Helloo! Well, I have good news. This chapter is a bit more on the happier side, most of the depressing stuff is done now, for a while, so you can relax and enjoy!
Minor Warning: this chapter does get a bit more, dark near the end-but its Lokim again, so what can you expect?

Shout Outs!:

CHSHiccstrid

He is! Ode to joy! Fair, but we got quite a while before this story ends

SmolAvidReader

Band-Aids are good at least, starts the healing. Way too much time spent traveling down the rabbit holes of my mind and how to logically explain getting a body from a soul-which meant a lot of time walking my dog while talking to myself like a crazy person, but that's okay. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy it so much :D :) Keep questioning, they might be answered later ;)

Journal 2, Entry 6: "Beginnings and Ends"

Hiccup had quite the conundrum when he started to wake, that conundrum being the bed was so incredibly soft and comfy and sleep was still pulling at him—he yearned to give in to experience it again after so long of it eluding him. The other half of the problem was that he was alive again. He wanted to go home, hug Astrid and fly Toothless—he wanted to show Loki how far he came with his magic while in Valhalla and celebrate together since they could not while he was there.

Loki saw Hiccup twitching under the blanket and made the decision for him. "You are awake. You may as well get up."

Hiccup sat up, not reluctantly but a little sad to leave the bed—it was quickly forgotten when Loki presented him with a tray of food that he'd sneakily collected. He looked at it for a second and his stomach growled. His ears started to cool but he ignored it—grateful just to feel again. He took the tray with a thankful nod and began eating. Loki sat near him, a hand resting on his back, grounding himself that—yes—it was not a dream.

Breakfast was soon finished, and they left the bedroom for the main room, Hiccup was practically bouncing on his feet and grabbed Loki's arm. "Okay, I gotta show you!"

Loki smiled widely at his joy. "What is it?"

Hiccup removed the bracer, letting the complex illusion fall, and looked down at his hands while biting his lip. After a second of concentration his skin shifted from pale blue to white, to pale pink. It traveled up his hands to his ears—his eyes reversing from red to green. He beamed at Loki, still having to concentrate some, but it was becoming easier with every try.

Loki laughed and scooped Hiccup up in a hug. "Liten Listig, that is amazing!" His smile fell and a sorrowful look took its place. "I only wish I could have been there to see it the first time."

Hiccup smiled sadly. "Me too…but you can see it now, and you can help me with all the others. I just started to get full body coverage…It's still exhausting though."

He shifted back to his Jötunn skin and replaced the bracer, taking a breath of relief.

Loki frowned in thought. "It seems your Jötunn could do with some retraining." At Hiccup's confused look he elaborated. "Once your whole body has shifted, it should be easy to remain as thus until you want it to change again. Your Jötunn magic is fighting against it. Not that it should be surprising; it's been rather traumatized."

Hiccup's eyes widened. "Please, no more sessions with the twins!"

Loki laughed. "That will not be necessary. However-"

"No!" Hiccup threw his arms up. "I'm good."

Loki grinned. "Well, let's see how you've kept up with your knife work."

Hiccup winced but followed Loki to a clearer portion of the room.

Loki caught the look and narrowed his eyes. "Did something happen?"

Hiccup sucked air between his teeth and looked away. "I-I'm sure you know this bu-but…apparently Asgardians really don't take well to using magic in a spar."

Loki winced sympathetically. "Yes~, I have been on the receiving end far too often."

Hiccup nodded, a brow raised as he stared at the ground. "Th-that was the first time they managed to get me out to spar and… well, he came at me with a dagger and I…sort of panicked and threw up a shield. But then he got mad and scared me more because I was already losing strength…I had to use more magic just to get him to stop but by then they hated me so…I didn't spar anymore."

Loki nodded in understanding. "Well then, let's see how your skills fare."

Hiccup drew his dagger and bent his knees, taking the familiar but disused stance.

Loki smirked then attacked.

*O*

Hiccup lay on the ground and groaned.

Loki stood over him, wincing sympathetically. "Come on, Liten Listig, up you get."

Hiccup shook his head. "No, please. Let my muscles die in peace."

Loki grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet anyway. "We barely made it through half your usual routine. Seems we have some work to do."

Hiccup bent forward to stretch his good but sore leg. "Oh, Thor, I know I didn't spar but I thought I'd kept in shape."

Loki steadied him with one hand and brought the other to his chin. "It may not be from that, but from the restoration of your body. It is quite a taxing process, even on you. Your body no doubt needs a few days to readjust and build proper strength again." He looked away with discontent. "I should have thought of that before. I am sorry, Liten Listig."

Hiccup waved him off and hobbled to the nearby seat, smiling. "I'll gladly take it if it means I can be with you guys again."

Loki smiled lightly at him. "Well, since physical practice for the day is done…I wish to teach you a new spell."

Hiccup perked up and stopped rubbing his stump. "Really? What is it?"

Loki turned away and pulled something off of his shelf and handed the thin object to him. Hiccup blinked as he flipped over the parchment and examined a drawing he'd done a ye—two years ago. Loki sat down next to him with a quill and separate piece of parchment.

Hiccup beamed as he held the drawing and leaned closer to Loki so he could see the blank parchment better.

Loki laughed at his eagerness and set the paper on his leg so he had something firmer to write on. "It's actually a rather simple process. This rune and the spell Ævi will give 'life' to the images."

Hiccup was enamored with the rune and was already tracing it a few times and making a few minor corrections that Loki pointed out.

"Now, you can place it anywhere on the image to bring it to life. Often, in the case of the ceilings of the Throne Room, it has been lightly painted over to hide it. On tapestries it is stitched in so small it is lost to all except its crafter. Or, in rare cases that they wish to bring something on parchment to life, they can place it on the back so it is not seen but still works."

"Wow," Hiccup breathed. He drew the rune a few more times then flipped his own picture over and carefully drew it on the back.

Loki nodded in approval and watched as Hiccup placed his fingers against the inked rune and softly said the spell. The rune didn't glow like they normally would but it did start to sink into the page and seemed to become more vibrant. When he flipped the paper over the figures swayed gently; Tuffnut leaned into Ruffnut more while she appeared to shove against him, Loki's arm tightened around him while he twitched to grip his hand better, the dragons both nudged a little closer before backing away and repeating, all their hair blew lightly in an undrawn wind.

Hiccup's smile reached his ears as he looked over to Loki who couldn't help his own smile at seeing Hiccup so delighted. He pulled Hiccup close, mindful of the picture he held—the picture that he had clung to as his lifeline, and placed a kiss in his hair.

Hiccup leaned against him, exhaustion creeping up on him. Gaining a body sucked energy and he was very grateful to be alive again.

Loki chuckled and scooped Hiccup up, ignoring his light rebuttals and attempts to free himself. He carried him to the bedroom where he let Hiccup plop onto the bed. He nearly bent over in a laughing fit as Hiccup sat up after bouncing on the bed with a pillow clinging to his head and glared at him.

He removed the pillow and sat down next to him, smile dropping and becoming serious. "I have to leave for a little while, Hiccup."

Hiccup's playful scorn left him, being replaced by worry. "Why? Can I-"

"No!" Hiccup jerked and curled his shoulders in. Loki winced and grabbed his hand, trying to comfort him and reaffirm himself that his child was still here and not a dream. "I am going back to Midgard —I assume you would like to return soon?"

Hiccup nodded enthusiastically, bowing his head to hide his blushing smile.

Loki smiled softly at him, guessing correctly that he was thinking about Toothless and Astrid. "I will not let you return until the immediate threat of Grimmel has been dealt with. I will not allow all the trouble I went through to bring you back be wasted because of carelessness."

Hiccup nodded, serious again. "Yeah. Are you going to tell Berk?"

Loki shook his head. "No, I do not want rumors spreading until I have… neutralized Grimmel."

Hiccup frowned, fiddling with his bracer. "I-I understand but—but he's Hela's right hand man, would killing him, I don't know, put us on her bad side or something? What if she wants m-my soul back?"

Loki grabbed him quickly and held him close, feeling Hiccup shake lightly in his arms. "She cannot have it. She made me your keeper so unless she comes to collect it the hard way—which will not be happening for many, many centuries, there is nothing she can do. Besides, she should enjoy having the company again.

"And it is not like she can criticize me for something she has done a thousand times worse."

Hiccup hummed into his chest. "Just be careful…and please check on Toothless?"

"Of course, Liten Listig." He kissed his head again. "Now, a few rules. Do not, under any circumstances, open the main doors. They are sealed to give even the All-Father trouble and I will sense it if he or anyone else tries anything."

Hiccup nodded. Made sense, likely no one on Asgard would be pleased with what Loki did—he had the distinct feeling that it wouldn't be considered a part of the 'acceptable' magic category.

"If you are hungry, I have stored some food in the cabinet by my desk. It should have food enough for a week. I will not be gone any longer than that, and I hope to be back sooner. Now go to sleep, you're about to pass out in my arms."

Hiccup laughed tiredly and stifled a yawn, relenting to his body and curled up in the soft blankets. They were heavenly.

Loki brushed hair out of his eyes and watched him until he fell asleep. It took far too much effort to force himself to leave, to face the cause of the past year's horror. But his smothered, simmering rage was finally being let out to exact its wrath upon the one who'd caused everything so he pushed himself away.

He debated on taking Yggdrasil but decided nothing would go wrong with taking the Bifrost, especially if he told Heimdall that the force behind his blocked sight on Midgard was still alive. Yes, then he could take full and utter pleasure in rubbing it in Odin's face.

See how much your disfavored son can do? How much I will do for Asgard, at the cost of what's most precious to me? Am I not as worthy as Thor? No matter, I will correct your mistake—but without the mercy of a swift death that you would have given him—his crimes are far too great for that. He teleported straight to the Bifrost.

Heimdall turned slightly surprised eyes upon him before facing him fully, gripping his sword. "I may not have been able to see you most of this year, but it is easy enough to guess that you wish to travel to Midgard."

Loki raised an eyebrow. "My sentence has been served. I am free to travel to the realms again."

"Indeed you are. I am only surprised it took you this long to come to me," Heimdall said with a tiny smirk.

Loki withheld a snort. "I had my reasons. Now, please, open the bridge. I have business to attend to."

Heimdall's eyebrows rose. "Then I shall have to watch you."

Loki chuckled. "I wish you the best of luck. It is doubtful you will be able to."

Heimdall started inserting the sword. "You do not wish me to watch you, or another?"

Loki's face hardened and said bluntly, "Hiccup's murderer still lives."

Heimdall dipped his head and activated the Bifrost. "Then the Ancient All-Fathers bless your quest."

Loki nodded his thanks and stepped onto the Bifrost. Heimdall sent him to the ledge on the outskirts of Old Berk that overlooked the still lifeless village. He felt a small pang, remembering it when it was full of life—when Hiccup's world and subsequently his own wasn't shattered.

He jumped off the cliff and shifted into his draconic form, starting the long trek to New Berk. The hours blurred together, his mind constantly wandering back to Hiccup—if he was alright, that he wouldn't just vanish without his constant presence, if anyone had found him. That last one was impossible, he would know, but it still plagued him.

Soon enough the island came into view, or view of his magic. He, being one of the two founders of its wards, could sense its presence in the way that others were not supposed to—or should not have been if the wards were fully functional.

A minor spike of dread shot through him. What if Grimmel went back? Clearly the wards were not strong enough to repel him. He had no reason to but…Toothless, oh Norns, please let Hiccup have been the end of it.

He flew faster and soon breached the wards. A flurry of riderless dragons intercepted him as soon as he did, all of them flittering about him and chittering excitedly—their presence soothed the edges of his worry. He barked at a few of the nearer ones and dove for the mostly built village. It was distinctly Viking with only a few minor touches of Hiccup and it saddened him that it had to grow without his Chosen and their chief.

Several of the Berkians who had been walking around outside, gathered in the large plaza and pointed up at the oddly swarming flock. Several pointed at the odd, green dragon, many eagerly whispering to their neighbor.

Loki landed and shifted back and searched the crowd. He moved silently through them and they continued to murmur, too scared to speak to the god. He wandered through the crowd until the gaggle of Riders met him.

They all looked worn, the twins the most, followed not far behind by Astrid. Snotlout tried to give him a false smile but it turned into a grimace at its edges. Astrid was the first to speak, "Didn't know if we would see you around again, especially after the way Thor dragged you away."

Loki took a breath and shrugged. "They were only mortals and Thor decided to reveal Hiccup's status of Chosen. Even with just Thor and my mother as witnesses, especially with my mother, it was a lawfully just retribution so my sentencing was light. I think Odin did it more for the fact that I made a mortal my Chosen rather than the lives I took."

They nodded with grunts, obviously feeling no pain at their loss.

"Where is Toothless?" He had to know, Hiccup would just die all over again if Grimmel was hunting him or had already killed him.

Astrid bit her lip and pointed into the village, towards the forge. "Hiding from Light. He may not want a girlfriend, but apparently she doesn't get the idea. He hides in the forge a lot when he doesn't have Alpha business to attend to—she doesn't like coming into the village where there's a lot of Vikings and certainly not into the forge where there's even more weapons…I think the smell comforts Toothless too."

He sighed, eyeing the forge, and silently thanked the Norns. "Thank you. Has Grimmel tried attacking again?"

They all shook their heads, Ruffnut growling, "No, not since that butt-elf murdered Hiccup."

Tuffnut snorted. "Yeah. Not that we've gone looking but he's just disappeared again. Oh! I'd like to shove a Zipplebomb up his-!"

"Anyway," Astrid cut in despite looking like she would like the same thing, though maybe something with a blade instead… "None of our allies have said anything about seeing him and he's public enemy number one, so…"

Loki nodded and started walking towards the forge. "Any others trying to take the Warlords' place?"

Fishlegs frowned in distaste. "A few lone hunting ships but they had no affiliations. For now, it seems we have peace."

Snotlout scoffed. "Yeah, for now. Now with Hiccup—agh! My stupid cousin!" He stormed away, face redder than Hookfang's scales.

The Riders watched him leave, all feeling the same.

Astrid turned her eyes to the ground. "Well, that about sums up how we are doing. Valka's nearly running herself ragged trying to act as the main dragon consultant and chieftess. I help too, but she's the-the one who was married to a chief…Technically Snotlout's the next in line but I'll probably be taking up the mantle next."

Her eyes started misting and she stared at the ground.

Loki was tempted to tell them the whole thing then and there, but he couldn't risk any word reaching Grimmel and, Norns forbid, Heimdall. So he remained silent as he pushed open the door to the forge.

A lone foot and something else shuffled around in the forge but somewhere out of sight, a disgruntled voice echoing over to them. "Wha'ever it is tha' ya broke now, just leave it on tha service table—I'll get ta it when I get ta it. An' if yer pesterin' me to get yer order done sooner, forget it! I'm down two hands, I can only do so much with a hand!"

A singular working hand waved in the air from around the corner. As he spoke, something else shifted in the rafters in the second story of the forge.

Astrid winced but Fishlegs was the one to answer. "We're not here about orders or anything…we actually have a visitor."

The arm waved dismissively. "Eh, tell Dagur I'll join him for drinking ourselves stupid later. These orders are gettin' outta hand."

The twins ran around the divider, smiles tinged with sorrow, and grabbed his arms—trying to drag him out.

Gobber jumped with a small shriek, staring at them in confused wonder. "Odin's undies! Why are you two grinning? Is the dead rising?"

Loki was hiding a silent laugh behind his hand—he would have to remember that particular expression.

Gobber reluctantly let the twins drag him out then stumbled when he saw Loki. "You… actually came back. Sorry, don't mean to sound rude…just with all the memories of Hiccup being here and…"

Loki watched him scuff his boot into the packed dirt, he started to reply when a black mass slammed into him. "Uhn! Hello, Toothless."

The Night Fury had him pinned to the ground and sniffed his clothes, shoving his nose into every fold—focusing on his chest and hands.

Astrid grunted in annoyance and tried to pull him off of Loki with Fishlegs' help, but the dragon remained unmoved.

Loki waved them away and reached out to stroke the familiar's head but Toothless snapped and gummily bit his arm, holding his forearm and hand in his mouth. Toothless licked his hand several times and sniffed Loki's chest again. He released the arm and narrowed his pupils, snarling at Loki.

Loki calmly held out his hand again, letting Toothless get a full whiff before setting the hand on his head and closing his eyes. They remained still, as the seconds pressed silently on, Toothless leaned further into Loki's palm. Eventually Toothless stepped back, tongue hanging out and wiggling his butt.

Everyone but Loki shared confused glances as Toothless tore around the forge then bounded over to Loki. He slid around Loki like he used to do to Hiccup when asking for attention by being cute. Loki beamed at the familiar and scratched his stomach.

Astrid blinked away her shock, mostly. "Okay…What did you tell him?"

The twins stared at Toothless, their heads tilting in opposing directions. Tuffnut turned to his sister, mouth starting to twist into a grin but disbelief kept it at bay. "You don't think-"

Ruffnut shook her head. "No, that's impossible…"

"If it was anyone but Hiccup and Loki," Tuffnut pointed out.

Ruffnut nodded, wagging her finger as well. "Very true."

They stared Loki down, Ruffnut asking, "Is it true?"

Loki tilted his head with innocent perplextion. "Is what true?"

They spotted the tiny twinkle in Loki's eyes that he let slip. They clasped each other and nearly cried, dancing and spinning in a circle, Tuffnut shouting, "The gods have answered our prayers!"

Ruffnut slowed and looked at Loki while still vibrating. "Oh, I think this is supposed to be a secret bro."

"Oh!" Tuffnut went rigid and stared at the others who watched them in wide eyed confusion and disbelief. "Right." He drew a line over his mouth. "M~mu~i~suh."

Gobber's brows drew so close together his eyes almost disappeared. "What?"

They danced out of the hut, whooping with unknown joy but no true word was uttered from their lips.

Loki shook his head with a tiny smile and patted Toothless' head. "I need to get the wards set up fully now."

Astrid and the others became somber again. "Well, thank you for visiting at least—and… giving Toothless and the twins…whatever that was. Gods know they need it."

Loki fought with the desperate desire to tell them but he wanted to surprise them—and he wanted as little chance for Grimmel to learn the truth as possible. So he simply left, Toothless glued to his side. He sighed as several dragons happily cooed at Toothless and stepped into their path. Toothless growled at them then craned his neck back at Loki, nodding for him to hop on.

Loki mounted and patted his neck, habitually shifted his foot to fit it into the stirrup but his foot fell through empty air. Confused, he looked down and blushed as he saw himself sitting bareback, how did I miss that?

Toothless crooned sadly and flipped his tail around, staring forlornly at the black-painted, automatic tail fin.

Gobber huffed with heavy annoyance behind them and gestured wildly at the auto-fin while leaning against the forge's doorway. "It took us months ta convince him ta wear that…and tha's after spendin' weeks diggin' through, through Hiccup's notes and designs."

Toothless grumbled and glared at the tail fin, wings heavy at his sides. Loki rubbed his head and whispered into his earflap, they perked up and Toothless brightened a sliver.

The gathered Berkians watched as Toothless leapt into the air with more energy than he had in a year. Astrid smiled sadly as they flew away and started circling the island, wishing she had some of that happiness. She sighed, shoulders falling. "Alright everybody, show's over."

Loki finished setting up the last of the wards around New Berk. He was remit to say that it took almost two days to set up the proper warding to the point where he felt safe bringing Hiccup back to Midgard, with or without Grimmel's threat, as well as shielding and detection wards that even Heimdall cannot see through. He spent what was left of the second day regaining his strength, physical and magical, for Grimmel.

Toothless nuzzled into his lap, pupils narrowed with a quiet hiss.

Loki looked up to see the Light Fury slowly creeping closer to them, eyes only for Toothless. He shook his head with a small laugh. "You are doomed. I hope you realize that."

Toothless grumbled and buried his head further, lifting his hind end and walking it around to place it towards her then curled his tail around to fan out the fins and block her image entirely.

Loki shook his head, a smile staining his lips. His eyes darkened as he thought of Hiccup, his chest hollow as he desired for him to experience Toothless' pains as well—soon. Soon, all will be right again.

Toothless huffed at Loki and growled at the Light Fury. She chuffed then curled up a few yards away, but made sure to keep Toothless in sight.

Loki stoked his head and leaned back, closing his eyes for a short nap.

Toothless glided over the low waves of the empty ocean, Loki guiding him to Grimmel's island. He highly doubted that he was actually there, but it was a starting point. The grey speck of an island grew in size until its barren land jutted into view.

Toothless growled, eyes sweeping the rocks and keeping their flight path well away from the outcropping where the final battle occurred.

Loki patted his head reassuringly, his stomach roiling with seeing the island again. His face twisted as the landscape looked all too familiar to Niflheim.

Toothless dove sharply for the tower, bouncing as he landed with teeth bared at the empty and silent tower.

Loki looked around briefly and felt around with his magic. He was disappointed to find all traces were a year old. It didn't matter. He scooped an old dart up off the dirty floor and he mounted Toothless.

Toothless' head turned with a hiss, eyeing the vile thing in his hand.

Loki barely withheld his own disgusted hiss. "I know, but it will make tracking him easier."

Toothless snorted heavily and grumbled for several seconds.

Loki smiled grimly. "Soon, Toothless, soon.

They stood outside. The dart in Loki's extended palm lay still. His lips moved with silent words, and the dart started vibrating. Without breaking his silent speech, he knelt and drew a circle—runes etched into the cardinal directions glowing—then set the trembling dart in the center. His eyes hardened as he finished the spell and stared at the dart.

The circle glowed for a moment then the light sped into the dart; it stopped shaking for a second then shot to his chest height and spun madly. It stopped, pointing Southeast, and hovered for another several seconds until the glow that encompassed it shot out into a thin line, arcing over the island and out to sea.

The dart fell lifelessly to the ground and Toothless sniffed curiously at it before looking up at Loki and the direction he was looking, unable to see the trail that Loki could.

Loki swiftly mounted him and cast a detection spell over both of them so Grimmel would not notice their approach and Toothless took off, following Loki's gentle promptings.

*O*

The flight lasted well past sundown of the second day of flying, only stopping for minor breaks. Toothless long ago adjusted his flight to the higher atmosphere to catch stronger winds that were blowing in their favor while Loki only had eyes for the glowing line that guided them.

The tracer started dipping towards the ocean, lost in the sea of blackness. Loki leaned forward, silently putting Toothless into a shallow dive. As they neared the ocean, an island started making itself visible.

Toothless carefully fell through the air so he did not create the Night Fury's signature whistle. Now over the luscious island, Toothless glided, eyes narrowed and searching every dark shadow as they passed by.

Loki kept his magic open and sensing for any attack but none ever came. The guide finally ended at a doorway to a smaller tower. They landed and trotted up to the door before he turned to Toothless and asked, "So what do you think is an appropriate knock?"

Toothless' spines glowed blue for only a second before he shot a low powered plasma blast at the wooden door, still containing plenty of power to blow it to splinters.

"Seems right."

They cautiously entered the tower and looked around the dim room.

A baleful chuckle stopped both god and dragon in their tracks, attention turning to the spiraling staircase leading to the second story. Grimmel sat on the top step, an elbow resting on his knee with his head propped up by that hand. "You know, I honestly expected you sooner. Odin must have really grown a heart to punish you for killing mortals…or he despises you that much. I would go with the second option. He always has been a heartless king."

Loki barely repressed a snarl, eyes flashing red as his Jötunn side leaked through. "Odin matters not to me; you, however, have a debt to pay."

Grimmel laughed and stood, slowly walking down. "Me? I was merely making good on my promise. It was you who had the debt."

Loki's lips curled up until his teeth showed, hatred the only emotion in his eyes.

Grimmel looked down at the stairs, sucking in a breath while laughing quietly. "You really are quite the sa-"

The air shifted beside him and only his centuries of battlefield experience saved his neck from the knife.

Loki came into existence and the Loki on the ground floor disappeared.

Grimmel growled but welcomed the challenge, his own dagger flashing into existence.

Toothless hissed, a whine resonating in his throat as he prepared a blast.

Grimmel whistled and a lone Death Gripper dropped down from the rafters, attacking Toothless with pinchers splayed and hissing hungrily. Toothless shot his half formed blast, searing the Death Gripper and jumping to avoid the tail strike before snapping and biting its tail.

Grimmel and Loki danced around each other's attacks, blade deflected magic, magic retaliated only to be blocked by magic. Green and purple flashed and lit the tower in psychedelic bursts.

The Death Gripper squealed in agony as Toothless chomped down on its neck, but he didn't quite kill it.

Grimmel's irritation rose as his dragon lay unmoving in defeat and attacked the runt prince in a combination of melee and magic.

Loki smirked and knocked the hand with the dagger away while twisting to the side and batting the hand casting magic aside, taking the opening to deliver a swift punch to Grimmel's jaw.

Grimmel cried out in surprise and pain as it blossomed from his jaw and, he was sure, a loosened tooth—barely managing to stay on his feet. He blinked away his surprise and snarled at Loki, drawing his crossbow and firing it at Toothless before the runt could stop him.

Toothless' slit pupils widened in terror, remembering that awful dart, and jumped away—letting the dart sink into the Death Gripper while he fired a quick blast at the hand holding the crossbow.

Loki felt his fear fade and followed through with his attack, tackling Grimmel while he was hissing in pain.

Grimmel's teeth flashed as they tumbled down the stairs and raised a hand to fire another spell at Loki, but he punched him again, this time his nose crunching sickeningly. As Grimmel was taking a second to control his pain, Loki whipped out his set of cuffs and snapped one around his raised hand.

Grimmel's eyes immediately focused on Loki and cursed, yanking that arm far away from his other.

Loki drove his knee into Grimmel's gut, a knife flashed into existence as his anger flared.

Grimmel reached up with his free hand and gripped Loki's arm, straining against the furious runt. Blood leaked from his nose into his mouth, mixing with the blood from the blow that landed there, and spit it at Loki. He pulled back in disgust, allowing Grimmel to shove him off and sweep his feet from under him.

Loki grunted as he hit the floor and rolled with the impact, just missing Grimmel slamming his boot into the ground where his chest was.

Grimmel rolled his eyes in annoyance as Loki quickly hopped to his feet and resumed a fighting stance. He called another dagger to hand and mimicked Loki's stance. "Come now, Órikr Dǫglingr, are we going to dance to this song for the next millennia? I am your superior in every way. You cannot even dream of defeating me, nor will you dare to tell Odin the true cause behind your precious Chosen's death—doing so will forfeit your right to my blood."

They circled each other, Toothless growling from the sidelines but also busy keeping the wounded Death Gripper down. He hissed as it tried standing again, weakly lashing out with its tail—brainless dragon doesn't know the meaning of self-preservation.

Loki's arms fell, a strange look alighting his face. "No, I suppose it would."

His dagger vanished, leaving his palms empty and open—his green magic slowly spiraling around them.

Grimmel took half a confused step back, keeping his dagger raised in case this was another trick. With his magic infuriatingly being half locked again, it was harder and took twice as much energy to access.

Loki grinned wickedly and chanted in a language far older than that which Asgard spoke. His misty magic condensed into thin strings, the lively color turning sickly.

Grimmel watched in terror for but a moment, catching a few wisps of his words, and backed away towards the door but did not dare to turn his back to Loki. He twisted his dagger around as he scooted, all arguments or words of placation lost—how could you argue with a man who's lost everything?

Loki smirked, seeing the fear in Grimmel's poorly concealed eyes. His magic turned from sickly to dark and writhing, the green almost black and the thin strings thickened to ropes. In that instant, he flicked his wrist and the tendrils shot out towards Grimmel.

Grimmel slashed the first tendril and threw up the strongest shield he could manage, turning to bolt for the door. Toothless abandoned the defeated Death Gripper and slid in front of the threshold, split maw lit by a blue glow that traveled down his spine.

Grimmel glanced at Loki with a sneer, an unpleasant jolt running down his spine at the sight of the writhing mass of dark green tendrils encompassing his shield. They didn't try to forcefully break through it but, rather, slowly felt around every bit of the shield for even the smallest crack and working their way up until they found one—intent on smothering and constricting it until it broke if necessary.

Grimmel dropped his dagger and started chanting in the same, old language. His misty magic solidified into lighter, thinner tendrils before diving into his veins. His shield cracked as his power diverted and instantly the dark tendrils converged on the cracks and shattered them.

Grimmel's now glowing purple eyes narrowed hatefully at Loki and with an almost deranged laugh, caught a tendril as it rushed to strike his face. He squeezed, the veins on his hand glowing the same purple as his eyes, and crushed it until it disappeared in a dark green puff.

He could feel the strain on his soul as he used this magic, but ignored it as he fought for what was most likely his life. He snagged another attacking tendril and held it tightly while stomping on a thick one poised to strike his ankle. Both burst into mist and he laughed.

"Give up, Órikr Dǫglingr, even pulling on the darkest depths of your soul, you do not have the power to overwhelm me."

He faced Loki head on, shoulders squared and triumphant, only briefly dropping into confusion at the absolutely delighted look Loki held. The tendrils seeped out of his fingers and every time Grimmel destroyed one, a new one was quick to sprout from its place. Another snake-like tendril rose to strangle him, he reached out to crush the thing but it slunk away and lashed out for his stomach.

Grimmel, surprised, barely managed to twist away and brought his foot down to crush another snake, but it too whipped out of the way. Another tendril hovered to snake around the arm he'd thrown out for balance, barely managing to twist his wrist to grab the infernal thing instead—but it too pulled back just before he could grasp it. An unsettling sensation filled his stomach, only now feeling the uncomfortable tingle running down his spine.

The tendrils pulled back and waved in place like grass in the wind, as if laughing and waiting for him to realize that they had won—Loki's own laugh accentuating theirs.

Nervous eyes searched wildly for the source of their humor, their self-assured victory. He almost missed it, assuming it to be a crack in the stone but it thrashed like a cat's tail waiting to pounce…The only difference was, it already had. Running up his boot and back until it had plunged into his mind—reading every thought he had before he could even enact it.

He turned scathing eyes to Loki but he'd already 'seen' it coming and laughed, giving Grimmel but a moment to build his fury into burning hatred before flicking his fingers. The waiting tendrils struck and Grimmel was unable to move. They penetrated his chest, wrapping around his magic and slithered up to his mind and drug it down until his body collapsed.

Loki's smirk fell into disgust as Grimmel lay unconscious. He stormed over, the tendrils still protruding from Grimmel to Loki, and kicked his side—pleased when he didn't show any signs of waking.

Toothless whined, slowly walking nearer and sniffed the body, then snorted, looking at Loki.

Loki patted his head reassuringly, taking a moment to catch his breath and let his magic calm. He took several breaths to push back the feelings that arose with the spell, the unfortunate consequence of using Fjölkyngi. He had to remember Hiccup waiting for him, alive and eager to return to his family and friends, eager to truly live again.

Once the darkness receded so it was no longer threatening to consume but still near enough to obey, he turned his attention back to Grimmel and pulled on the stings to make him stand. His head lulled with sleep but his body obeyed Loki's marionetting.

Toothless hissed as the body stood awkwardly and backed up several steps, glancing between Loki and Grimmel.

Loki waved a hand to calm him. "It is alright, Toothless. Bring his dragon and follow me."

Toothless turned to the injured and barely conscious dragon and growled, prompting it up and limping after its master. They traversed the island until they came to a cave the victorious pair had spotted while flying in.

The trek was slow, but they eventually came to the end of the cave, Toothless' glowing maw lighting the cavern. Loki directed Grimmel to a flattish rock and took the chain around his bound hand and attached it to a rock at nearly the length of his extended arm. He wound some enchantments around it before engraving a rune on both the cuff and rock. He pulled another set of cuffs from his 'pocket' and bound his other hand in a similar manner.

Only after he'd secured Grimmel so that only his soul could leave, did he withdraw the dark tendrils from the murderer.

Grimmel twitched as the last tendril hesitantly seeped away and broke all connections. His eyes twitched under his eyelids for several moments until awareness came again to him. He jerked up with an incensed cry and was yanked back down, cursing profusely when his head cracked against the stone. Eyes pressed shut against the soft light a rune was casting around the cave.

Loki laughed as Grimmel tested the cuffs and swore more when he felt all his magic restricted from him. His head whipped around and he seethed at Loki, but it dimmed after a minute and relaxed. He fought bravely—fought to free her, he did not fear death. Loki relaxed further, bringing a foot up to rest it on his knee, saying nothing except what his smirk spoke.

Grimmel rolled his eyes at Loki's game. "Do you plan to kill me with boredom or drive a knife into my stomach to match that of your dear, dead child?"

Loki laughed openly now, head tilted and eyes glinting with a joke only he knew. "I do not know how swift your death will be. It is not up to me to decide."

Grimmel's brows creased. "I hardly imagine you brought Odin, especially not with the stunt you pulled to win." He grinned with some triumph. "How is your soul by the way?"

Loki's lips twitched dismissively. "Surprisingly, not bad. I suppose it was so full of rage and detestment against you that there wasn't much there for it to twist. That, and I couldn't let myself fall into it permanently—I do have my child waiting for me back on Asgard."

Grimmel's pleased air fell into confusion. "For a god of lies, you are terrible at it."

Loki looked away with a quiet laugh, a happy smile spreading across his face. "This is no lie. I met Hela." He looked directly at Grimmel, leaning forward. "She isn't as bad as what the tales say, or at least she didn't present herself so. I by no means have any desire to release her and let her be queen. Even Thor for all his blundering idiocracy will be a better king…Given millennia or more and proper guidance from his brother to keep his fools errands to a minimum. But, still, far preferable."

Grimmel shook his head, arguing while testing the chains again. "Bringing back the dead only results in bringing back a shade of their soul."

Loki hummed and stood. "Well, you can discuss the finer points with Hela. I'm sure you will have plenty of time soon. Oh," he stopped his procession out of the cave and turned to cast Grimmel one last grin, "do tell Hela thank you for me, for she so kindly gave me a huge favor. And that I am sorry I am sending you to join her so soon, but she must understand that I will do anything to keep Hiccup safe—but hey! She will have desirable company soon. And! You can tell her all the wonderful things that have been happening while she's been away in exile while you've been romping around Midgard."

Loki and Toothless disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel leading out of the cavern.

Grimmel sat up in a crunch, yanking on the chains binding him to the stone. "Loki! Cursed child of Odin! Release me or I will make it my life's mission to hunt down any and all traces of Hiccup, in life and death and destroy him utterly!"

"Goodbye, Grimmel," Loki's voice echoed.

Grimmel snarled, spittle and foam flying as he screamed in pure rage. "Don't think Hela will take this lying down!She will demand his soul back—she will rip it from the wraith of a body you gave him and order him to haunt your life! You will regret ever meeting him and curse his very existence! You will dream of destroying his draugr's soul in every painful way! It will thrill you when you finally free yourself from his grasp only to hate yourself until Hela returns and kills you herself!"

A Night Fury's whine and blast drifted down the tunnel, followed by a crack and collision of rocks, sealing the entrance.

He trembled in his bindings, thrashing about until his wrists bled, then swore to the Norns and every ancient Asgardian preceding him. His chest rose and fell in barely restrained fury, cursing himself for underestimating Loki, for not thinking he would have drawn on Fjölkyngi—no matter how dark it was. He was paying the price now, but he would have the last laugh, even if it was in death.

A low growl resonated in the cave, drawing his attention away from his simmering thoughts to the Death Gripper they'd trapped in here with him. He smirked, a laugh threatening to bubble up from his amusement—with his beast, he had a way to escape.

The Death Gripper whined as true consciousness returned to him for the first time in, well, he couldn't remember.

Grimmel whistled for his remaining beast, smiling as it finally stood and tottled towards him. His smile started falling as the dragongrowled, eyes narrowed as it honed in on him. He looked over the beast and felt his blood run cold when he saw no harness or vial. Even without it, the beast should have been well under his control…

His eyes darkened, burning again with fury and now fear—tilting his head up to gaze down the dark, caved-in tunnel.

The Death Gripper hissed in anger, eagerly eyeing Grimmel. Acidic venom dripped from its fangs and its tail swiped from side to side as it stalked its bound victim.

Grimmel twisted as much as he could but was unable to dodge the thick spike from piercing his stomach, only able to scream in pain and writhe as the Death Gripper climbed up the wall and let its venom drip onto his clothes and eat through them.

*O*

Toothless warbled tiredly as they left the cave and nuzzled Loki's hand.

Loki strained a smile and gripped Toothless' scaly wing. Extending his magic over both of them, he teleported them to Berk.

Toothless cooed unhappily and shook his head.

Loki patted his side and waited for him to regain his senses before tiredly casting a spell over him.

The magic dimmed, leaving Toothless to hop on the grass and screech, flapping up to Loki's shoulder and angrily chittering and squawking into his ear.

Loki pushed him back with a grimace and shot him a flat look. "If you want to come to Asgard, you need a cover. For all their bravado, they are not fond of dragons, even friendly ones, storming their halls."

Toothless settled on his shoulder, still chirping angrily. Loki shook his head in good humor and looked skyward, shouting, "Heimdall!"

The Bifrost slammed down and engulfed them, Loki made sure to keep hold of Toothless so he wouldn't teeter off in shock or confusion. Soon enough, solid ground was under his feet again and Heimdall was watching him intensely. Loki sighed and released Toothless, letting him fly off and circle the room to get his bearings straight again.

Heimdall lifted his eyebrows in the silent question.

Loki dipped his head in affirmation. "It is done. Soon Grimmel will be no more."

Heimdall's eyes widened, brows arching for a new reason. "Grimmel survived?"

Loki's lip twisted. "Yes. He wanted me to free Hela. I assume you know the price that I had to pay for defying his demands."

Heimdall scowled and started to sheath his great sword, hurriedly walking off of the dais. "The All-Father must know of this at once. Are you sure Grimmel is dead?"

Loki snorted in disgust at the thought of the man. "If he is not, he soon will be. Do what you wish, Gatekeeper, I am exhausted and will retire now. Please tell Odin that if he wishes to speak with me, it will have to wait."

Heimdall lightly glared at the youngest prince. "I am not a messenger boy."

Loki shrugged with a tiny smile. "But you are going to see him anyway—to tell him news that is over a year old now."

Heimdall shook his head and left.

Loki lifted his arm for Toothless to land on and once he did, he teleported them away to his rooms.

Hiccup spent the first day alone browsing Loki's shelves and half reading the books they held. Half reading them because he only understood a quarter of the runes and tried to decipher what images that were present in a few of the books for the rest of the content.

The next day he either slept or drew on the extra paper he found on Loki's desk. The day after passed in peace with him practicing his melee forms and staring out the door to the balcony, desperately wishing to go flying. Soon, soon I can fly with Toothless again. Just a little longer. It was becoming an almost unbearable mantra to repeat to himself when it was so close.

On the morning of the fifth day, he felt no inclination to get out of bed with the sun, content to lay in the soft blankets and let their softness numb his mind to what was sure to be another boring day—not unlike Valhalla. But at least here wasn't forever, just a little longer.

He felt the magic in the rooms shift and knew Loki was back. He struggled to get out of the blankets and only proceeded to make it worse with his desperate struggles to free himself.

Loki stood at the doorway and laughed at the pitiful sight.

Hiccup sat up to scowl at him but finally fell off the side of the bed and hit the floor with an umph!

Loki took pity on him and helped untangle him.

Hiccup wiggled out of the vice-like blankets to grin at Loki like a five year old. His shoulders fell in shock before his face lit up with the same joy it had when he first saw Loki in Valhalla. "Toothless!"

The black mass slammed into and circled around him for several minutes until he finally stilled with his head buried in Hiccup's stomach and two arms wrapped firmly around his head.

"Oh bud, I missed you so, so much. I'm so sorry."

Toothless whined and cooed, flipping onto his side to pin Hiccup to his stomach and bury his snout in his dearly missed auburn locks.

Hiccup barely managed to catch Loki's smirking form, struggling to contain a laugh, as Toothless cocooned him. "Thank you."

Loki patted Toothless' wing and smiled at the ecstatic familiar, mutely feeling their bond hum happily and whole again. "You're welcome, Liten Listig."

He climbed into the messy bed, forgoing the blankets since Toothless inadvertently made a nest out of them. He was asleep shortly after hitting the pillow.

Toothless purred as he held Hiccup again, holding him tightly and refusing to let him go ever again. Hiccup hummed happily in his warm grasp, sleep eagerly coming over him again as all his bonds beat with wholeness and contentment.

Welp, that's a nice place to wrap up this chapter. Hope you have a great weekend and leave your thoughts!