Hi, everybody! In honor of Infinity War (that I'm going to the midnight premiere of. Woohoo!) and the fact that I'm super busy this weekend, here's the super short chapter two! Most of these chapters are short, but there are also ones that are pretty long, too. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I take no claim to these characters. All rights belong to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Two

"I'm sure you would like to know why you're here," Thanos said with a voice that shook the rocky ground, "and the answer is simple: you are very powerful, Asgardian."

Part of me wanted to correct him-I'm not Asgardian. Odin had proved that well enough-but I held my tongue.

"The Earth is playing host to several gems called Infinity Stones," Thanos continued, "and I am in the midst of collecting them. Do you know what Infinity Stones can do?"

"They're immensely powerful objects that give the user authority over a certain aspect of reality," I answered, playing along as I tried to figure this Thanos out.

I've never seen or heard of him before. He had control of the Other and most likely armies of people like him. He already seemed powerful, so why would he need the Infinity Gems?

"Precisely," Thanos congratulated, leaning forward slightly in his floating throne. "I have located and obtained one of the Infinity Stones, but many still remain on the planet Earth. With your abilities, I will be able to gain the power of the Gems that reside on Earth rather than bury them under a pile of rubble."

Pile of rubble? He wants to invade Earth? Thor cared for those three he left on Midgard more than for me-it was part of the reason I let go. If Midgard was taken, it would break Thor's heart.

If Thanos was asking for my help to invade Earth, I wouldn't give it to him. It might not stop him, but it would delay him and maybe even give off warning signs that Thor or Heimdall could identify. "No," I said firmly, smoothing my expression and lifting my chin.

Thanos leaned back into his chair again. "I thought you'd want to," he muttered as the Other slunk between two columns of stone and disappeared into the shadows. "After everything that happened to you anyways. A father and brother who betrayed you, your the homeland of your heritage nearly destroyed...you have nowhere else to go." Negotiation tactics that fed off of emotion. It was simple enough to identify and fight if you kept yourself neutral, but that didn't mean his words didn't strike a chord in my heart. "But I'm sure you'll change your mind," Thanos assured, the Other coming back into the light with a gold and silver scepter. The Other took a step towards me, brandishing the pointed scepter, but Thanos held up a hand. "Though, admittedly, I'd rather that you decided for yourself. It would be easier. It might just take some convincing."

Thanos lowered his hand, and the Other continued forward, extending the scepter until the sharp, glimmering tip touched my chest, a bright golden light emitting from the shining gem in the blade.

I gasped at the rush. Whatever was inside that scepter had immeasurable power, and it invaded every part of me. It took my mind and rearranged it in a way that made me feel simultaneously exhausted and alive, sending waves of almost unbearable bliss and thrill rocketing through me as I was pulled into a dream.

"You don't have to worry about me, Brother," I assured. "I will no longer be in your way."

"What are you talking about? We're never in each other's way," Thor contradicted. "We are brothers and therefore equals. Now, put your book down, cease your complaining and come join us on the field. We were going to have a horse race. Last one to the edge of Asgard has to clean the stables. You in? The only rule would be 'No teleporting'."

I smiled and marked my page, placing the book down on the table. "It sounds like it will be fun."

"Excellent!" Thor shouted, racing up from the sofa and out the door. After a moment, he poked his head through the doorway again. "You are coming, aren't you?"

I nodded and stood in answer. Thor took off down the hall again, and I had to jog to catch up. We ran all the way through the palace and out to the field where Lady Sif and the others already waited with horses prepared. "There you are!" Fandral called. "We've been waiting for you for ages."

"Well, I had to get Loki, didn't I?" Thor dismissed as he mounted one of the horses.

"Either way, it took you forever," Sif countered, climbing atop her own horse.

We all mounted our horses and kicked them forward. We raced through the streets, blasting by other Asgardians as they went about their daily activities. The others quickly disappeared from sight as Thor and I pulled ahead.

My brother inched ahead of me, and I was about to kick my horse faster when I remembered a shortcut near where we were. I spotted the path, tugged my horse down it and dug my heels into its side. The animal whined before taking off, leaving clouds of dust behind.

The buildings grew smaller and far between, and grass was gradually coming into sight. It wasn't long before my charging horse reached that grass and the ocean that marked edge of Asgard came into view. I pulled back on the horse's reins, forcing it to slow to a halt. I turned the animal around and watched Thor's small form quickly grow until he caught up with me.

"How'd you get here so fast?" he questioned, his voice slightly higher than normal.

I shrugged casually. "You said I couldn't teleport, and I didn't. Just took a shortcut."

"You'll have to teach me that one day," Thor insisted as he dismounted.

I followed his lead as the others finally appeared in the distance, each coming into the field one by one.

"Guess that means Volstagg cleaning the stables," Sif laughed, earning a dramatic groan from our slow-moving friend.

"Wake up," a distant voice ordered, but I ignored it. The dream was already fading as I slowly woke, but I strained to keep it. It was the best dream I've had in a while, so I wasn't going to give it up without a fight.

A sharp kick to my stomach made my eyes finally snap open as my torso throbbed dully, making my still-healing rib ache. I found the Other standing above me with a metal tray. "You can dream again later," he assured as he dropped the tray on the cold, stone ground next to me. "But for now, you need to eat." The Other turned his back to me and started to walk out of the cell they were keeping me in, but he froze at the barred door. "That is if you want to dream again." The Other opened the cell door and banged it shut behind him, walking down one of the adjoining tunnels.

After a moment, I managed to force myself to sit up, but the world tilted when I did, nearly sending me back to the ground. I leaned forward and put my head in my hands, holding it until the world settled back down.

I glanced down to the tray and the meal that the Other had brought me-if it could be called a meal. It was a meager slice of bread, a cup of broth and a small, tin cup of water. Thor could eat an entire calf by himself-I've seen him do it-and I've never had his appetite, but even I needed to have more than this for it to be considered a meal.

My stomach grumbled and forced me to pick up the slice of bread and tear a piece off. I popped it into my mouth and swallowed, but my stomach lurched so sharply that bile rose into my mouth. I instantly leaned over and spat the acidic liquid out, the piece of bread I had chewed coming up with it. My stomach heaved and heaved of its own accord, and I threw up whatever else I had inside of me until I was left retching with nothing coming up, waves of dull pain radiating through me.

What did they do to me? The Other touched me with that Scepter, and now I can't eat, I'm dizzy, and throwing up.

Sweat dripped down my nose and onto the floor. It was unbearably hot in here. It was always hot in here, but it seems even worse now.

The power of that scepter was dangerous, and I never wanted it to touch me again.

But it also gave me that dream. It felt...good, and I know it shouldn't.

Hope you enjoyed chapter two! Chapter three is soon to come, so keep a look out!