." Celtera shook her head. "And secondly..."

She grabbed Agni's hand gently with both of her hands, and smiled warmly.

"You don't have to be your father. You'll never be. You are you." She said. "And who you are, is a wonderful young woman, who is going to achieve great things one day."

Agni listened to her words carefully.

"You've got a good heart, miss Agni. You have been blessed with the gift of empathy. Forgiveness." Celtera smiled. "And looking at you, every day, is exactly like looking at her."

Agni smiled softly.

"Kindness is never a weakness, my child." Celtera smiled. "Don't you ever forget that."

The princess looked at her, the depth of Celtera's words touching her.

She nodded carefully.

And just like that, breaking the bubble, the door burst open.

"Madame." A guard snapped to Celtera. "Please leave the princess's room."

"It's okay," Agni said to them. "I gave her the permission."

"No, I'm leaving." Celtera smiled to Agni.

Then she looked at the guards, and saw how they looked back at her.

Now her lips parted as her brows furrowed a bit.

She stopped for a moment as she stared at the guards, before she put her pokerface back on, and turned to look at Agni once more.

"Thank you," Agni mouthed at her, and Celtera gave her one final smile.

"Now." The guard spat, grabbing Celtera rather harshly, and pulling her out of the room.

—

Celtera was walked to the great hall of the palace, where Hephaestus' throne was at.

The guards shoved her to in front of the stairs, where the maid kneeled.

"My King." She started.

"Save it." Hephaestus said, the tone of his voice strict. "On your feet."

Celtera did as told.

Hephaestus glared down at her from his throne, before he got up, and walked over to the woman.

"In what corrupted state of mind did you think it was acceptable of you to talk to my daughter about her mother?" He growled, and Celtera felt her stomach turn around.

"Your highness…" Celtera started carefully. "Miss Princess asked me to."

"I don't care," Hephaestus snapped. "I don't care whether she asked you to. That is under no circumstances any of your concern. You went great beyond your lines, here."

"I understand." Celtera nodded, dropping her head. "I am so sorry, my lord. Please, forgive me."

Hephaestus clenched his jaw, as he stared at the woman.

Then he lifted his gaze back up to the guards, and nodded.

The guards grabbed Celtera harshly from the shoulders, and she lifted her head.

"My lord-?"

But Hephaestus didn't say a word. He turned around, and begun to walk up to his throne again, as the guards dragged Celtera out of the hall.

"My lord!" She still tried to call, but the doors closed.

"Please, no," Celtera sobbed as the guards kept on dragging her on the hallways, going towards the big, black door. "Please, don't do this!"

"I've been working in this palace forever!" She cried. "Don't do this! No!"

But the guards shoved the door open, and threw Celtera in, slamming the door shut.

"No!" She shouted, smacking her fists against the door. "Let me out!"

The degrees in the room must've been a trillion, and Celtera could feel the sweat rising to her skin.

Then she heard it.

The jaw that was hanging low froze that way, as did the wide open eyes. Fear took over them, her entire body, as she slowly breathed.

And then, with trembling feet, she turned around,

and faced the dragon.

hi! hello! there is 7 of you following this story already, yay, thank you!

this story is only slowly starting to start it's rise, but please share your thoughts and comments about this chapter (or the story in all it's glory so far heh) in the review section 3 i'd greatly appreciate it!

also, sorry for publishing this chapter like a thousand times but for some RIDICULOUS REASON the horizontal lines weren't working and turned all of the chapter just into a big mush of text and i am seriously tripping over this because what the actual fuck but anyWAYS i hope it's gonna work now

xx ali