Disclaimer: I don't own Thor, but *insert mildly witty comment*
As the brothers raced down the streets of Asgard, Loki's mind had already turned to when he would see his children again. At this point Loki was ready to cuddle his children and never let them go again. School be damned—they could watch National Geographic and live off of popcorn. Surely there wasn't anything that needed to be learned that they couldn't get through cable.
Ah, but what about Darcy? He hadn't forgotten about her. He just needed to get that part of the plan in action.
When the boys crossed the bridge—almost at Heimdall's Observatory—Loki clasped Thor on the shoulder.
"This is where we part," Loki said. "But I do have a plan for you."
Thor nodded.
…
When Loki felt the pull of space travel for the third time in one Midgardian afternoon, he began to question his choices in life. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to rule in Oden's stead? Maybe he shouldn't have banished Thor? Maybe he shouldn't have taken Lovely Darcy on that date? Ah… Lovely Darcy. Nope. That settles it. His choices in life were just fine.
Loki fell to his hands and knees as the vortex dropped his body on Earth. He concentrated—for just a few moments—on keeping the contents of his stomach where they belonged. As his eyes opened and began to wander the earth where he was deposited, he noticed the sphinx's prints. Right. His anger slightly reenergized him and he stood up.
Loki walked the few steps to where the prints ended, and opened up the vial.
He dumped the contents through the air where the portal should have opened.
Nothing happened.
He clenched his fist.
Loki stared at the dirt for a while.
Still, nothing happened.
He began to wonder where he went wrong. Perhaps it had been talking to Oden in the throne room? That was the first point where his plans started to go awry. Then the smashed vial. Seeing Thor. The crone.
Loki continued to stare at the dirt—and no, those weren't tears in his eyes because they were only his kids and he and Darcy could have new ones and it wasn't like he was attached to the half breed Midgardians anyways. But who was he kidding? He couldn't give up now.
Loki continued to stare at the dirt, now with light blue beams showing through, and tried to devise another way to get his kids back. He could go to the well of Mirmir. Give up an eye for the sake of knowledge—
Wait. Blue light?
Slightly startled, Loki pulled himself from his thoughts to stare at the now very bright blue dirt.
Loki smirked. It had worked.
Without a second thought, Loki stepped in the portal.