Read and Review, everyone! Read and Review. It's the only way I'll be able to determine what the readers want. I think I've decided where I want to go with Liri and Loki. Liri won't outright say "I love you" or anything obvious so that I can leave her feelings (or lack thereof) to the readers to decide. You guys get to determine what you personally think she feels, whether it be friendship or something more. Fair enough? Alright then.

Pergjithshme: Thank you! No joke, you keep this story going. :) I like your idea, so I think I'll run with it a little. Like I said above, I'll make it so that it can be interpreted either way. How's that?

"He said he was going for a ride and that it would take awhile," Thor said. His voice was anxious. "He didn't say how long, but I think it's been long enough to worry."

"Did he tell you where he went?" Odin asked.

Thor hated to betray his brother's trust by telling their father that he had gone to another realm. But Loki's safety came first, and obviously something was keeping him from coming home. "He went to another realm," Thor said regretfully.

"Let us ride to Heimdall's Observatory immediately, then! Just the two of us. We needn't worry others—your mother included—unnecessarily. Come, Thor. We must leave quickly."

They mounted their horses and rode out to Heimdall's post. He greeted them with a bow. "All-Father," he said respectfully. "What brings you here?"

"My son. Tell me honestly where he went. He has been absent a long time."

Heimdall sighed. "I cannot tell you of the realm he is currently in. It is an ancient realm that I am bound against speaking of."

Before Odin could say anything, Thor spoke in a raised voice. "My brother is in trouble! TELL US WHERE HE IS!"

"Hold thy tongue, Thor!" Odin snapped.

"No. I will not. I refuse to lose my brother just because Heimdall is 'bound' not to tell us where he is. If Loki is in peril, then it's Heimdall's duty to do what it takes to get us where we need to go."

Heimdall sighed. "It is not that simple."

"Tell us where he is, Heimdall. Please," Odin said.

"Listen closely," the Gatekeeper said finally. "It is a long story."

Liri felt a deep disturbance in the Force. Something was not right. When Anakin had gone into the Council Chamber, she'd felt extreme anger, betrayal, and tension coming from him. What bothered her more was that Loki was not with him. Whatever had happened in the Chancellor's office had involved the Asgardian somehow.

"Anakin." She spoke his name softly as he walked out of the Chamber. "Anakin, come here." He followed her voice to a quiet meditation room. "What happened?"

"What happened? Your precious Asgardian hero attacked the Chancellor!"

Liri gasped, unable to comprehend this. "You saw it?"

"Not exactly." He explained how Palpatine had requested to speak with Loki alone. When he heard his name called, he ran in to find the room a complete mess. "Loki fled the scene. The Chancellor told me enough."

Liri shook her head. "I can't believe that."

"You are blind, then, by your affection for him." Liri did not respond. She simply stood up and walked briskly away. "Where do you think you're going?" Anakin demanded.

"To find Loki."

"I am not Chancellor Palpatine," the dark figure said. "You will forget my identity and remember me only by appearance."

Loki knew what was happening. A Mind Trick. It pushed into his brain, though he fought it. Fighting hurt his head, so he finally gave up and let himself forget. You must pick your battles, and this was on that he could not win.

"You will do my bidding in the end," the strange man whose name escaped Loki sneered. "I would use a Mind Trick again, but your fighting of it wears me out. You truly are extraordinary."

"That is because I am Asgardian," Loki gasped out. He was growing weaker, and he did not like being weak.

"Yes. You would be a great asset to me if you get your mind straight."

"Who are you? I remember a conversation, but you identity escapes me."

"I am the one that knocked Chancellor Palpatine over and took you as prisoner, though I led him to believe that it was you that attacked him. I intend to rule this galaxy as well as your realm, if you cooperate."

"Good luck. I'll be dead before I tell you anything."

"Don't tempt me," the figure scowled. "Fortunately for me, it is very hard to kill you, but so easy to torment you."

Loki watched painfully as the cloaked figure shot another surge of power into his battered body.

"So Loki had been going to his Galactic Realm since the day he disappeared when we were boys?" Thor asked.

"Yes. This is his third time. I warned him not to go there. It is a dangerous place, even for someone of his intelligence and power," Heimdall said.

"So there's nothing we can do," Odin said flatly, his figure slumped in defeat.

"There has to be!" Thor shouted. "Can't you bring him back?"

"I told you, only Loki can enter that realm. And I tried. Some form of dark power is holding him there. I am unable to interfere, no matter how many attempts I make."

"Come, Thor. We must get back," Odin ordered.

"But Loki—"

"—is as good as gone. There is nothing we can do," the All-Father said firmly. "Get on your horse. We will mourn your brother properly when we return."

"How could you just give up? Have you no love for your son?"

"How dare you question my—"

"If it was me, you would never stop trying!" Thor thundered. "You would spend sleepless nights searching for me and fighting for me and—"

"Enough! Bite thy tongue, my son, and get on the horse."

Thor stared into the Observatory and murmured so quietly that he could not be heard, "Oh, brother. Where are you?"

Liri spent many days sneaking away to search for Loki. It was difficult to pinpoint anyone in such a big galaxy. She tried, though. Every day, she would put some time into it. One day, when she thought she had lost all hope, she felt something. It was small, like being shocked by static electricity, but it was there. Eager, she ran out to a ship and followed her sense all the way to the planet Mustafar.

"Why have you brought me here?" she asked the Force. She felt a stab of pain, as if the Force was answering her in its own unique way. She quickly landed the ship in a hidden place and made her way to the area that was giving her the most pain sensations.

Loki was alone at last. The figure had left to take care of some important business. He closed his eyes, having lost all hope of ever getting free. Would he cave and bow to the man's wishes?

"No, you won't," a new voice said.

Loki looked up, but no one was there in front of him. Brilliant. He was hearing things now. He closed his eyes again, only to find himself falling to the ground, the restraints gone. He was on his hands and knees now, head bowed.

Loki felt a familiar presence by his side. A soft hand lifted his chin up, directing his gaze into deep blue eyes. "What have they done to you?" Liri asked.

Loki tried to explain. "The Chancellor—he—he was fooled—"

"Don't try to talk. You'll have plenty of time to tell what happened. Later, though." She frowned, taking in his battered state. "Look at you. Can you walk? I hope you can, because I can't carry you."

Loki grunted and tried to pull into a standing position. Though he had to lean on Liri for support, they successfully made their way to the ship.

"I knew it wasn't you," Liri said, starting it up. "The Chancellor said you attacked him, but I didn't believe it. I couldn't. I mean, think about it. What would your motive be?"

Loki shrugged. "Galactic domination? It's not as uncommon as you think. A bit of a big ambition, but that doesn't stop a lot of people." He sighed and shifted his seat. "I think I'll have to leave here upon our arrival to your planet Coruscant. My family must be worried by now." He certainly hoped they were worried by now.

"You need to tell us what you went through first," she said, landing. "They need to know. Especially Anakin, who wants your head."

Loki slipped a hand unconsciously to his throat. "I think that would be a wise idea."

"Let me help you out of the ship," Liri urged him.

"You have aided me enough today. I don't need any more help." Loki forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain.

"Yeesh, even immortal men are the same. It's okay to accept help, you know. If it's about a life-debt, then forget about it. I'm paying you back for saving me, if you must put it that way. I would have done it for you regardless, but if all you can think about is keeping a life-debt…"

Loki chuckled lightly. "It's more than that. Asgardians suffer from pride damage just as mortals do."

"Liri! Where have you b—" Anakin froze midsentence. "What are you doing?" He ignited his lightsaber. "Secure him, Liri!"

Liri shook her head. "He's hurt, Anakin." At Loki's mumble of protest, she said sharply, "You are. Don't deny it." She glared defiantly at Anakin. "The Chancellor was wrong. Loki, tell him what happened."

Loki stood up a little higher as he tried to prove that he was capable of standing on his own. In a calm, collected voice, he told Anakin what the figure had done to him and what the evil plans were. He under-exaggerated the parts where he was tortured. Unnecessary details, he thought. "I don't know his name, but he used his power to influence the Chancellor to believe that I was the attacker."

Anakin, who had been listening attentively, put his weapon away. "I owe you an apology, then. I must take this straight to the Council. Go to the Healers. I will meet you there." Anakin walked briskly away.

"You're not going to the Healers, are you?" Liri asked resignedly.

"No. I can't. I've been away too long. I must return to Asgard." He stepped toward her and swept her side bangs out of her face. "I will remember your kindness and hope to meet again when the time is right. You will make a fantastic Jedi."

She hugged him gently, careful of his injured body. "Come back soon," she urged him. "You are welcome here."

Loki nodded and took two steps back. "Heimdall," he called in a tired voice. "Take me home." The light came down and took Loki away.

"You're alive," Heimdall said, sounding relieved.

"I went through a bit of an ordeal," Loki admitted.

"I can tell. You mustn't—"

"—ever go there again," Loki said, knowing what Heimdall was going to say. "The threat is over," he lied smoothly. "I intend to go back in the near future."

"Loki. Your father knows."

"You told him?" Loki was shocked. "Why would you?"

"I was given an order by the All-Father. They were a worried about you."

Loki hoped that "worried" was an understatement. He turned and started up the bridge toward Asgard. Though he didn't have a horse at his disposal, it couldn't hurt to walk. Well, maybe a little bit. The walk was longer and harder than it would have been if he was in a better condition.

At last, he arrived. He soon found his father eating with his mother and a horde of others. They did not see him standing just outside, watching in bewilderment as Odin laughed at an inside joke. Frigga was quiet, but she didn't look utterly miserable. Thor was not there.

"Where are you, brother?" he wondered aloud. Turning away from the cheerful scene in the dining room, Loki made his way to Thor's room. He knocked lightly.

"I do not wish to entertain company right now," came the familiar voice of his brother. Loki didn't know this, but Thor had not left his room since a week ago, when he and Odin had spoken to Heimdall about finding Loki. "My father is in the dining hall. Speak to him if you wish. I want to be left alone."

Loki opened the door and walked in, despite his brother's mumbles of protest. He was sitting on his bed, head bowed and hands clasped together on his lap. A posture similar to the way Loki always sat when he was thinking.

Thor did not look up until Loki was halfway across the room. "I said I do not want to—" He froze when his gaze took in the figure of his brother. "Loki…" He was at a loss for words.

"Hello, brother," Loki said softly.

Thor sprang to his feet and rushed over to embrace him. This was a strange, un-Thor-like gesture. "Father was convinced you were dead! Heimdall told us everything. I told them to try harder, but they wouldn't listen!" He stepped back and stood at arm's length, his hands gripping Loki's arms. "Don't scare me like that again, brother. You look awful. What happened to you?"

"Never mind that. Heimdall told you everything, you said? About the Galactic Gateway?"

"Yes. And to think that that's where you've been going all along."

"I've been there but three times," Loki said. "If only you could meet the people there, Thor! They're unlike any mortals I have ever seen."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Heimdall made me promise not to. But I suppose it is all in the open now," Loki mused.

"Tell me about your adventures there," Thor urged him.

"There is so much to tell. If you are willing to listen, I will tell you." Thor sat down and nodded for him to continue. Loki took a deep breath and launched into the story. He held back little, that little being the personal things he had discussed with Liri. Thor was captivated and nodded in all the right places. He cringed when Loki told him of the hazy memory of the dark figure taking him away. "I hardly remember how I got there. I just remember talking to the Chancellor, then waking up in that horrid place." He told of Liri rescuing him. She was certainly a remarkable person that would make an ideal Jedi. "I then called Heimdall and walked here."

"You walked?" Thor sounded shocked. He stood up from his sitting position. "Why did you stand while you told me all of this? You must lie down."

"Do not fuss over me, brother," Loki said, shaking his head.

"I will," Thor shot back. "You are in a terrible condition. Lie down right here. I insist. Don't make me lay you down myself."

Loki sighed. "Very well, you win." He eased down onto Thor's bed, immediately feeling an improvement. "Thank you." He looked into his brother's electric blue eyes. Though he would never admit it in the future, Loki was truly grateful to Thor as they shared one of the few brotherly moments that would come to pass in their lifetimes. As he closed his eyes, he felt Thor's hand resting on his shoulder. He was there for his younger brother in a way that he might never be again. It was too early to tell.

The moment was interrupted by a thundering voice outside the door. "Thor Odinson, I implore you to come join us. You have been grieving in your room for a full week. You must put this behind you and take a few steps toward recovery."

"You've been here that long?" Loki asked, opening his eyes.

"Worry not, because it matters not." He faced the door. "I am no longer grieving, Father," he said. "I invite you to come in here and see why."

The benevolent figure of Odin appeared in the doorway. His eye fell upon Loki, who had propped himself up enough to get a better view of his father, who looked stunned and pleasantly surprised. "Is it really you, Loki?" he whispered, not quite believing it. When Loki nodded, he gasped, "My son has returned! Come to me, Loki Odinson."

"I don't advise it," Thor said. "He's injured, Father. You must hear what he has told me. Once you hear it, we need to come up with a cover story to tell the others."

Odin nodded and closed the door. He sat on the bed next to Thor and placed a hand on Loki's arm. His smile was so warm and full of love that Loki was a bit choked up for once. I should go missing more often, he joked to himself.

"Go on, my son," his father prompted.

Loki once again relayed everything that had happened. Odin didn't react in the same ways that Thor did. He kept a calm expression throughout. Inside, though, he felt every word of Loki's joys and pains.

"What should we tell everyone else?" Thor asked when Loki was done.

"We will tell them that he as trapped on another realm and injured himself in a fight. If they question it, we will say that you, Loki, do not want to disclose details. Both of you heed my words when I say that no one must know of the Galactic Realm." Both sons nodded seriously. "Now, I'm sure you are both hungry. If you wish to remain here while your brother rests, Thor, that is up to you. But you are both eating. I will send someone in with food whilst I break the news of your safe arrival to the rest of Asgard." With that, the All-Father left Thor and Loki alone once again.

Aww, so sweet, don't you think? They have their moments, don't they? Disclaimer: I only own Liri and Anna.