A Second Chance: Chap. 18 - For You

"I could have done it, father!", Loki screamed, his tone of voice becoming that of the little boy he once was.

"I will not let you fall! Never again!" Thor said, tears dripping from his own eyes and falling into the emptyness and the vortex behind them closed by its own.

"Losing you is my biggest fear"

"I wouldn't be able to live without you, brother"

"I'd rather die alone than to bring you down with me..."

"…The only thing you can do is to try protecting as many lives as you can from now on. It's no too late, brother. It's never too late!"

"T-Thor, I-I'm sc… Scared…!"

"I-I thought I was g-gonna l-lose you…"

"I am just glad for having you by my side…"

"You are my brother, remember?"

"How could I ever forget?"

"No… No, Loki, I-I cannot… Loki is…

"Loki is my brother!"

Mjolnir fell against the ground, making an enourmous rumble. Thor's grip around the magician's neck relaxed and Loki fell on his back, surprised and gasping for air, staring at his brother who screamed in pain, both of his hands pressed against his head.

"S-S-Stop...! L-Loki... I-I cannot- AAARGH!!!"

Loki widened his eyes as he watched his brother fight against the intense mind control he was suffering. Words he could not understand filled up his mind and terror took over his heart as his head felt about to explode. He was not going to make it… He was not going to make it...!!!

Loki fastly stood up and ran next to his brother. He could not faint here, they needed him now more than ever and with that thought in mind, Loki placed his right hand over his brother's chest, feeling his heart beating frantically and casted a simple spell over him to calm him down. Thor opened his eyes, red with tears of pain, and seeing his little one made his mind fight once again.

"Focus, my brother…" Loki whispered, feeling terribly tired "Do not let them control you, Thor. Keep yourself together…!"

The God of Thunder panted, his hands still pressed against his head. They wanted him to kill the responsible for destroying their defenses, they wanted him to kill the one that had taught the others on how to fully defeat their warriors but… But he was his brother! He was his best friend, his partner, his… His little one. He could not… He could not-

An insane will to take away the life of the magician took over him once again and as much as he told himself not to do it, his fingers tightened around Loki's neck with more determination to kill him than before. Loki gasped for air and Thor sank his fingers deeper, feeling the frantic pulse coming from beneath. However, he could not look at what he was doing and even though his hand was acting by its own, he tried to force himself not to do it and Loki, as panicked as he was, kept concentrated on his brother, using his spell in order to help him resist. Tears were streaming down the older one's face and it was with deep relief that he felt his legs give in and he fell on his knees after letting go of his brother's throat, panting desperately. Loki also kneeled, sweating intensely. However, he did not leg go of his brother as he was the one to give him enough strenght to recover soon enough.

"L… L-Loki…" Thor whispered, staring into his brother's eyes with difficulty. The younger man smiled. His forehead still bleeding, his eyes shined with relief. Thor caressed his face, softly, his voice failing him "I-I am s-sorry… W… What have I done to y-you, my b-brother...?"

"You have done nothing at all!" Loki sighed and held the hand that once tried to kill him which now was making sure to keep him safe… "You were under control, it is alright"

"I-I almost killed you, L-Loki… These words, I-I never meant to-"

"I know, I know…" Loki comforted him, making sure that he was fully awaken "Now… How are you feeling?"

"A little tired but… I feel good!"

"Great. Now, Thor…" Loki started and stared right deep into his brother's eyes, serious. Thor did not like his tone of voice but listened carefully, quickly recovering his conscience "The Yggdrasis may be outnumbered but they have way more energy than us. The only way to stop them is to destroy their source of energy!"

"But… But how?"

"I… Mind controls, if used correctly, can kill the one being controlled"

"You intend in controlling their source? Brother, I know that it is a living being but you remember how you felt while mastering such ability!"

"I know…" Loki sighed. It was something actually hard to do and he had never used it with such intent, of course. During the whole past week he only managed to actually mind control animals and only once he managed to do so by only simply thinkink on his victim "But it is our last chance. Our warriors are too tired to fight back, Asgard is going down and… And they already know we are Allfather's heirs"

Thor lowered his head, trying not to think about their father "These bastards… T-They controlled me when I let my guard down, when I heard that-"

"He is safe now" Loki whispered, fighting against the tears that tried to take over him. Thor had taken care of him so many times before and now it was his turn to take care of his loved friend. Thor was severely hurt inside and he needed to be strong for his big brother… "He made me promise that we would protect Asgard a… After his departure. And I am willing to do anything at my reach to do so!"

"I left Heimdall and the others… Alone by the Bifrost! I-I need to go back and help them!"

"Then be ready! As soon as their source is destroyed, they shall grow weaker and that will be the right time for us to be victorious!" Loki said, making Thor smile, his teary eyes showing some hope at last.

"A… Are you sure you can do this? No harm done?"

"Leave that matter to me" Loki said, remembering Thor's question weeks ago… "What exactly happens if a sorcerer uses more power than he can handle?" "As for you, please, promise me you will not let anything get in your way!"

"It is a promise but... Loki, please, be careful!"

Loki smiled "I will try".





Thor headed for the Bifrost, fearing what he would find when he reached the place. Looking around, he saw many of his men lifeless as other dodged the attacks that were now coming from everywhere. There were Yggdrasian archers around the place and even though the giant creatures were gone the air was covered in a dark smoke. He landed next to Heimdall who had just killed the last Yggdrasi that entered the Bifrost and when he turned around he widened his eyes in surprise.

"Thor! What about Loki?!"

"He is going after their energy source! We need to prepare ouselves, it will be the perfect moment for us to attack!"

"Will he use mind control, I wonder?" Heimdall questioned "I have been watching him for the past week and I think it is too early for him to try such a thing, my King. The Yggdrasis are way more powerful than they seem"

"I know… But… But I trust him" Thor said, facing Heimdall's concerned look. They turned around and dodged more arrows that were heading their way, joining their armies against the creatures that still looked for Asgard's fall. The anger for losing sight of their precious book drove them all to madness and now anything nor anyone would stop them.





Loki ran as fast as he managed to in order to reach the highest part of the castle. His legs, however, would not cooperate and kept on trying to bring him down, the constant blood loss making him feel dizzy. But he kept on going and, before he entered the castle, he turned around to look again to his home, the wonderful place now turned into ruins. He did not see Sif nor Hogun around and without any second thoughts, he crossed the gate, memories filling up his mind as he headed for his goal…

"Why is it so bad to make use of magic? I just don't get it!" A 17 years old Loki growled at his father. They were outside at the gardens, simply enjoying the cool breeze that tried messing up with their hair "You also have magical powers, father! Why can't I?"

"It is hard for an Asgardian to have interest towards dark magic, my son. Anyone who feels tempted by such is usually bad seen because of the chaos such knowledge can bring to our people"


Loki looked around as he walked through dozens of dead bodies spread through the castle's long corridors. There was no living being around. He kept on walking, thinking of his goal…


"How much do you know about it, Loki? You have been searching about such subject for a long time…"

"I know the basics… I still have too much to learn. But I have no one to teach me, unlike Thor and the other warriors around our Realm… Do you think we, magicians, will be respected one day? Like you are?"

"I do not think, Loki. I am sure of it. But that will only come to be when one of them does something truly magnificent and, sadly, all of the ones who have enough potential to do so end up losing their way…"


Loki coughed, suddenly feeling a heavy pain hit over his body. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Focus…" He kept on telling himself "Focus!!!".


"You need to think, however, about your own safety, my child" Odin told him, calmly "I believe that as long as you manage to control yourself, learning these dark arts will only be helpful. But just as a warrior, a sorcerer has his limits…"

"Oh, you are worried that I may use more than I can take, right?" Loki asked.

"So you are attentive to your use of energy… Those are good news. I feel relieved. Yet… I must know, Loki… Are you fully aware of the risks?"

Pain. A terrible pain.

Loki fell on his knees, quickly putting his hands over the arrow that had just pierced through his flesh, aiming for his stomach. Blood instantly dripped out of his mouth as the world became a blur to his eyes and his veins burned with such a rage that he thought someone had sliced his heart. His scepter fell and he looked down at the arrow, panting and sweating. He didn't have time to waste…

Decided to reach the top of the castle at any cost, Loki Laufeyson grabbed the arrow and slowly pulled it out of his body, screaming in agony as he did. Looking at the point of it, his heart skipped a beat as he realized what was supposed to kill him.

"Poison! A strong and deadly one, capable of killing a grown man…"

He put his hand over the deep wound, eyes tightly closed and used a bit of his energy for a healing spell. He could not, however, waste too much of his power. What he was going to do would need it and, that thought, he just made sure to slow down the process. He cleaned the blood from his mouth and with great effort got up, holding his scepter with might and making sure to kill the hidden archer that had hit him. His senses were getting confused and his vision started to black out bit by bit but he kept on going. He would not save himself... There was something more important to save.

"You do understand what will happen to you if you use more than you should?" Odin finished his question with a serious tone of voice. Loki answered with the same tone.

"If a sorcerer uses more power than he can handle… More than his body can handle… He would not survive... Am I right?"

"I am glad you are aware of that!"



Loki groaned in pain as he finally reached the right place. He had been here a few mintues before it all started. And now here he was again: Ready to finish it for once and for all. He just hoped the last bit of power he had would be enough.

A strong hit of his scepter being sent against the ground, Loki stared down at the war that raged on. He tried to forget about everything, he needed to concentrate now more than he had ever done. He held his scepter with both of his hands and closed his eyes, nothing holding him back. Sif had been working with him, she had told him about their source of energy and even though they only knew it had a life of its own, the fact that it had already communicated with him once made him feel secure. His dead father, his destroyed Realm, everything came back at once and it was with a great effort that he finally managed to localize it.

The Yggdrasis felt a sudden lack of air as their master's mind was taken. And so did the one who had finally managed to control it.

Loki started panting as soon as he managed to finally get into its mind. But the Yggdrasis were the ones to develop such strong and deadly ability and they were strong enough to resist it for some time, as painful as it was. But although Loki felt as if every single bone of his were being broken and even though his heart started beating unconstantly, making him shiver, he did not let go of it. If he did, he would never be able to control it again and the survival of everything he knew depended on this. He opened his eyes and stared to something he could not understand as the same voice he had heard days ago started speaking to him.

"How dare you use of our knowledge to attack us?! How dare you try to kill me, the creator of the Nine Realms, knowing you shall never be able to fully master our abilities?!"

Loki's body was trembling compulsively as he forced himself to resist the other's power. They were stronger than he would ever be…






The Yggdrasis surrounding Thor started acting strangely, as if they could feel something was wrong. Thor smiled to himself, thinking about Loki…






"Thor, my brother…" Loki started speaking mentally. He wished Thor could hear him and even though he knew he could not he would still tell him, he needed to tell him… "You are going to be a great King. I want you to take care of our people, of everything our father loved so dearly… I want you to take care of our mother… Of Jane… Of your family…"

The enigmatic creature under his control started screaming in pain, confused at how such a young sorcerer could resist him for so long. Such primitive creature would never be able to understand, however, how the fear of losing someone can make us, mortals, become stronger and face our deepest fears with no regrets. Or course, such a thing was given to us by the Gods and Loki Laufeyson now found himself tightly holding his scepter not to fall as his legs tried to give in and his conscience forced him to stand up…

"I never wanted it to be like this. I never wanted to make any of you suffer and I do not deserve your forgiveness, brother... I never did..."

"He can not hear you, fool!" The harsh voice interrupted him "He can not hear you and he will never do! You shall fall dead and I will still be alive, laughing over your dead body!"

"But if I have ever managed to do something… If I ever managed to come this far, to overcome my fears, to truly become a man and to finally understand the real meaning of family… Thor, my brother, everything I did… It was for you"

Loki closed his eyes once again and now he truly spoke to his victim. His voice was soft and yet brought a deep impact over the creature…

"He may not be listening to me but I am fully aware he will still be near in my departure. As for you, I am sorry…" He opened his hands and his eyes shined with a mystical green energy "You will be alone. And so will your people!"

A movement of his hand and a enourmous explosion was heard. For a moment, all of the present managed to see the first Realm to ever exist shining in the red skies of Asgard. But then it vanished once again... This time, however, it would never be appearing again. Its heart had been destroyed. It no longer existed.

All of the Yggdrasi stared around and horror took over them as they realized what had happened. Some still tried to fight but were easily defeated, slowly being killed by their own lack of power. Soon, the last few of them were surrendering and with a scream of joy and relief, the King of Asgard announced.

"Asgard is victorious!!!"

The Asgardians celebrated with more happiness than they thought they would. Their Realm was turned upside down and the dead ones were spread around the ground. But the dead ones would finally be able to rest in peace now and something deep inside of each one of the survivors told them that better times were to come. Victory was theirs! Asgard was safe! They were safe!

But words of despair can darken all happiness in the word. And these words came to Thor by Heimdall's lips.

"My King…" Heimdall called him, deeply concerned "Loki is in danger!"

Thor's heart seemed to stop at hearing these words. Without thinking twice, he used Mjolnir to reach his brother. He knew were he was and it was with a intense despair that he landed next to him, the sight killing him inside out.

"Brother!!!"

Thor ran towards the falling body of Loki, desperate to hold him before he hit the cold floor. He held him as fast as he managed to yet his body was heavy and Thor kneeled down, holding him softly and taking care so he would not fall. Laying his brother's head over his lap with shaking hands, he caressed his head and tried to clean the blood that kept pouring out of his forehead and falling over his eye, the deep scar over one of them making it all too worse. Thor stared into the green eyes of his little one, searching for a shine of life as the young man's face became paler and paler as seconds passed by… Loki opened his mouth with difficulty, trying to say something but all he managed to do was to drown in his own blood, slowly dripping from his mouth as he forced himself to breath.

Thor panicked as he realized a deep wound over Loki's stomach, more blood dripping from what was left of flesh that was tore apart by the poisonous arrow that had hit him. His eyes where shining…

Shining with fear. Shining with pain.

Shining with tears.

"D…D-d-did it w-work…?", Loki gasped, a terrible feeling of being teared appart hitting his mind and body inside out as the intense use of magic kept drawning all of his energy away and the poison slowly spread through his veins...

Thor's eyes filled up with tears as he lost control over himself. Loki's face was way too pale and his once green eyes were becoming empty ones as they became blank, fastly dilating. His breathing made a tearing sound, to breath was hurting him. He was too weak, his hair wet with a mixture of blood and sweat. Yet, the only thing he wanted to know was if his home was safe…

"Y-Y-You did it!", Thor whispered through his painful cry, holding his best friend's head with both his hands, making sure he was listening, praying that he would keep listening… "Y-You saved our home, L-Loki… Y-Y-You saved all of us! P-Please, k-keep your eyes on m-m-me…"

"F… F-fa-father…" Loki's voice sounded weaker as seconds passed, his chest going up and down with violence as he tried to stay awake. More tears dripped from his eyes as he kept speaking, the pain slowly spreading through his whole body "I…I-It's m… M-my f-fault that he… H-he…"

"No! No, it's your f-fault!" The older brother told the young one, caressing him softly "He w-would be proud of you! I a-am proud of you, brother! Y-You have no idea o-of how m-much I am p-proud…!"

Loki coughed, his lungs being compressed by his useless attempts to breath. His eyes tried to close by their own but he needed to stay awake! He tried moving his arms, just his hands, anything, but they just wouldn't obey his commands. He panicked, feeling the world becoming darker and darker as his senses became confuse… His whole body started shaking and the pain grew stronger, he… He could not die, not here, not right now, Thor would need him now that father was gone, he would need him and he wanted to be with him more than anything… But his lungs, just as his heart, started failing him and the venom hit his mind with such speed that he had to try hard to be able to think straight.

He… He was scared!

"B… B-b-b-bro-t-ther…!", he tried calling through desperate breaths, his failing heart beating with force as it tried to keep him alive. Thor was trembling as much as he was, if not more, his own heart failing him as something told him his biggest fear was facing him. He has swore to protect Loki since they were chidlren but he could do nothing to help while he tried begging for help, tried begging for his life…

"I-I-I'm… S… So ...Sor... ry…", Loki managed to say, sobbing. He loved his brother more than anything, he understood that, and he felt really regretfull for all he had done in the past. He just wanted to say it once more, he wanted to say how much he loved that playful brother he had and how much he was sorry for bringing him so many problems… He just wanted to say goodbye but even his mind seemed to fight against that, slowly killing him…

"Shhh, Shhh… It's ok now!" Thor whispered, his soft voice hitting Loki's mind as a healing drug. The God of Thunder smiled as his tears fell over his brother's bloody face and tried to look calm for a second, just for a second so he would feel calm and be taken to a safe place. He would be healed, Thor himself would take care of him, he believed in that, he knew it! His words sounded so peaceful… Like...

Like a lullaby.

"I-I-It's alright…! T…T-There's nothing to f-fear, brother... You… Y-You are safe! I…"

"I am here with you!"

Loki's body instantly answered to these words. His breathing became much calmer and his shaking hands just laid resting over his chest. There was a sudden burst of light in his eyes and they shined with the life they had once kept for so long. A shadow of a weak smile surpassed the once mischievous God face and a single tear left his eyes.  Why should he feel afraid? He had his brother with him. There was nothing to fear, nothing. No matter what happened, he would be safe… He would always be safe… With him…

With him…

Thor felt his younger brother's body relax over his lap and as he felt his little one's hand trying to hold his arm, a deep and once forgotten memory filled up his mind, a rusty yet unique memory. Both smiled weakly to each other while drowning in tears and Thor tightned his grip around his brother's hand…

"T-T-Thor…? B-Brother…?"

The 8  years old Thor Odinson was sleeping on his red and gold bed, a beautiful blanket made of feathers involving his small body. Annoyed, he lifted his head just a little bit to see his 6 years little brother standing at the door, trembling from head to feet, his face covered with fear.

"W-What is it, Loki?" Thor asked, yawning while doing so.

"I… I-I had a nightmare…!"

The little Loki was about to burst into tears. The nights were always cold in Asgard and now, on winter, it was pratically impossíble to stay out of bed during the night. However, fear had managed to pull the little boy out of bed and now, freezing while waiting for an answer, he wondered if it wouldn't have been wiser to bring his blanket with him.

Thor hiccuped as a last smile surpassed his young brother's lips and he wiped away a drip of blood that started running down his mouth. Closer to him, he realized how he trembled deeply…

"I-It's cold!" Loki cried, hoping his brother would answer soon.

"Humpf… Fine, you can stay with me. Only today!"

Relieved, the future magician jumped over his big bro's bed and, before Thor had realized it, was engulfed by the warm blanket.

"And be quiet!", Thor said "I have to train tomorrow and I'm very tired!"

Loki tried to speak again. To call for Thor one last time, to hear his voice in answer, to keep him in his mind and heart for all eternity. But he didn't manage to and failed, the last breath held within him finally letting go…

"Thor…?"

"Yeah, brother?" Thor asked patiently as he realized how scared his little one was.

"A… Are you sure it is safe? To… To sleep, I mean. T… The nightmares, I-"

"Of course it is safe, bro. I promise you, okay? I'm right by you side. You can sleep now. And when you wake up…"

"L… L-Loki?"

"…I'll still be here"

Thor's voice failed him deeply as he watched his brother's tired but peaceful eyes close right in front of his. Loki's head, as if he was falling asleep, slowly fell over his brother's lap, lost, the hand being held now limp heading for the floor. A last tear left his light green eyes and his once panicked face no longer showed emotion… Loki, his partner, his best friend, his brother, his little one, Loki…

Loki was gone.

"No... No, L... Loki, m… M-My brother, L-Loki…"

Thor held his motionless head with both hands, searching for any trace of life left behind, scared as he kept on calling but received no answer. As much as he caressed him, as much as he talked to him, as much as he begged for him to wake up, deep inside he knew there was nothing he could do. Deep inside, he knew he would never hear the voice that had been following him since he was a child again, he would never feel his tight embrace, he would never…

He would never be able to say goodbye.

"L-L-Loki, d… Don't… D-Don't leave m… M-me…"

Thor's sorrowful cry filled up the sky as he laid his head over his brother's, sobbing over his beloved friend, just wishing he could be hugged back, just once more before he fell asleep. He held him close, begging for him to wake up and make him feel safe, the only one that made him feel sure that there was nothing to fear. He needed to tell him how much he cared, he wanted to tell him how proud he was of having him as a brother, he…

"O-O-Oh, L-Loki-i…" Thor sobbed uncontrolably, bringing him closer and closer, his heart sinking deeper as he was forced to realize he would not be called back… "M-My little o-one, I-I l-love you s… S-so-much…!"

Nothing else mattered to him. He did not care about having won the war. If he was going to be alone, it would not be worth it. If he was going to be alone then...

The magician's limp body kept being held by the warrior's arms. He had promised to keep him safe, he had promised he would protect him... But he had failed him. And as Thor hid his face in his brother's chest, he realized.

They had yet so much to share. And he didn't even have time to say goodbye… He didn't have time to say how much he loved him. And now would never know.

He would never know…