(Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! Please review! Feedback rocks my socks people!)

Chapter 11

"I've told you," said Emmeline, irritably. "I know nothing. If Loki has a plan, I don't know it. Can I leave now?"

"Surely he must have shared something with you," said Thor, determined. Emmeline stood up and banged her hands on the table they had been sitting at, filled with rage not entirely caused by Thor.

"Why do you automatically assume that he plots against you? Can't he just be happy to fight alongside his brother and save his people from the harsh rule of monsters?" Thor stood up as well, her anger swaying his.

"How do you expect me to trust him? After all he has done!" he retorted.

"I don't! I expect you to love him and treat him as your brother. Not as a science experiment." Thor sighed.

"Why are you so angry?" he asked, his tone softer.

"That is not of your concern," she said. "…I'm worried about him. Now let me go." Thor nodded to a guard to allow Emmeline to leave the room and return to Loki's chambers.

Ever since the night after training, Loki had been different. He had distanced himself from her for a strange reason Emmeline could not figure out. It agitated her; she felt as if he wasn't telling her something. And if that was the case, she wanted to know. When she returned to Loki's chambers, he was sitting in a chair, looking as if he was deep in thought.

"Loki," said Emmeline.

"Yes," he replied, lazily looking up at her.

"Something is wrong with you," she said. "What is it?"

"I know not of anything wrong with me love," he said. "I am simply thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Battle is drawing nearer," he said. "One must think quite a bit before then." Emmeline was not satisfied at all. This worried her even more.

"Loki, please! Are you sick? There is something you aren't telling me, and I want to know what it is. You can't simply detach yourself from me and expect me not to notice. I know you better than that. Now tell me what is wrong." Loki shot her an irritated look.

"I am fine, Emmeline," he said, rather harshly, as if he was hissing at her. The look he gave her was dangerous; it frightened her a little.

"The Chitauri have my scepter," he said, however it didn't sound like he was talking directly to her. "And I will be getting it back."


The day had come. Thor and his army of Asgardian warriors—which included Loki and Emmeline—would travel to the Chitauri realm and end the war they had started. Odin had gathered them all into the observatory in front of the bifrost to be taken to the Chitauri realm.

Odin stood in front of the crowd of warriors upon the golden platform, looking down at all of them with authority.

"Today," he started, his voice booming throughout the room, "the war with the Chitauri will end. We will fight with our greatest efforts. Some of us will fall; but with the knowledge that our honor will be preserved. We are Asgard, mother of the nine realms, and we will see a victory." The warriors cheered, and Thor looked over at Loki, who had a mischievous smile on his face. This worried Thor.

Odin ordered Heimdall to push the golden sword into the pedestal, opening the bifrost. It took the Asgardian army into its vortex, and as soon as they were dropped into the Chitauri realm; the war began. Warriors rushed forward, toward the Chitari palace and the soldiers that came out of the shadows. Thor ran out to the battlefield with Mjolnir, swinging it at Chitauri soldiers and looking around for Sif and the Warriors Three. Over his shoulder, Thor could see Emmeline throwing her fire at soldiers and freezing some, shattering them with one kick. Loki was fighting alongside her, stabbing soldiers and kicking them to the ground.

Thor made his way over to Loki and Emmeline to fight with them. He heard Emmeline call out to him.

"Thor! Take this one!" she said, thrusting her fire at a soldier. When he had caught on fire, Thor swung Mjolnir at him and smashed him into the ground. Loki tried to fight close to Emmeline; Thor could see he was trying to make sure she didn't get hurt again.

Just then, the whales began to come out. They flew up in the sky, dipping down to take out Asgardian soldiers. Thor turned his attention toward one that he realized was about to dip down and take out Sif. Thor whipped Mjolnir around and it flew him in Sif's direction. Right before the whale touched the ground, Thor grabbed Sif and flew into the side of a mountain. He set her down.

"Thank you," she said, giving him a small smile as she hopped off to fight with Volstagg. Thor saw many Chitauri soldiers coming at him and suddenly Loki was at his side; his back against Thor's.

"I'll cover your back," he said, attacking the soldiers with Thor. One soldier came up to Thor that was bigger than all the others. He threw Thor to the ground, and before he could strike him, Loki drove a dagger into the side of his head. He gave Thor his hand and pulled him up.

"Where is Emmeline?" Thor asked him. Loki smiled.

"She has a brilliant plan," he said. "In fact, you may need to get above ground. Come," Loki said. He led Thor to a mountain and climbed up the side. As soon as they were on top, Thor saw Emmeline completely envelope herself in flames. She waved her hands over the ground and her fire spread across the battlefield, setting Chitauri soldiers on fire as it came to them. The soldiers of the Asgardian army were fleeing into the Chitauri palace, and once they had all made it out of her flames' harm, she blocked the palace entrance for the Chitauri soldiers. She walked slowly through the battlefield, watching Chitauri soldiers burn.

"She is magnificent," said Loki, watching her. Thor looked at Loki, and Loki slowly turned his head to Thor. Suddenly Thor saw Loki's horned helmet and Chitauri scepter appear on him. Loki smiled at Thor mischievously and whacked him with his scepter, causing his brother to fall. Loki stood over him menacingly.

"You were a fool to let me join this battle," said Loki, smirking. "Certainly you must have known I would betray you brother." Thor got up and held his hand out for Mjolnir.

"I don't want to fight you brother!" said Thor. "But I will if it comes to that." Mjolnir landed in his hand.

"If you care for your life you will have to," said Loki. He quickly turned around; seeing that Emmeline had turned off her flames when all the Chitauri soldiers had fallen. Then to Thor's horror, Loki extended his hand and a green glow illuminated from it, turning off the illusion of the dead soldiers. On the battlefield stood the Chitauri soldiers; alive. Loki addressed them when they looked to Emmeline, who was equally horrified.

"Don't touch the woman!" Loki commanded. "She is not an enemy." Thor saw Emmeline flash Loki a look of fury. She didn't know. She told Thor the truth. Loki turned back to Thor, his scepter glowing blue.

"My most sincere apologies," said Loki. "I have never been one for sentiment."

Loki swung his scepter at Thor, and Thor used Mjolnir to fly into the Chitauri palace, in an empty throne room. Loki followed him quickly.

"You cannot run from this, brother!" he said, rearing back to strike him again. Thor held Mjolnir up, ready to retaliate. But as Loki swung at Thor, Emmeline appeared.

"Loki don't hit him!" she exclaimed. She ran in front of Thor before Loki could attack him again and thrust her fire at him. It sent Loki to the other end of the room and he struggled to get off of the floor. He glanced up at Emmeline.

"Enough!" Emmeline yelled with authority, looking to both of them. "Thor, take your army back to Asgard. I wish to speak with Loki alone." Thor nodded and left to do as she said.


"This was not the plan, Loki!" Emmeline yelled. He looked at her intently.

"But don't you understand?" he said. "I have an army. We can go there now; to Asgard, and I can take the throne. I can imprison Odin and banish Thor to Midgard where his beloved Jane Foster resides! This is what we wanted!" Emmeline shook her head.

"No Loki. This is what you wanted…apparently. I didn't even know this is what you wanted! Funny, I thought you actually wanted to help your brother. How foolish of me. Why didn't you tell me?" Loki gave her an irritated look.

"Must I tell you everything?" he said.

"Yes, Loki! I have given myself completely to you; why can't you do the same? Why are you so detached? I followed you in everything, I never questioned you—"

"—You distracted me! Don't you understand; this was supposed to be my goal from the beginning, before I even gave notice to your glorious existence! And now you're ruining it; like every other plan. …Well not this time. You will no longer be a distraction to me and my goals." Emmeline looked at him with horror. Why was he being this way?

"What are you saying?" said Emmeline, his words piercing her heart. Loki turned away from her.

"I am saying…leave this place. Leave me alone," he said. Emmeline looked at him coldly, but with a fiery surge of emotion as her heart broke.

"Very well," she said, her voice shaking softly. "If that's what you want. Goodbye Loki. But I hope you know that…your empire will fall. And I will not be there to comfort you." Emmeline turned away from him and went outside to call to Heimdall; fighting the tears streaming down her face.


Loki did not understand what just happened. He had formulated a brilliant plan just as soon as he had felt his scepter calling to him. A perfect way to seize the throne. Why hadn't Emmeline been happy? Why did she want him to tell her? One does not share their plans of treason. But as Emmeline left the Chitauri palace, Loki felt an excruciating pain. A pain unlike any he had felt before. How had this happened? But he decided that this was the last time he would care. Why had he allowed himself to care about her when he knew full well that she would go away one way or another? He was a fool; and he would not let it happen again.

Loki stood outside the Chitauri palace and addressed his army.

"In recompense for the salvation of your people," he said, projecting his voice, "I only require that you journey with me to Asgard, to overthrow the Allfather Odin and help me regain my rightful place as king."

Loki used his scepter to transport him and his army to Asgard. They appeared on the rainbow bridge. Loki turned to face his army.

"Ravage the palace," he said, almost trembling with excitement at his own words. "Leave nothing but Odin and Thor." The army of Chitauri marched in the direction of the palace to do as they were told.

Loki stood still on the bifrost. His dream; his goal he had worked for his entire life was about to be achieved.

…So why wasn't he happier? He was, in fact…unhappy. It couldn't possibly be Emmeline. He'd dreamt of this day before even meeting her, and it was because of this that he met her in the first place. So what was it that was driving him to this state of dissatisfaction?

Loki was not going to let this keep him from reveling in his long-awaited success. He pushed this bothersome feeling to the back of his head and started for the palace to see his army's good work.

When he arrived at the front of the palace, he stopped a soldier from flying in with a hovercraft and commanded the soldier give it to him. The soldier did as he was told and ran on foot into the palace. Loki stood upon the hovercraft and flew it above the palace so he could watch its demise from a bird's eye.

Screams and the clanging of swords were the sounds coming from the palace as Loki watched from above. He smiled to himself as he heard the sound of chains. Loki flew the hovercraft down and stepped off of it, slowly walking into the palace.

There was violence and bloodshed going on everywhere between the palace guards and Chitauri soldiers. Loki looked around as he made his way to the throne room. When he entered, two Chitauri soldiers were holding Odin down, bounding him with chains. Loki smiled mischievously at his adoptive father.

"Well well, this is something I never thought I would see," said Loki, pacing around Odin with his hands behind his back. "The great Allfather Odin, defeated, bound with chains at the feet of his Frost Giant son. You have fallen a long way since this morning." Odin looked at Loki angrily, but with a hidden sadness; not saying a word. Loki knelt down to Odin.

"What's wrong, Father?" Loki whispered mockingly. "Are you so quickly speechless?" Odin still said nothing. Loki stood up and raised his chin in authority.

"Take him to the prison," Loki ordered the soldiers. "I must find my brother." The Chitauri soldiers nodded and took Odin away. Loki stood in place, listening for the sound of Thor's mighty yell. He heard it in what he thought was the banquet room.

Loki stood in the doorway of the banquet room and crossed his arms, watching Thor fight off his soldiers. He smirked to himself. Loki sighed loudly.

"You might want to put the hammer down," said Loki. Thor turned around to face his brother, anger written in his face.

"Loki!" he said. "Stop this right now!" Loki laughed, lifting his scepter.

"You're too late brother," he said. "Asgard is already mine." Loki blasted Thor with his scepter, causing him to fly across the room and drop Mjolnir. Loki commanded his soldiers to capture Thor before he could run back for his hammer. It took four soldiers to hold Thor in place and Loki smiled while Thor glared.

"Without that, brother," Loki said, gesturing to Mjolnir, "you are nothing." He nodded to the Chitauri soldiers to take Thor to the prisons.

Loki walked through the corridors of the Asgardian palace that was now his. His dream would come true. He would rule. He smiled to himself, but felt a twinge of sadness. There was something missing.


With tears streaming down her face, Stark tower was the only place Emmeline knew she could go. Tony was the only person she wanted to see. He would understand her. After Loki had bid her to leave, she commanded Heimdall to send her home to Earth. She had no reason to stay in Asgard any longer.

She stood in front of Tony's front door after ringing the doorbell, and Pepper answered the door, quickly frowning when she saw Emmeline's face.

"Oh honey what's wrong?" she asked, bringing Emmeline inside. Emmeline couldn't control her sobs and Pepper sat her on the couch and called for Tony.

"What's going on? Who's crying?" Tony said, walking into the living room with a small glass of Scotch.

"Emmeline," said Pepper, patting Emmeline's back. "I don't know what's wrong." Tony sat his Scotch on the table and sat next to Emmeline. He put his elbows on his knees and looked at her.

"What's the matter Red?" he asked. Emmeline tried to stop crying to look at Tony and Pepper.

"Loki…" she said. "We broke up…"

"That son of a bitch," said Tony, putting his arms around Emmeline.

"Do you want to tell us what happened?" asked Pepper.

Emmeline told them about the war against the Chitauri and how Loki had resurrected the soldiers with his illusions and fought with Thor. She even told them of their argument.

"He said you were a distraction?" said Pepper. "What does that even mean?"

"I don't know!" Emmeline sobbed. "I think he meant I was in the way of his plans."

"Well those are some messed up plans," said Tony. "If it helps, I always thought you were too good for Reindeer Games anyway." Emmeline tried to smile.

"Thanks you guys," she said. "I'm sorry to just bust in like this."

"No it's completely okay, you had a good reason," said Pepper. "Do you need somewhere to stay?"

"No it's okay," said Emmeline. "I'll go to the Moscow house."

"I'll fly you there," said Tony, standing up.

"It's alright, I already hate that I ruined you're evening," said Emmeline, realizing that it had been rude of her to just bust in their house in tears.

"You didn't, I'm glad you came to us. It's no problem Red, I swear," Tony replied. "I'll be back, Ms. Potts." Pepper smiled and waved goodbye to him.

"Jarvis," said Tony, summoning his Iron suit. Emmeline watched as the suit attached itself to him piece by piece. Once the suit had fully assembled, Tony grabbed Emmeline by her waist and flew her out the window.

A couple minutes went by and Emmeline still had her eyes closed. Tony flew fast and she was already a little nauseous.

"If you start to get queasy or anything I'll go slower," said Tony through his microphone in his suit. "Vomit would ruin the suit." Emmeline opened her eyes to look at him and smiled at his humor.

When they had arrived at Loki's house in Moscow, Tony gently put Emmeline on the ground in front of the door.

"Thanks Tony," she said.

"No problem," he said. "If you need anything, just call. I'll see you on the flip side." He saluted her and she smiled as he flew out of sight. Emmeline entered the house and went straight to the bedroom. She stood in the doorway, remembering the last time she was here. With Loki. She couldn't sleep there without thinking about him, she decided. So she slept on the couch that night.