Chapter Two: Go 'Murica!
He now had half a year.
The last six months had been a flurry of intense planning and plotting. Discreet legislature had been moving silently through Senate at a startlingly rapid pace. It was little things, small bits of policy that worked together beautifully in the grand scheme of things.
Of course Tony Stark wasn't dense enough to push it through him self.
He had an entire board of well paid congressmen that when he said jump, would ask how high. These tools of his were responsible for carrying his will through Stark Industries, and as of recent, through Capitol Hill.
It was quite beautiful, the collapse of SHIELD. It served as an excellent distraction, the pandering idiots in congress would miss all signs of inter working legislation. Admittedly he had no hand in the fall of the mighty SHIELD, in fact, he had plans for incorporating their surprisingly black and white view of things to coerce them into decimating 'future threats' something that they were so prone to doing.
Tony thought it was a favorite activity of theirs, like a 'Let's see how many Turkish terrorists we can decimate today!' type thing. Maybe they even placed bets. Anyhow, it had worked in his favor outstandingly well.
The World Security Council had latched on to US government like a suckling babe, and leeched off of what ever functional government operations they could. Each member was in search of a way to kick start their governments back, and in turn looked at the US as a beacon of inspiration.
Of course the country that had booted up it's economy in record time after a depression must be doing something right! Just look at the way they handled an alien invasion!
Obviously, with politicians being pandering politicians, instead of molding ideas to fit their countries specific and unparalleled needs, they took legislature word for word and stuck it through their governments with blinding speed.
This had jump started Tony's backseat campaign at least six months, giving him room to introduce more than just the planned playing field. He would actually get a move on things way before Loki came into the picture, and that was beyond beneficial.
He wouldn't look like an inexperienced fool toying with the strings of a 'republic', but instead would appear as though he had some inkling of what was to be done in the world.
Tony had recognized that one hand, the sovereign countries and states part of the World Security Council would quickly come to the consensus to follow in the foot steps of the US, as a recovering United States was the strongest and most agreeable, and would therefore generate some ground breaking laws and ideas that would translate wonderfully into ideal government structure and rule.
On the other hand, the communist countries and states would have no such dealings. They would have to bought over with promises of power and influence, or simply with valuables, something which Tony far from lacked.
That wasn't a problem of course, the problem was far greater.
HYDRA was alive and kicking, and furious from their recent defeat.
They would pose the biggest problem and possible threat to any serious proceedings Loki had planned, depending on the context. But something told Tony that the Chaos God would vehemently object to any partnership with the hell-bent group.
Loki, just like himself, had a wish for total but quiet control. Contrary to popular belief, they had no desire to lay upon a golden throne and throw around orders. The wish of theirs was simple; to shape humanity into a fine race, one that was capable of reaching their greatest potential.
It was a difficult to achieve and Tony realized that he had been going about it the wrong way. He was quietly incorporating a more 'surveillance' brand of tech into his Stark Industries products, monitoring passwords and the like, even private conversation. This method would, of course, take much too long to achieve desired results, which would be a mass remote technological shut down. During this shut down, Tony had planned to rewrite laws, send phantom commands that would cause war with ten other countries and launch several organized terror groups into action.
In the midst of the chaos, he would swoop in like a night in shining armor, literally, and save the day.
The terrorist groups would be negated quickly, the wars would be ended with his endless arsenal of New Generation Tech unknown to the rest of the universe and flawless diplomacy, and the laws would have a self-beneficial effect that that masses would be unaware of, one that would make it possible for anyone who knew what to look for to drop in and rule the country. He would then proceed to blame the Mass Tech Shut Down on a faceless but quite well known organization: HYDRA.
Of course, he had planned to subtlety use those 'country domination' clauses, and would heavily use his newly and unparalleled fame to acquire his desired outcome of Chief Advisor to the World Security Council, and quietly twist the thoughts and actions of numerous world leader to suit his own purpose.
In retrospect, Tony realized that that idea was beyond foolish, time consuming and would have monumentally backfired. He didn't even have a plan of action considering SHIELD! Of course he had no way of knowing that they were alive and kicking, and that course of action would have had fatal consequences to millions, but it would have, regardless of his prior knowledge.
He was out to better the human race, not diminish it by millions.
Call him Machiavellian of you will, which he completely disagreed with by the way, but he was no Hitler.
His new course of action though, it was perfect.
With SHIELD gone and HYDRA exposed, it was the perfect time to stress upon the population the need for self-protection and self-awareness.
The masses had been lulled into a blissfully ignorant state of being, they were 'sleeping' if you will. So ready to sacrifice their fundamental rights for 'safety and security', it was disgusting.
The outing of HYDRA however, combined with the invasion of Manhattan jolted them out from their slumber, scaring the wits of out of them.
Instead of riots and protests however, the public was too shocked to make a move, much less a coherent one.
Think of how you act when violently woken from a particularly amazing sleep; your thoughts are slow, your moves sluggish, and more than anything, you're confused and want answers, but are incapable of going to great lengths to find which you seek. That summed up the masses.
The timing was impeccable too, as only a week before had Tony been tasked with his one-year to "lay a playing field". From there, Tony's suggested and active legislature consisted of the abolishment of certain restricting laws that essentially prevented self-defense, the tightening of the Statue of Limitations on things such as theft and assault, and the abolishment of nearly all laws that allowed surveillance agencies access to Private Domain. There were many other laws of the same tangent, the public had to defend themselves as well.
Well, at least that's what the public saw. Safety and security the right say. It was boost in nationalism, something that was sorely needed for all issues to quickly be passed trough committees with limited changes and for all bills to be voted on in an equal timely manner. Presidential vetoes were something of very little concern, as he was too busy making diplomatic meeting with other countries, mending broken ties and smoothing over the latest events. Unbeknownst to him that the countries we're already well on their way to getting back to their former partnerships, and no diplomacy was necessary. Though it did make the US seem actually sincere, a first in over two hundred years.
In other words, everything was coming along swimmingly.
Phase One of Tony's legislative plan was near completion, four months ahead of schedule. It was about time for Phase Two, the stressful, delicate and tedious Phase Two.
It was time for the masses to be introduced to idea of life on other planets, or realms in this case.
Tony Stark sat in his workshop chair, straight backed and confident. He was ready for the religious riots and the violent protests, and he had braced himself for the possibility that he might have to take a much more active stance in the media and political circus America had become.
There had been too much peace as of late, the silence was eerie and the cheerfulness was increasingly out of place the more he thought of Loki's ambitious plans. Their Empire in the Making.
Their would be war, of what kind, he knew not. But he was ready.
Until then, though, he would quietly prepare the people.
Midgard would be the docile realm no more, and the mighty Asgard would know, right along with the Nine Realms.
"Helblindi, what is the state of our army?"
"Non existent I'm afraid. Jotunheim hasn't had an army since the reign of Utgard Loki. Rebel militias usually dealt with all visitors, however few they were."
"We are defenseless." It was a statement, one that carried impossible weight, and struck fear into the heart of the court. Helblindi gazed at his king-brother. He was much smaller than the other giants, but the size was far from a testament of his power.
Loki had rid the realm of the Fárbjódrs, the enormous clan of giants that terrorized the people of Jotünheimr.
Since the first fall of the kingdom, the age of ædra, the Fárbjódrs had run unrestrained throughout the land, decimating clan after clan that supported and practiced the old ways of Utgard Loki, the fallen king.
They had raped and pillaged clan after clan, laying waste to all in their path. Driven by greed, the Fárbjódrs swore to exterminate the last of the Utgard bloodline.
But one giant had stood firm in his resolve, and claimed the Utgard Citadel as a safe haven for all those of the old ways, for those who could bear the journey, and avoid the Fárbjódrs. The giants' name was Laufey
Only one-fourth of the population made it. The rest were either killed, or forced to join the mass militia in fear of death or dire mutilation, much like the Blood Diamond crusades of Sierra Léon.
That giant aided all he could, and even worked to lap those exiled unjustly to the Útar by Utgard Loki, no one deserved the fate written by the Fárbjódrs.
The Utgard Citadel thrived for decades, but the stay was an unpleasant one. Giants multiplied despite scare food and other vital resources and soon, cannibalism was a staple in the ways of the Jotüns. They would wait until one of them had passed on to Hel, and they would then feast upon the deceased flesh, with heavy hearts and tearful eyes, for how far had they fallen.
That was a primary reason the Æsir began to grow hateful and weary of the Jotüns. Heimdall who was mandated by blood vow, was sworn to tell the truth of the state of each realm, reported to the All-Father of their condition.
The All-Father, being every bit of the naive young king he was, relayed the information the the whole of Asgard, and through that, the fear and demonization of Jotünheimr and its inhabitants.
Unaware of the growing opinions of Asgard, Laufey and his sizable clan had drawn plans to invade the main Fárbjódr camp, and thief what had been stolen from them long ago - the Casket of Ancient Winters.
One raid and a total of 7,000 casualties later, Utgard was restored to the fruitful and prosperous Citadel it once was, the threat of the Fárbjódrs negated.
Laufey, who had unknowingly been harvesting a sizable, albeit inactive magical core, was very surprised upon learning that he was with child. The father being his chief in command, Fárabuti The masses had rejoiced and he had been showered with gift upon gift, praised for his now apparent magical potential. Citizens had leaned from their marble balconies and showered the streets with precious jewels and confetti of silk, showing just how prosperous they had become, and how they wished to equally welcome the new heir of fortune.
He had birthed a fine heir, to the pleasure of the people and the surprise of none, the strong and healthy Helblindi. The child had been the eye of all of Utgard, he was everything Fárabuti and Laufey had wished for.
Soon after, Laufey learned that he was again with child, a cause for much more celebration within his small kingdom.
Again, parties were thrown with much enthusiasm, and people once again took to their balconies and showered the streets with valuables of every kind imaginable, although this time, the fortune that had blessed the Utgard Citadel would fall short. The All-Father, in all of his glorious wisdom had decided that it was a prudent matter to repress that Jotün population, and his way would be to wage a war in the name of freedom.
In immeasurable waves, the Asgardians appeared in Jotünheimr via Bi-Frost and marched with purpose to the Utgard Citadel with the belief that they were ridding Yggdrasil of evil. With fiery determination they raided homes and killed without bias upon the outskirts of the city.
Soon the race of warriors had approached the wall, bloodied and hard of breath, but ready to demolish the walls surrounding.
With cries and yells of war, the icy fortress protecting the inhabitants of Utgard slowly crumbled. The shabby inexperienced seidr layering and warding the blocks of ice held strong for a mere minute before they gave way to the brute strength of the Æsir's. Flaming arrows rained dutifully upon the innocents, leaving trails of unforgiving flame in their wake.
All the while, Fárabuti readied the Jotün warriors, and Laufey huddled inside of Utgard Loki's temple, crying and trembling with pain. Harsh shrieks of pure pain resonated throughout the Limestone temple.
His face scrunched up in tears as three hand maidens entered the sacred room, and no sooner than they lay their king upon the bedrock table in the center of the circular walls, a blinding flash of lightning brought forth the babe Loki.
The handmaidens were terrified, especially Mardi. The giantess cradled the head of the runt giant while her companions Dido and Fela wove healing seidr throughout Laufey's stressed body. Just as the babe let loose his first cry of life, Laufey rose roughly from the flat sheet of rock.
"Let me see him." Laufey walked to where Mardi stood cradling the fragile child with worry.
"Helblindi will be pleased, as will the Lord Fárabuti." Mardi's tone wavered and exposed all worry with carelessness. Laufey craned his neck to see the tiny babe, no bigger than the size of a midgardian newborn, as opposed to the normal size he should be, the size of midgardian four year old.
A crash boomed through Utgard in that moment and a grand shake terrified it's inhabitants. The war had begun.
"He was born of lightning and chaos, fire rains from the sky as his dawn begins. He will renew the Yggdrasil. He is the ørl g." Laufey prophesized as he shifted the newborn in his arms. Scarlet eyes peered at him curiously, and a sapphire blue hand grasped futilely toward his face.
"Mardi, I must leave, I must defend my people. Defend the prince with your life. Worry not, Helblindi is with Fárabuti, you will meet her later." Laufey lay Loki in Mardi's arms and began toward the door.
"Wait, my king! You will surely perish-" Mardi trailed off as a visible wave of energy tore through the realm. The transverse length caused all four adults to buckle over and little Loki to begin wailing uncontrollably.
In that moment, Laufey knew all fighting would be futile, the Casket was removed from its resting place, and that meant that the Fárbjódrs had aided the Æsir in their conquest, thinking that they would be spared.
If the hoarse screams of Jotün warriors meant anything, it was that the brutish Æsir had discarded the trader Jotüns, after all treason was above murder in Asgardian law.
"King Laufey, your attempts would be for naught-" Mardi began, only to be cut off just as swiftly.
"I will fight till my death, Valhalla awaits. Meet Fárabuti in the temple of Ætt. Raise my sons well." With one last look at his beautiful creation, Laufey turned his back on the maidens and exited the temple.
"We cannot possibly leave now, the Æsir, maybe even the Fárbjódrs are abound. We'll all be killed." Fela stressed, wringing her large hands in front of her. Her sister Dido shared the same expression, and looked to their cousin Mardi for guidance. They were given explicit orders by their King Laufey, but they would only lead to the certain death of all of them.
Mardi turned swiftly, much to Loki's discomfort, and the babe began fussing after having finally quieted down. She placed him into Fela's waiting arms, and the younger giantess cooed in what was supposed to be a soothing tone, but only spelled uncertainty and worry. Mardi traced the black walls walls with her smooth hands. "Dido, Fela, come. We'll ward the temple." Mardi rushed toward the doors.
"But don't we have to be outside? What of the prince?" Dido asked, watching Fela as she placed Loki upon the alter on which he was birthed.
"Yes, but they will not reach Loki, and we will only be minutes. Come sister." Fela answered for Mardi, and made way to the door, her thin skirt flowing around her ankles, leaving Dido no chance for objection. The three maidens made their way out of the temple, and right to the face of the All-Father.
The rest was history.
Now, all would be righted; the Mærr kynslód of Utgard Loki had been revived. Jotünheimr had a king who listened to the people, who helped the poor and revived the realm. Loki had returned the Casket of Ancient Winters to its rightful resting place, and Heimdall's vision was impaired under a guise that Jotünheimr remained just as pitiful as it was a century back.
The realm was brighter, the sun shined with warmth rather than a punishing glare that the giants had been so accustomed to. The children played outside and the adults gathered in sitting rooms, speaking of the way fortune seemed to be smiling upon them.
Loki may have been the ósællgir of Asgard, but he was a Jotün first and foremost, and he ruled with the wellbeing of the people in mind.
He was a fine leader.
Of course there were those who opposed his rule, who argued that Helblindi should be seated at the throne as the rightful heir, that Loki had lived under Æsir influence far too long to be of any value to the Jotüns. That his royal blood shouldn't even be recognized.
These rebels were called to court and seated in front of the King. Yes, seated, like they were of some equality to Loki. They were coerced and reasoned with.
If at the end of the sitting session, one did not agree, one was dealt with.
His or her fate would be decided by Loki, death being the consistent ruling. Surprisingly, the Jotüns respected the iron fisted decision to have all rebels sentenced to execution. They were afraid that if the rebels were exiled to the Útar, then the resentment would breed a new generation of Fárbjódrs.
All was well in Jotünheimr, but now it was time for them to prepare for the upcoming changes in the Nine Realms, and that included raising an Army.
"Yes King Brother, that is correct." Helblindi looked at his younger brother with a sense of admiration. He had done what no other had succeed in doing, he brought back the Casket. He deserved the throne.
Loki shifted and adjusted his loin cloth. It was time for order.
"I want all able bodied men over the age of semi-maturity trained by the finest swordsmen and marksmen we have. All of those men will be tested for magical aptitude and if so capable, will be trained accordingly. All women of mature age and over, without children, are to be trained and tested as well. We will have an army within a Midgardian year."
Loki dictated with a pensive look upon his face. It was time to approach his daughter.
The playing field was about to get a whole lot larger.
Translations- Fárbjódr(s): Destroyer, destroyers; Útar: Outlands; Ósællgir: ill-favored; Ørl g: destiny, war, fate; Mærr: famous, noble, glorious; Kynslód: family, progeny; Ætt: direction, ancestry; Ædra: despair
A/N: Just some background and some information so you know what Tony and Loki are planning and the moves they're making. Hope you liked it!