In The Beginning

~Chapter 1~




"Only one of you can ascend to the throne. Both of you…were BORN to be kings."

It had been a few years since the brothers had heard those words. But all the same, they did not forget them. In fact, the complete opposite; they seemed to live to accomplish what those words implied. Becoming king.

Thor; always the strong, stead-fast and courageous son. Loki; always the more hesitant and thoughtful, calculating son. They were both striving to reach the same goal, set however consciously or unconsciously by their father; to be the worthy son to take the throne when the time came.

But soon, their characters' were being fully shown. What kind of king they would be, could be assumed decently well from how they dealt through their years.

With so many play adventures and actual trips around the kingdom and rarely to other realms, Thor became even more courageous. He was very curious and adventurous, and without fear most of the time; it took something very big and nasty to scare him. But he always strived to be a brave and strong warrior, fearless and ready to act. And he always was.

Loki wasn't as head-strong, though he was just as adventurous as his brother. And he craved chances to prove himself, with his brother seeming to do it so perfectly and effortlessly. Loki kept his wits more, though. Whereas Thor would see a battle and run head-long into it, Loki would stand aside, calculating the situation and considering the best course of action before acting. This came in plenty handy. But somehow, in his brothers eyes and the eyes of their friends that they grew to adventure with, it seemed to make Loki a bit of a coward…

Loki would wonder to himself, why he could not be like his brother…? Fit, strong, fearless and ready to battle. He would look upon his brother with mixed feelings of envy and adoration. Someone to be admired, that's what Thor was to him, but also someone to strive to be equal to. But should he? Should he strive to be as his brother? Or should he make a name for himself, in his own way?

He decided upon the latter, knowing he could not be his brother. Soon enough, as they were coming into their early teen years (for gods, at least), they were predictable. Thor was the son ready for an adventure or battle every day, ready to prove his strength and worth and hot-headedly thinking that he did not have much to prove. Loki became the more quick, calculating son. Yet somehow he'd gained…a mischievous nature, as he learned more and more of the art of magic. He took to playing pranks when not using his skills to impress. It was highly entertaining to him.

These days were becoming tame lately. But knowing Thor that would not last for long. He would find some excuse or idea as to why he should leave the palace, accompanied by his friends and brother.

And that's exactly what he was doing at the moment, wandering the palace halls, concocting some kind of plan for fun today. His blond hair was pulled back in a short ponytail, his clothes a darkened blue shade with little armor and a few dark red Asgardian royalty designs upon them, some armor along his arms. He was a tall young man, with a strong build even for his age. The look upon his face was a consistent look. One of hot-headed cockiness.

Looking for his brother, Thor finally found Loki in the courtyard, sitting upon the edge of the pond they had in the middle of the stone courtyard. He sat with his legs crossed, a book upon his lap. He was nearly as tall, but nowhere near as strongly built as Thor and more lean. He wore a black shirt with the similar Asgardian designs upon them (though dark green), with golden armor upon his arm, less then Thor's (whose was silver). He wore a black and green jacket. His hair was slicked back, the length of his collar and it barely spiked at the tips.

Thor was walking towards him when he noticed the water moving in strange ways. Suddenly, a strip of water arose and separated itself from its source, seeming to take flight—no, it swam through the air, before surrounding Loki's outstretched hand and becoming sharpened-tipped ice, the rest wrapped around Loki's wrist.

"Practicing magic tricks again are you, brother?" Thor asked then with an amused smirk.
Loki looked to his brother then, rolling his eyes. "How can one expect to grow in his skill, if not by practice?"

"That is a valid point, but there are always those who are just born with the natural abilities." Thor said in his cocky way, smirking.

Loki sighed, hating being reminded of how he and his brother differed; and how that made him seem lacking. Thor, always the strong and stead-fast. Always, it had never been much of a skill he had to learn. Unlike Loki. His skills (his brains, intuition and skills of magic) all had to be learned. And were learned in attempt to keep up with Thor. Loki told himself that eventually, honing his skills as he did would pay off in big ways.

Loki whispered low under his breath, waving his hand over the water and attempting the same trick he'd been practicing before, but the focused look on his face was a mix of determination and annoyance and his strip of water seemed to flow a little less gracefully. "Is there a reason for your interruption of my practice, brother? Or is the oldest prince simply bored?"

"Do I not always have a reason, brother?" Thor said, crossing his arms.

"No, sometimes you truly are just bored—you only hide it with your defense of feeling adventurous." Loki said, letting the water drop carefully back in the pond.

"Do you ever get tired of calculating things to all its possible details and reasons?" Thor questioned his younger brother, coming up beside him and giving him an accusing but amused look.

"Do you ever get tired of trying to show off?" Loki offered, looking his brother in the eyes.

"It's not showing off brother, it's proving my strength."

"But what is there to prove? You yourself implied you were born with such strength and ability, so why take the time to prove it?"

"Why sit by and look lazy to my people?"

"Better than looking the impatient and bored fool though, is it not?"

"Will you ever be on my side brother? Because it seems you must always be somewhat against me."

"Probably not…" Loki simply said, before they both chuckled at their back and forth. Taking a deep breath, Loki added, "The day either of us is crowned is the day I will be on your side brother. But until then, you'll have to get used to the competitiveness. You cannot say you don't enjoy it though." he smirked, standing from the side of the pond and walking away back towards the palace as Thor followed with him.

"No, I cannot." Thor smiled, walking at his brother's side. He glanced down the courtyard, towards the doors that led back into the palace. He remembered how he and Loki used to race so many times. He laughed to himself.

"Something amuses you?" Loki questioned, curious of his brothers sudden laugh.

Thor looked to him, before he looked towards the doors, and then he looked back to Loki with a certain look on his face that perked at Loki's competitiveness.

"No, Thor." Loki gave him a look that told Thor he thought his un-spoken proposal to be childish.

Thor raised a brow, trying to egg him on.

"Are you truly suggesting we race like little children as we did years ago? You MUST be bored."

"Come on, brother." Thor pleaded with a laugh.

"No, Thor, I'm not racing you."

"Why, afraid I'll win?"

"No, I just don't want to look like an idiot."

"Do not lie, brother. You know you're afraid of losing."

"Am I?" Loki questioned and when Thor nodded, he broke into a run then, hurrying ahead of his brother.

"You cheat!" Thor accused, speeding after the raven-haired god who was chuckling ahead of him.

Thor pushed himself hard, stretching his legs and soon he was neck and neck with his brother, smirking as they were getting closer to the doors. "You will not win brother! Haha!!"

"We'll see about that…" Loki said under his breath, before mumbling mystic words and suddenly the plants set up around them fell forward. He cursed himself, he meant for only the plants on Thor's side to fall before him.

Now both of them leapt over and tried to avoid the obstacles Loki had created.

Thor leapt over an overgrown bush Loki had caused to be in his way, his leap higher than it should be. He was using his power of flight, the cheat! Loki thought. And too busy thinking, Loki tripped, falling to the ground and rolling on his side.

He looked up as he heard Thor laughing. Glaring, Loki smirked a mischievous smirk and mumbled under his breath. Thor was too busy laughing that he did not see the rock levitating in his path and he ran straight into it.

Loki broke into a laughing fit at how idiotic his brother had looked upon impact. He lay on his side, hold his stomach that began to ache with laughter.

Thor brushed stray hair from in his eyes, glaring. He looked to Loki and then suddenly, using his skill of flight, he flew through the air straight to Loki. He landed with his feet on either side of Loki's form. He leaned down and gripped his brothers' shirt, pulling him up and glaring as he continued laughing.

"That was not funny, brother." Thor stated.

"Yes, it was! You looked like a young, wild and surprised bilgshnipe!" Loki continued laughing, even with his brother seeming so angry and holding him so forcefully.

"You cheated."

"And you did not? With that little bit of flight of yours?" Loki raised a brow.

"At least I use my powers to MY advantage, not to fault others."

"That is because you only consider yourself, brother, and no others. My actions not only benefit me, but they'll also teach you a lesson and maybe knock down that big head of yours. The plants had us both trying harder. The rock to your face simply showed you that you need to keep focus." Loki chuckled just a little more.

Thor put his brother down, rolling his eyes and a smirk split across his face. "No wonder we stopped this silly game—we never played fair."

Loki adjusted his shirt. "Exactly. Yet we continued to fall prey to the competitiveness." He looked Thor in the eyes then and they both saw the still remaining competitive spirit…should they still try and run? One of them could still win…

"I would wonder how the courtyard could become such a near-chaotic mess. Who would make such a mess?" They heard a female voice then, before a young woman around their age sudden leapt from a bridge path they'd been standing beside. She had dark black hair and a female warrior's uniform on. "But then, I know the two of you."

"Good evening, Sif." Loki chuckled, but passed by her, not caring much for conversation. She was…somewhat a friend. But she was one that he felt held judgment, however hidden or not hidden. For both of the princes. But something told him the judgment was more with him at times… No one could stay mad at Thor, now could they…?

"Loki. Not keeping Thor on a leash, are you?" she questioned, crossing her arms.

"No, I thought that was your job." Loki retorted.

"And the point of this mess is?" she asked them both.

"A race." Thor chuckled. "For old-time's sake."

Sif rolled her eyes. "Ever the childish ones, you both are."

"Speak to the Thunder-Prince, Maiden of War." Loki bowed sarcastically. "I was minding my own business, taking to my practices before this oaf came along to bug me."

"And how did the plants come to be fallen and thrown around, Prince of Mischief?" Thor said, looking to Loki.

Loki just smirked. "No idea."

"Why are you not practicing yourself, Thor? I thought it was one of your favorite past-times, to show off your strength." Sif looked to him.

"Oh, it is." Loki put in, but Thor disregarded it.

"I came out to find the both of you, actually. I just came across my brother first."

"And what are you seeking us for?" Sif asked.

"Yes, what for, because you failed to inform me." Loki said, folding his arms behind his back.

Thor smiled. "I think it's about time we go on a new little adventure."

"And you question my calculations, why?" Loki said, proven right that his brother had been planning an adventure.

"Thor, what on Asgard could be going through your mind?" Sif asked. "You can't always venture out on every whim you may have, with no rhyme or reason. Especially being a Prince!"

"I have reason." Thor said and both Sif and Loki seemed shocked.

"And that reason would be? I'm anxious to hear." Sif said.

"There has been talk of an Asgardian warrior losing his way on one of the last scouting missions and finding himself stranded upon Muspelheim. Some feel it is spooked talk that someone would go missing in such a place, but there are others who are worried. I think we should round up a rescuing party, because I believe the talk. I know Volstagg, Fandral and even Hogun have been considering it." Thor explained.

Sif was surprised and stayed quiet, considering.

"And when did you stumble across this talk, brother? Something tells me you were just lucky to come across a reason, if this is not a lie." Loki accused.

"Believe what you want, brother. I speak truth." Thor stated. He crossed his arms and looked to the two of them. "So? I could bet my best treasures that the Warriors Three would be willing to come along. What say you two?"

Loki and Sif contemplated to themselves, before looking at one another. In both their eyes, you could see the same thought.

What was Thor about to get them into?