Hi, all! Well, I'm enjoying this story, but I'm still not getting a lot of reviews. I take my hat off to AaylaKit, who has loyally read and reviewed throughout, and she hasn't even seen Thor! Come on, Loki fans. I know you're out there. I have a question, though. I will put it at the end, too, to ensure that everyone sees it. How would you guys like Liri falling in love with Loki? He'll probably never share the feeling, though he will feel a certain bit of friendly affection toward her. What do you think? Should she fall for him? No sex or anything, obviously. I'm making this a clean fic. I need answers, so you guys out there who are reading and not reviewing, could you take a moment and push that awesome little button at the bottom so I can get an idea of where the fans want me to go with this story?
AaylaKit: I know right! And yeah, I didn't want to make Loki romantically attached to a mortal (even if she is a Jedi), so I figured I'd make her emotionally attached to him without too much romance. I'm glad you like Liri because she'll be around a lot. Let's see what you think about the question above. I've been writing ahead a lot, and I feel that Liri liking Loki would go well with the story. But it's entirely up to you and the others to determine if it will happen.
Pergjithshme: YAY YOU LOVE LOKI TOO OMG I'M A BIGTIME LOKI FANGIRL! Whew. Glad you like it! I hope I capture the characters well enough.
Much time passed. Loki thought a lot about the Galactic Gateway, though he knew it was best not to. "I did nothing wrong," he muttered. "It was a joke. Nothing more." Loki knew better than anyone that jokes could get him into trouble. He was already nicknamed the god of mischief. A very appropriate title, he thought. If only mischief would make him Thor's equal. Like that would ever happen.
"What are you doing, brother?" Thor asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Everyone else is out there. Why are you shut up in this room?" He inspected his brother more closely. "This isn't like you. Are you ill?"
"Why the twenty questions?" Loki asked irritably. "In response, I'm sitting, I want to be alone, and no, I'm not ill." He briefly wondered if he was being too harsh, but dismissed the notion immediately. He didn't particularly care at the moment if he was hurting Thor's feelings. He was the god of thunder. He would get over it.
Thor gazed at Loki for several moments, seeming to weigh what to say next. "You do way too much thinking," he observed. "You need to take more action."
"I take plenty. Might I remind you that it is me that accompanies you on your many escapades to other realms. I save your skin on numerous occasions. Brawn doesn't always win a battle, Thor."
Thor smiled. "You've proven everyone wrong that thinks you are not a worthy opponent."
Loki wished he wasn't cheered up by this. Everything inside him burned to be irritable with his brother, but Thor was making it difficult to stay grumpy. A faint smile played on his lips.
"I knew I could get that smile back," Thor said triumphantly.
Loki coughed into his shoulder to hide his positive reaction. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Thor shoved him lightly. "Just let it out. You want to laugh. You need to laugh. You're fighting it. Stop it. Laughter is a part of who you are."
Loki sighed and leaned back a little. "Alright, alright, you win." He let out a small chuckle. "That's the best you're getting. Okay, I laughed. What do you really want?"
"I want my brother," Thor said simply.
Loki raised an eyebrow. "So you want me to stir up trouble. Is that what you're suggesting?"
"Suggesting? Not at all. I just hate to see you like this."
It was frustrating how much Thor obviously cared for him. The favorite son showed just how great he was by expressing concern for the lesser of the two. "I'm fine, Thor," Loki said finally. "I think I'll go for a ride."
"I'll go with you," Thor said immediately.
"I'd prefer to go alone this time. Nothing wrong, I promise. I just need some air. Do not be concerned if I don't return for awhile. There's something I've got to do that you wouldn't understand."
"You're going to another realm." It wasn't a question.
Wow. Maybe you do understand, Loki thought. "You said it, not me. Remember that if Father questions my absence." He stood up and walked out, casting one more reassuring smile to his brother.
Alone again, Loki rode to Heimdall's post on the bridge. He dismounted and strode up to the Gatekeeper. "I wish to open the Galactic Gateway," he announced.
Heimdall frowned. "Any particular reason? It is not healthy to keep going there."
"I've been there twice," Loki reminded him. "I'll say it again, because it seems that I was unclear the first time: I wish to open the Galactic Gateway."
"Very well. Step through here."
Anakin had fought fiercely, but he had been no match for the general. They were alone, if you didn't count the battle droids and destroyers that blocked the exits.
"I have you trapped, Skywalker," General Grievous sneered in his irritatingly-creepy voice. "There's no escape. You will die, and I will cherish my victory by wielding your precious lightsaber."
Anakin gritted his teeth. He hated to admit it, but he didn't see himself getting out of this one. For once, he had no sharp retort, no witty remark for his enemy.
"Any last words? You are lucky I give you the luxury."
Anakin wanted to either make a bold statement before his death, or remain defiantly silent. It obviously made no difference to Grievous. The evil general raised his lightsaber and poised to strike Anakin down. Anakin closed his eyes, feeling the breeze of his enemy's arm coming down to slice n' dice him as he pleased. Any moment now… … …What was taking so long? Anakin heard a grunt of surprise from the general. He opened his eyes to see that something—or someone—was pulling the lightsaber arm from behind.
"What is this?" Grievous shouted. "Who are you?"
The figure lifted the general and threw him across the room. His back was to Anakin, so the Jedi Knight could not tell who it was.
"I asked you who you are!" Grievous yelled again, getting up. He grabbed Anakin's rescuer by the throat and lifted him up. "You are strangely dressed for a Jedi. No matter; Jedi or not, I will still kill you personally."
The stranger waved a hand, knocking over every last droid in the room and the exits. "Go…" he choked out.
Anakin still couldn't get a clear visual on the person Grievous was strangling. Even though he had no idea who it was, he still felt the need to rescue him.
Before Anakin could act, the figure waved his hand again. The room suddenly filled with smoke. Grievous, confused, dropped him. "Out of my way!" he yelled, bolting for the nearest door. "Blast them!" he added to a new group of droids that had burst into the room. "Open fire! They are concealing themselves in the smoke!"
One droid threw a small bomb at the rescuer. Anakin couldn't see him, but he knew, from the sound of the explosion, that no one could have survived that. "No!" he yelled.
"There's the Jedi!" a battle droid barked in its nasally voice. "Blast him!"
Anakin realized too late that they were talking about him. In the confusion, he could not find where Grievous had knocked his lightsaber out of his hand earlier. At the same moment that a blast was fired, the strange being threw himself in front of Anakin, acting as a shield. Anakin expected him to be shot to the ground, but he was surprised again when the blast bounced off and hit the droid.
Anakin watched, dumbfounded, as the guy knocked the droids out with a spear. He waved his hand, making the smoke dissipate. By now, Anakin suspected who it was, but didn't quite believe it.
"Is it you?" Anakin asked, addressing the man's back.
The man turned around. Anakin knew those green eyes anywhere. "Yes. It is me," Loki said.
Anakin got to his feet. "But the bomb—"
"Duplicate," Loki said, waving it off as unimportant.
"And the blast?"
"Asgardian armor. I made it appear right before the shot was fired." He smiled. "It's good to see you again. Even under the current circumstances."
"War," Anakin explained, summing the current circumstances up in one word.
"Your realm is at war? With whom?"
Anakin shook his head. "Complicated. We'll get caught up later. Right now, we've got to get off the enemy ship. Follow me. I need to meet Obi-Wan at the rendezvous point."
Loki followed, wondering how Obi-Wan was doing. He hadn't seen him since he was a boy. In fact, he hadn't seen any of the Jedi, save Anakin and the Jefora sisters. "How far?" he asked.
"Just ahead," Anakin promised. Sure enough, there was Obi-Wan's ship.
"It's about time! I thought I'd finally lost you." The Jedi Master's gaze fell upon Loki. Having not seen him in over ten years, he did not recognize him. "Anakin? Who's your friend?"
Anakin quickly boarded the ship. "No time. Just get us both out of here. I'll explain later."
"Fine, fine. Get in, then."
Loki obeyed and they took off toward a Republic Star Destroyer. Once inside, they were able to sit and talk properly.
"I suppose this is the time where we exchange stories," Loki said.
Obi-Wan nodded. "I suppose so."
"You look very different," Loki commented. "You both do, in fact."
"How do you know me? Let's start with your name," Obi-Wan suggested.
"Loki Odinson. I'm sure you—"
"Loki? Oh my, I never thought I'd see you again. How is life in Asgard?"
"Peaceful, I suppose. Thor is to become King soon."
Anakin wasn't sure whether to be happy about that or not. Loki's face was calm and composed, and his voice matter-of-fact. The Asgardian did not give any indication as to whether this was good news or not. So Anakin and Obi-Wan settled for nodding calmly and going with it.
"It was either your brother or you, right? Did you want the throne?" Anakin asked carefully.
"I would rather not discuss my status versus Thor's. I was simply breaking the news. My reservations will be kept to myself." Loki's voice held a note of finality in it.
"Very well," Obi-Wan said. "We can respect that." He shot Anakin a look, as if predicting that his former apprentice would press the matter more.
"How fares you realm?" Loki inquired, ignoring the exchange between the two Jedi.
"Well, I'm a Jedi Knight now, and Obi-Wan is a Master. The Republic is at war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, AKA the Separatists. Systems are pitted against each other and no one is sure what this war will solve."
"I see. War is a dangerous thing. I would know. My realm has been war-torn before."
"So you understand, then," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes. Is there anything I can do?"
"We're heading back to Coruscant now," Anakin said. "I'm sure Liri and Anna will be happy to see you. Anna is a Knight like me. Liri is not far from being one herself."
"I would be pleased to see them again," Loki said, meaning it.
They took the rest of the ride home to discuss what was happening in the different realms. When they were safely back at the Temple, Yoda and Mace greeted them.
"I hear the general escaped our grasp again," the Korun Jedi Master said grimly.
"I wouldn't have escaped Grievous's grasp had it not been for Loki," Anakin responded coolly.
"Who or what is Loki?" Mace asked.
Yoda looked very unhappy indeed. "He has returned, has he?"
"Yes, I have," Loki said, stepping into full view. "And yes, I still remember the way you whacked me with the gimer stick of yours."
"A bad memory, you have. Merely poked you, I did."
"Nevertheless, it was annoying," Loki said.
"I'm sure it was," Anakin said, amused. "So how long will you be able to stay with us, Loki?"
Loki shrugged. "Awhile, perhaps."
"Well, someone will have to keep you entertained while Kenobi and Skywalker give us a report," Mace said.
"Skywalker and Kenobi," Anakin corrected him. "One must always put the awesomest one first in a sentence as a general rule."
"Typically, superiors should be named first," Mace countered.
"That's vague. I'm superior in piloting, fighting, skills, and looks."
"And arrogance," Mace grumbled. "Very well. It's alphabetized, then. What is your argument to that?"
"Alphabetization is old-fashioned. This is the era of reverse-alphabetization. Get with the times, Windu."
"Would you consider 'Kenobi and Skywalker' saving best for last, then?" Mace suggested.
"I suppose that is a viable argument," Anakin admitted, "though not at all applicable when you compare it to the 'awesomeness comes first' rule."
"Are you really debating this?" Loki asked. Battles of wits always interested and amused him. Especially when it was mortals duking it out with words.
"We're not anymore," Anakin said, "because I win."
"Know your place, Skywalker," Mace said sternly.
"Yes, Master…" He pretended to look sorry, but winked at Loki when Mace wasn't looking. "I suppose we ought to get on with the report. Loki, feel free to walk around if you want. Tell anyone that questions you that you're a friend and Anakin Skywalker will personally deal with anyone who has a problem with that."
Loki grinned. "Much appreciated. Good luck with the report." With that, he left to wander the halls, curious about what lay in the ancient Jedi Temple. He walked by a certain room, then froze. Turning sharply, he entered the room that had caught his attention. It was a library of sorts. "Imagine all the information that lies here!" he breathed. If there was one thing that Loki possessed besides a mischievous mind, it was intelligence and hunger for information. "I could learn so much about this realm by simply walking in." Amazed, he did so.
"Hello, may I help you?" an intelligent-looking old woman inquired. "I am Jocasta Nu. I assume you have been granted access to these archives by a member of the Jedi Order?"
Loki frowned at the mortal, not at all appreciative of her interference. "Step aside, please," he said.
"Who authorized you to come here? You're not Jedi. You aren't even dressed like one. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."
Loki was beginning to grow very irritated with this nagging woman. He raised a hand, prepared to influence her with his magic. Before he could, though, a new voice spoke up from behind.
"There you are! I've been waiting for you for over an hour. Where have you been?"
Jocasta Nu frowned. "You're with her? Why didn't you tell me that you were meeting with Liri? I wouldn't have given you any trouble." She smiled at the girl standing behind Loki. "I'm sorry, dear. You two are free to roam as you please. I know you are a trustworthy, responsible young lady."
"Thank you," Liri said, bowing.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Liri and Anna.
Question: How would you guys like Liri falling in love with Loki? He'll probably never share the feeling, though he will feel a certain bit of friendly affection toward her. What do you think? Should she fall for him? No sex or anything, obviously. I'm making this a clean fic. I need answers, so you guys out there who are reading and not reviewing, could you take a moment and push that awesome little button at the bottom so I can get an idea of where the fans want me to go with this story?