Chapter Thirty Seven

When they reached Jotunheim, Loki started getting second thoughts. What if he had led them all to their slaughter, all for the sake of being king?

"Too late to back out now," someone said behind him. He turned and saw Rissa.

"You do realize that I can astral project," she said. She put her hands on her hips. "You're a real idiot, you know."

Loki shook his head slightly, rolling his eyes. Looking around, he realized that no one else had noticed her, even Thor.

"You're the only one who can see me," she said, answering his silent question.

"No, I can't read your mind," she said, answering his other silent question. "I just know how you think. Or, I thought I knew. But now I have no idea what the fuck is running through your head, with this stupid plan!"

"We shouldn't be here," Hogun said.

"Let's move," Thor said, ignoring Hogun's warnings.

The group walked in silence for minutes, Rissa tagging along next to Loki.

"Where are they?" Sif asked.

"Hiding," Thor replied. "As cowards always do."

"Your brother is going to get himself killed," Rissa said, sighing exasperatedly. "It's a wonder he doesn't give your mother a heart attack what with you two running off all the time. She probably worries to death about you two."

"You've come a long way to die, Asgardians," Laufey whispered.

"I am Thor Odinson," Thor boomed.

"We know who you are," they hissed.

"How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor questioned.

Laufey was quiet before whispering with a smile, "The House of Odin…is full of traitors."

Loki hoped that Rissa had yet to figure out that he was one of them.

"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies!" Thor shouted.

Laufey stood up. "Your father is a murderer and a thief!" He continued. "And why have you come here? To make peace? You long for battle. You crave it. You're nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man."

"This boy has grown tired of your mockery," Thor replied. He had yet to notice the Frost Giants approaching and surrounding them.

Loki saw how Rissa looked at him. He had to act now, if he wanted to avoid suspicion, much less get everyone out of there alive. "Thor, stop, and think." He said, pulling Thor back. "Look around you, we're out-numbered." He had to stop this from getting out of hand.

"Remember your place brother," Thor said, glaring at Laufey.

Fine. Loki backed away. Thor was going to get himself killed, and someday, maybe today, Loki wouldn't be able to prevent it.

"You know not what your actions would unleash," Laufey warned. He got a look on his face, like he was remembering. "I do." He walked towards them. "Go now, while I still allow it."

"We will accept…" Loki interrupted, seeing a chance to stop this. Plus, Thor would still get in trouble for coming here in the first place. It was almost perfect. "…your most gracious offer."

Thor looked at Loki. He wanted to fight, but he knew that Loki was right.

"Come on brother," Loki said, and Thor stopped glaring at Laufey and turned to walk away.

"Run back home, little princess," Laufey whispered.

Loki froze. "Damn."

"Shit," Rissa whispered.

Thor smiled, lowered Mjolnir, and turned, raising his hammer and bashing Laufey in the chest. Laufey went flying in the other direction.

"Next?" Thor asked, a crazed look in his eyes. He swung Mjolnir in the other direction, right as a Frost Giant came at him.

And then they were all fighting.

...

"At least make it a challenge for me," Thor boasted.

Oh, brother, Loki thought. Someday, you'll be the death of us.

More Frost Giants jumped down to the battlefield. One of them roared, and Thor roared back, imitating them. He laughed.

Laufey came back down and attacked Thor. Thor skidded backwards, laughing, and said, "That's more like it!"

Loki hid behind an ice boulder and created a false image of himself, standing on the edge of the cliff. As a Frost Giant charged him, it fell through the image and tumbled down the side

Volstagg groaned as a Frost Giant froze his hand. It was so cold, it burned. "Don't let them touch you!" he warned, groaning.

Loki fought one of the Frost Giants. The creature grabbed his arm. Loki's arm froze over, cracking and breaking. The sheet of blue ice broke off, revealing white skin underneath. It slowly turned blue…but it didn't freeze. Loki looked up at the Frost Giant with fear in his eyes, stabbing it in the chest. He didn't feel okay until all of the blue faded.

Fandral fought a Frost Giant, only to end up being stabbed with icicles.

"Thor!" Sif cried, while Hogun and Volstagg pulled Fandral off the icicles.

"We must go!" Loki said. He was scared. He feared for all of them, but most of all, he feared for himself.

What had happened to his skin?

"Go!" Thor commanded, throwing Mjolnir through several Frost Giants.

Laufey sent a ripple through the ice, releasing a giant beast.

"Run!" Volstagg shouted, helping Hogun carry Fandral.

The beast started chasing after them.

As they ran, the ice cracked underneath them, falling off.

The beast fell under the ice, and Fandral smiled.

Little did they know, the beast had run under the ice, slowly catching up to them.

As they reached the edge of the ice, someone shouted, "Open the bridge!"

Yet it didn't open, for the beast climbed under and slowly rose along the edge to face them.

It roared in this face.

No! Loki thought. This wasn't what he wanted. How had it gotten so far out of hand?

Well, he should have realized that no plan would be stable when his brother was involved.

...

Thor spun Mjolnir around and flew into the air, flying from the battlefield all the way to the edge of the cliff where the rest of them stood.

The beast roared, opening its mouth, and….Thor flew right through it, ripping a huge hole in the back of its skull.

The beast collapsed, falling off the cliff, and Thor landed right in front of them.

The following Frost Giants surrounded them.

The BiFrost lit up, as Odin, riding a horse, appeared on the edge.

"Father!" Thor shouted. "We'll finish them together!"

"Quiet!" Odin commanded.

Laufey rose to meet Odin.

...

As they conversed over war, Rissa snuck up next to Loki.

"Would you look at that," she whispered in his ear. "For once, there was a time when Loki was stupider than Thor. Which is really, really saying something, because this time, he was stupider than usual."

Oh. He was in deep trouble with Rissa.

"If it's war you want, so be it," Odin commanded. He raised his staff, and their little group was sucked up by the BiFrost.

...

You guys are awesome, but PLEASE comment! I have a severe anxiety problem, and you have NO IDEA how much you will help. Also, thanks to LunaWolfAngel for being awesome and checking out my story! Check out the story she co-writes, it's called SuperWhoVengers Assemble. Thanks to CatietheAwesome for corrections, BrennatheTriplet for getting the joke (well, a bunch of you probably got it, but she commented about it), and Akiko42 and swimmingsierra24 and superwholockiscool for encouraging me to write! Please comment more, even if it's a little, tiny thing, like 'haha funny chapter'. Seriously, please, if you could just put a tiny thing down for each chapter!

And good luck to the people who go back to school tomorrow!