Chapter Text
The infamous Sorcerer is summoned to the great hall, where the Allfather currently resides.
As he walks, servants and noble people alike bow in absolute fear. However, he ignores them. He is pondering what is to be talked about with Odin. There are two possible outcomes. Either there is a mission that must be carried out alongside Thor and his comrades or Loki has been caught in one of his mischievous pranks.
He pray to the stars above that it is the latter.
Loki continues walking through the great halls, silently taking in the yellow hues of the gilded walls against the snow covered landscape, white and gray pouring in from the grand intricate windows.
He had always prefer the cold. Not only is everything seemingly dead, most of the materials he needs for his potions can only be attained during this brutal season.
The trickster’s chest swells up in nostalgia, remembering the adventures for rare herbs in the deep forest around this time of the year. His precious alone time around wildlife gave his the peace and quiet needed to study his magic, as well as craft what he needed on the spot. He’d always bring back a flower for his mother.
He had reached the doors of the great hall, hearing the voices of his older brother and the Warriors Three on the other side of the wall.
He would commit murder for that peace and quiet at this point in time.
Loki steps pushes the door open, causing everyone in the room to turn their attention to him.
Thor is the first to speak, or in his case, yell. “Brother!” He pats Loki on the back, almost causing the younger brother to fall over. “You have arrived!”
Loki sighs, already wanting to go back to his chambers. “Thank you for stating the obvious, you oaf. Why have we been summoned?”
The older brother is about the open his mouth in response but he is interrupted by the sound of Gungnir tapping the palace floor, the owner of the holy spear demanding the room’s attention.
The princes and warriors turn and kneel, giving the Allfather the formal greeting he requires.
“Thank you all for heeding my call.” Odin bellows from his seat. Frigga is sitting next to him, she smiles at her younger son when his eyes falls on her briefly.
“The Orolosta Kingdom on the Ira islands of Alfheim has had a recent rise of naval gear and has recently acquired a new sea trading route. I want you, my sons, to visit and negotiate a new trading deal between Asgard and Orolosta, as well as strengthen the bond between two kingdoms.”
Thor is near shaking with absolute joy. He had always enjoyed visit the Ira Islands. The constant sea breeze partnered with the sweltering heat always brought a relaxing atmosphere — one he didn’t get on Asgard.
Loki, however, would rather choke.
The older Prince speaks with permission, a little fast paced due to his excitement. “Mother, father — Are you accompanying us on this trip?”
The Allmother chuckles at her son’s excitement. “No, my dear son. While we would love to join, we must stay behind and continue planning for the annual feast to welcome the new spring.”
Odin nods. “This is a good opportunity to experience kingly duties. Not everything is about finding the biggest sword and slashing away idiotically.”
Loki chuckles lowly at the jab at his older brother. These occasions are rare, and never fails at making his day.
“When are we scheduled to depart?” Loki questions.
“You all meet at the Bifrost tomorrow morn. At the arrival of Alfheim, you will journey to the Ira Islands by boat and stay at the Orolosta kingdom for seven nights. Do not disappoint me. This meeting is dismissed.”
—
“Seven days on paradise? The stars are in our favor!” Volstagg thunders at the feasting table.
Thor booms with laughter, patting his good friend on the back in agreement. “It truly is! Not to mention that the prince is good company. I remember brawling with him when we were younger, such a good sport!”
Loki rolls his eyes, picking at his plate. “This isn’t a playdate with your buddies, we are going on business. Do not self-sabotage by arriving with the wrong mentality.”
“Must you be a kill-joy, brother?”
“Absolutely.”
Fandral puts his arm around Thor’s shoulder. “While you both are doing princely duties, I shall be roaming the city area seeking my lady for the stay.”
“Oh please.” Sif laughs. “The only lady that will waste her time is one that pities you. It happened on the last trip, and it will happen again.”
The table roars with laughter, even Hogan giving a little chuckle.
But not the trickster. He is dreading this trip.
Loki prays to the stars above that his current path is disturbed somehow. He doesn’t care how, he just wants the impending agony of staying on the hell island with his hellish brother and friends to be all but naught.
Should that happen, he vows to stop pranking Thor for a millennia.
—
The princes and warriors meet on the rainbow bridge, ready to depart on the voyage. Everyone is eager to enter the Bifrost. The thought of relaxing on paradise is eating away at everyone’s patience.
Everyone, save for Loki.
Heimdall readies the Bifrost, injecting his sword into the contraption. “Safe travels.” He says softly as the light from the sword captures the group, sending them off on their way.
For a beginner, traveling through the Bifrost can be an uncomfortable experience. The pull on one’s body can feel completely awkward. The whole group has experienced this before, so they are used to it.
However, Loki is feeling this uncomfortable pull more intensely. He starts to feel that he is getting pulled from two different directions, rather than the normal one.
The pull from the second direction is getting stronger with every passing second.
He fights to stay on the path by moving closer to Thor’s red blur. He succeeds at first, feeling the opposing force die down for a bit. He begins to relax.
But the pull is back, stronger than ever.
Loki loses his grip on the calculated path and falls out of the light, the blurs of his older brother getting smaller and smaller as he is sent on a different route.
He screams for Thor, but the sound is swallowed by the vacuum of this new path of light he travels on.
The gravitational pull is too strong for his body to handle. He tries his damn hardest to keep his eyes open.
But it is too strong, for he loses the battle over his body and falls into a deep unconsciousness.