It did not take long for Thor to reach this "amusement park" that his brother appeared in. He had heard Captain Rogers and Tony speak of such places. These parks were used by the mortals as a way to have fun, it was where many of them went when on vacation. Though when he arrived there he was a little confused. From the tales he had heard he thought these places were to be filled with people, but instead it was emptier than an abandoned cave.

"Strange."

The place was so strange. There were small carts attached to the roof by poles, and a giant wheel that turned in the sky. There were pictures of men and women made with the board of card with their faces cut out, and balloons danced in the breeze next to a booth.

"Brother?"

Thor turned his head to see his brother Loki, a smile gleaning across his face, brighter than even the sun. In his hand he cradled a small stuff toy. "Thor! What a wonderful surprise." His smile grew wider.

"L-Loki." Thor still had not gotten used to his brother's smile, it made him want to run up and embrace his brother and never let go. He shook his head, he had a job to do. "Loki, I must have words with you."

Loki nodded, "Yes yes, but first brother, how about you and I try-"

"Loki, there are matters that are much more important than your games. You must return to your post at once." Thor spoke with the authority of a prince. There was too much at stake to allow Loki any room for his tricks. He had to get Loki back, by any means necessary.

Loki rolled his eyes, "Did we not already go through this discussion brother?" He clutched his stuffed toy, a bear with a yellow hat, to his chest. "I do not wish to return to chaos."

"What you wish, Loki, is irrelevant."

Loki cringed…how many times had he heard those words before? How many times had father shook his head at his practice of magic, or Thor's friends scoff at his love for words rather than steel.

"Brother, regardless of what you say, I'm still not going to return."

This was getting frustrating. Thor had been there for five minutes and already he was resorting back to what had already failed. He had to keep his wits about him. This task was about understating Loki's motives and trying to figure out what his plot was.

"Why did you come here Loki?"

Loki's smile returned. "I wanted to try out this amusement park, I had heard they were fun." Loki's eyes began to perk. "Why don't you join me? We can experience it together."

This would be perfect. Thor could get close to Loki without forcing himself, and maybe he and the rest of the realms could get some answers.

The two brothers explored the park, and even though it was empty Loki used his magic to operate all of the machinery and games so that they could at least experience it.

"So," Thor asked as he launched a ball at a pyramid of empty bottles. "Are you enjoying you 'vacation'?" Those words felt so hallow coming from Thor's lips. He could rightly see a great change in his brother, but unfortunately that change had dire consequences for everyone else.

"Brother, it's wonderful." Loki said as he floated a stuffed alligator to his brother. Thor did win it fair and square did he not?

Thor cocked his eyebrow. "So, you're content with a world without chaos. That means that there is no mischief for you to take part in brother." How could Loki ever be happy in a world where is influence was gone?

"The thing about chaos, brother, is that when you're busy making it, you're also too busy to have your own life."

Did those words just spill from Loki's lips? Thor would have been ecstatic. No, he should have been the happiest being in all the nine realms, his brother was so at peace…but that happiness came at a cost. How could he change so suddenly?

"What brought this on brother? This sudden change of heart?"

And then Loki's smile faded like sunlight behind a storm. His arms fell to his side, and his eyes began to turn red, as if he were fighting back a strange fear. "I just felt like I needed a change."

Strange.

Next they went on a machine called a "roller coaster", the thing moved faster than any beast the two brothers had ever come across. Loki insisted on riding it again and again…and then he threw up in a nearby waste bin.

"What's next?" Loki asked. "We could try the merry-go-round, or-"

"Loki," Thor's voice was even. "You know I will have to tell father of this."

Loki blinked twice. "I know brother."

"Why don't you just return to Asgard with me? We can make all right again."

"And what exactly is wrong brother? Was it not you who urged me to 'give up my mad dream'? Were those not your words?"

Thor winced at the memory. "Aye, they were."

"So now that I've done what, not only you, but father, and your Avenger comrades, and everyone in the nine realms, have asked of me, you want me to return to what earned me your disdain." Loki's eyes were even and never wavered.

"Your role is important Loki, if this is some scheme of vengeance on the realms, we will not tolerate it."

"This is not about the realms brother. This is not about you, or vengeance. This is about me. This is about what makes me happy, and finally being able to pursue it. I do not understand any of you sometimes." Loki looked at his stuffed bear and sighed. "My only scheme is to live freely, and if that is the crime that will earn me greater condemnation than fine. But know this brother, I will not return to my old ways just because you deepen your voice, tower over me and demand it…there's nothing for me to gain anyway."

The sun was going down. It was time for them to depart.

"Next time," Loki began, "I'll bring my cat Leon. I can't wait for you two to meet."

"Aye." Thor felt a small chill run up his spine. "I look forward to it."

"I had fun brother."

The night began to engulf them both, and within seconds Loki had disappeared. Thor returned to the mansion that night, a stuffed alligator pressed against his chest.

"Good work Thor." Natasha said as she came out to greet him.

"I miss your meaning Lady Natasha."

"We were going over the footage and I think we've learned a little more about Loki, and whatever his plan is…if he even has one."

"What?"

"When you asked him about his sudden change of heart, he looked…sad almost." Her lips curved into a sneer. "I think we just got our first lead."