One day at a diner on the outskirts of Forestvale, Loki Foxfheyson was sitting by himself in a booth. That was until he was joined by Nick Wilde. "Come, Nick, sit down." Loki offered.
"Okay, what is this about? All you gave me was a note with an address for this place." Nick said as he sat down.
"Well, to put it simply... I love your sister." Loki said. "I only ever want the best for her. I want to make her happy, and I presume you'd do anything to be close to her again."
"That... is something I'd want," Nick said. "Is this about the immortality cramps you gave her?"
"For the last time, it wasn't deliberate," Loki said as he rolled his eyes. "But yes, this is about the geis that Idunn placed in the elixir that made Angela a goddess in the first place. All I'm going to say is that the effects it's having on her are getting worse."
"Worse how?" Nick asked with suspicion.
"Well, now when she gets even a little upset. She farts." Loki said, Nick, stifled a laugh. "Yes, laugh at the bit of potty humor. You wouldn't if you got a face full of that... that unholy stink on your face." Nick burst out laughing. "Please Nicholas... don't tempt me to teach you the hard way why that isn't a laughing matter. Because believe me... the smell is apocalyptic." Loki said in all seriousness.
"Okay... okay," Nick said through his laughter. "So... how do we get rid of this geis thingy?"
"Well first, we need to find the head of Mimir," Loki said.
"What, him again?... it was unsettling enough the first time we kidnapped him," Nick said as he cringed.
"Yes, lugging around a severed head is rather disturbing," Loki said. "But Mimir knows better than anyone how to undo Angela's curse without removing her immortality."
Nick groaned. "I can already hear the 'but' to all of this."
"Well... there is a complication." Loki said. "I tried to get to Mimir myself. But he's been placed under heightened security since that whole affair with you're wife's nightmares and the Timeless Void. So in other words... I need a crew to break into Middengard."
Nick looked flabbergasted. "You want me to organize a crew?... I don't know what you think I did before I met Judy. But the most I did was make pawsicles with Fenneck! I've never once been on a heist!"
"But you know people who have been on a heist before," Loki said matter-of-factly.
"Well... yes, I do," Nick said.
"Then get into contact with them. But before you do... I have something to sweeten the deals." Loki said as a waitress brought in his order. "All on me, of course."
"Loki, you drive a hard bargain," Nick said as he dug into the free breakfast for him.
XXXX
"Nicholas Piberius Wilde!" Judy yelled in aggravation. "Would you mind explaining what's going on here?!" And she was right to be annoyed, as there were nine other Mammals in her living room.
"I'll field this one, Nick," Loki said. "Nick gathered these mortals together so that we might plan a heist into Middengard."
Judy looked incredulous. "I... Nick. Might I infer that there's a good reason why you're going along with this?"
"It's about curing Angela of her geis," Nick said.
"Fair enough," Judy said. "But that still doesn't answer my question about why all these Mammals are in my living room."
"Well, where else would we meet?" Loki said. "It was either here, or an old warehouse on the other side of town. But strictly speaking, we're not trying to break the law... in Zootopia at least. And it would look suspicious if the eleven of us were hanging out there, now wouldn't it."
Judy scowled at the trickster god. "As long as it stays outside of OUR jurisdiction. But the moment you do anything illegal in this city." She said defiantly to the backbiter. "You're going to wish you were back under that snack dripping venom into your eyes Loki Foxfeyson. You have my word on that."
Loki gulped nervously. "I-I-I'm certain... that you would follow through on that."
"Good, now keep quiet. I just got Pandora and Olaf down for their nap." Judy said sweetly as she left the living room.
"Quite a catch Nicky." Said Esther, the DA of Zootopia teasingly.
XXXX
Later that night. Loki had begun explaining the details of the heist in earnest. "Sorry, it took me so long to make this." He said as he brought out a diagram. "It was chaotic trying to get out of there alive. But, this is the Hall of Middengard, where Thor holds court of the realm. The original hall was destroyed during Ragnarok. So I didn't know this place as well as the Hall of Ulric." He then took out a pointer. "Okay. So the head of Mimir is in this chamber here." Loki said, pointing to a room marked 'Head Chamber'. "It's under heavy guard by veteran Einharejar, and protected by powerful runes that can be lethal even to gods."
Everyone else's jaws dropped. "And how are you expecting us to go through all that?" Said Duke Weaselton.
"And we even bring mortals into this job?" Asked El'ah'rai'rah, rabbit Vampire, and the self-titled 'Prince of Darkness. "You said so yourself, those defenses are lethal even to your kind."
"That doesn't make them invulnerable, like any security it can be compromised," Loki said. "And that's where you come in. Ms. Foxgerald-"
"DA Foxgerald." Esther interrupted.
"I thought you and Judy talked about being pedantic about that?" Nick said.
"Well, you can defuse the magical traps," Loki said, pointing his pointer at Ester. "Though you're right, none of you are a match in a straight fight with an Aesir, I've only just healed from the scars of an Einharejar's ax yesterday."
"Then why am I here?" Prof. Iarann asked. "I don't even believe in all this nonsense, and yet you drag me out of my home."
"Well, I figured that you'd be smart enough to invent something that could help with this," Loki said. "And for the record, I have it on very good authority that you created a portal that brought in three wackos from another universe. So don't talk to me about what you believe to be real or not." He said as he approached Prof. Iarann. Loki snapped his fingers, turning Prof. Iarann into a roadrunner. "Case and point."
XXXX
The following morning, the heist began in earnest. "Okay, I really should work on some sort of remedy for Bifrost Sickness," Loki said as everyone finished throwing up.
"This score... better be worth it." Finnick groused.
"It will little one," Loki said. "Hopefully this will go off without a hitch."
"You've never seen a heist movie before, have you?" Nick said. "No heist ever goes without a hitch. And if we're lucky, we still survive anyway."
"Well this isn't some movie Nicholas, this is real life." Loki admonished. "Now remember the plan, Ester disarms the magical runes that protect the severed head of Mimir the Aesir god of wisdom. While you Nick will distract the guards with my magical Mask that will turn you into an insane cartoon character, while the rest of you try not to be killed by powerful gods that have been wethered by a war so chaotic and terrible that it would break your minds to know more than the summarized details."
XXXX
A few hours later, the heist was well underway. While Nick, as the Mask led the Einharejar on a wild goose chase all over the hall. Keeping them away from Loki and Ester as they disarmed the runes that protected Mimir's head from just being taken away. "Okay, we can open the door now," Loki said as he opened the door.
"For the record lad, when Thor suggested putting me away in here. I told him it was a bad idea." Mimir spoke up. "Not just because it would be boring in here. But because someone other than him would need my wisdom again."
"And naturally the oaf didn't take you seriously," Loki said with contempt. "Look, it's only a matter of time before Thor catches on to what's going on. I'm honestly surprised that-"
"YOU!" Thor bellowed, baring his hammer Mjolnir and his father's spear Gungnir.
"Thor! I would've made an appointment but I know for a fact that I'm blacklisted from entering here by invitation or any other circumstances for civilized discourse." Loki said sardonically. "I'm only interested in Mimir, then we're going to leave. How's Idunn been doing by the way? Is she still giving immortality at the price of pregnancy cramps or was Angela Wilde a special case because I asked about it?"
"Can neither of you come to blows?... pretty please?" Mimir pleaded. "Look. Loki wouldn't have done all of this if it weren't important. I'll tell him what he needs to know, and we can all move on with our lives."
"The geis Idunn placed on Angela Wilde. How do I remove it?" Loki asked.
"Ah, well that's easy enough... only problem is convincing Idunn to do it," Mimir said.
"You wouldn't dare suggest that Idunn goes through such a ritual?!" Thor barked.
Loki snapped his fingers. "You called sir?" Nick crooned, sounding and dressed like a stereotypical butler.
"Nick. I need you to badger Thor until he gives us what we want." Loki said.
"I'm one step ahead of you!" Nick said, already having changed into a badger. He then charged into Thor's face, stopping short of the thunder god's face. "You're going to do something to get rid of my sister's geis... one way. Or another."
"NEVER!" Thor swung Mjolnir at Nick.
"Okay, is there a way to undo the geis on Angela that doesn't involve begging Idunn for her aid? Which knowing that spiteful nag won't bear fruit unless I demean myself." Loki asked.
"Have you considered apologizing to Idunn for that incident with the giant?... is what I would suggest if she hadn't brushed off you're apology during the grand feast we held in the aftermath of Ragnarok. So baring any rash acts of violence on your part, this ritual that Thor is refusing to do is the only way." Mimir said.
"I'll try to work something out if Idunn doesn't budge." Ester offered.
"With respect Ms. Foxgerald. You're a mortal lawyer, what could you offer to a goddess that would make her reconsider a centuries-old grudge?" Mimir asked.
XXXX
"How did you even learn of such a thing?!" Idunn said in surprise as Ester presented evidence to the goddess.
"Nevermind how. Either you help us break the geis YOU placed on Angela Wilde, or this goes public." Ester said with determination to the godly horse.
"You dare blackmail me?!" Idunn said indignantly.
"Oh, I dare," Ester said with a cocky grin on her face. "So either stop pussy-footing around. And undo it... NOW. Or all of Middengard is going to learn you're dark little secret. I promise I will burn these as soon as you've completed your work."
Idunn snarled. "FINE. But this is not over." The goddess said, and she went back into her hut.
Everyone was flabbergasted. "Where did you even get that lass?" Mimir asked in disbelief.
"All you need to know is that I have my methods," Ester said with a wry smile on her face.
"That mortal... oh she will suffer for this affront. I will do as she says... but not in the way she wants." Idunn seethed as she got to work. "She will suffer for this... oh, she will suffer."
XXXX
Several days later, Angela's mood improved. With the geis lifted, she could fully experience her new powers as a goddess without getting painful cramps whenever she got angry. One day while she was painting, humming loudly to herself as she worked. Then she got a phone call from Nick. "Hi, Nicky, what's going on in the big city?"
"Okay... Angela, remember when we were celebrating at the Robins Roost?" Nick said.
"That bar and grill that you and Judy like to go to for dates with other people?" Angela asked.
"And remember how after that, you went crazy and attacked a whole bunch of criminals?... and the only reason nobody pressed charges was that I knocked Cheif Bogo out with a shovel when he caught up with you?" Nick said.
"How's he doing by the way? He has to be doing better than the time was almost snipped in the head." Angela said.
"Angela Uriel Wilde!" Nick used his sister's middle name. "Ester... she caught fire!"
"What?!" Angela said in surprise. "And what does that have to do with what I did?"
"Near as we've been able to figure, it was a magical fire. I don't know what happened, but about nine days after that night. Ester, without warning... caught fire." Nick explained. "We managed to put it out... but she was burned horribly, the left side of her body is a mess of scar tissue and burns... I tell you something sis. I've seen Vampires in full form, I've seen monsters maim and mutilate friends and loved ones, I've seen the rabbit I love turned into a robot slave and lose her eye, I've seen my grown-up from the future breakdown in tears from nearly destroying the totality of existence... but even all of that insanity can't prepare a mammal to see the first person he loved who loved him back like that." Nick lamented.
Angela's face bore a look of sorrow and rage. "Idunn... somehow this has to be connected to that nag!"
"Yes, Loki said about as much when he looked her over. In about the same tone." Nick said.
Loki then barged down the door, snarling with rage. "Angela... if Idunn thinks that she can pull this without consequence... well. All Middengard will shake for this."
"My only concern is if we can pull this off?" Angela said.
"A straightforward conquest of Middengard that ends with me being crowned High King of the Nine Realms?... of course not, the forces of darkness were decimated during Ragnarok, and that was never my aim in the first place," Loki said. "See, we need not conquer... we need only humiliate the Aesir and their allies. We need to provoke Idunn into admitting this wrong. We will avenge this injustice heaped upon us... and Middengard will remember again why one does not turn there back to the Backbiter."
"How?" Angela asked.
"Well, first of all, I'm going to need the crew for this one," Loki said.
TO BE CONTINUED...