Vol 1 Ch 6

"Lord Odin, Heimdall brings grave Tidings. the western part of asgard is being invaded by demons."

"Gather the army, we march to defend asgard." He ordered Tyr.

Saluting , Tyr moved to carry out his orders.

Odin turned to Thor, "Help your mother protect the guests and our people. I sense something is amiss" Odin said summoning his spear Gungnir. "Remember, home is where the Asgardians are."

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"Prince Loki, Asgard is under attack, Odin is leading the armies in defense. Queen Frigga is demanding your presence in the Throne room." One of the Castle's Maid had approached him. Ah Gretta, he remembered her, for much of his youth she had been assigned to him. Loki wondered if she had hated him. Then he remembered the scene when he had fallen ill with fever. She had been the one to look after him. She remained by his side for much of that period. Loki turned a little grateful to her. Looking at her now, he saw that her age had taken a toll on her. He had always remembered her being old.

She had once brought her daughter to the castle. She was a curious creature. So happy and full of life. She had smiled at him, the front two teeth missing. Anitta had grown afraid that her grand daughter had not followed royal protocol. Loki had waved her off and shown her some magic.

Loki nodded and made his way to the throne room. His armor was already secured in some seals. The kanji very distinct on them. He had them on his person. Loki entered the throne room to the scene of Thor and his friends standing there. Along with Queen Frigga and her personal escorts. Queen Frigga was wearing her armor with a winged helmet. Back in the day, she used to be the one who lead the Valkyrie. A sword holstered at her side. She looked every bit like the legendary warrior Queen

"Loki, Thor. You need to be careful. It is unknown how the demon's got past our defenses." Frigga had begun to explain to her children. "I believe that another scheme is afoot." A pensive look on her face. "Thor ready the warriors. Loki stay I wish to speak with you."

Thor went to get the soldiers to get ready. Frigga had turned to Loki, "Are you alright Loki?"

"Yes mother." Loki had replied.

Frigga had replied. "Loki don't lie to me. You are my son, I can sense your emotions". A sad look entered her face. "Were you planning to leave tonight." A sharp look on her face.

'You are not my mother.' Loki had thought. Yet, he held his silence. He began to look at her face.

A sad expression on her face. "Loki stay, I promise you that you will be allowed to goto the other Realms. I will convince your father to make you an ambassador of asgard with the rights to travel anywhere within the nine realms."

Loki had remained silent.

"Loki, please think about it."

Loki had replied. "I will think about it my Queen."

A sad expression had come over her face as she saw Loki leave. He had not called her mother. Instead referring to her as my Queen. She decided that she would once more build upher relationship with Loki. Maybe show him Vanaheim. Visit her brother while she would be there. She would have to tell him the truth as well.

Loki had made his way outside. Looking at the troops preparing themselves and the royal guards with the ambassadors of different realms.

He saw Thor approaching him.

"Loki."

"Thor"

A single word exchange took place between them. You would be able to see the awkwardness between them.

"They are your friends as well brother." Thor had said.

"Ask them Thor. I am no friends of their. Only the brother of their friend. The only blemish upon Asgard." Loki said, with no emotion in his voice.

Before Thor could speak further. Loki had asked him. "How goes the preparations."

"The warriors are ready. They are ready to march at the first sign of trouble. We are already setting up a perimeter. Civilians are being evacuated to within the castle." Thor had replied.

Loki had turned towards him. "We leave ourselves vulnerable to the magic of our enemies. Something that should be rectified." Loki had expected Thor to berate him or say that magic was the way of cowards. Instead he nodded and began to look around.

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Sif had been taking inventory of her armor along with the warrior three. She could tell that they had been rattled by the actions of Loki. Sif herself had begun to wonder when things had changed. She remembered a time when both Loki and her used to play together. How Loki had helped her become a warrior. The amount of fun they used to have. It changed when she became a warrior. To fit in, she had called Loki prideless. Sif wondered if she was that shallow.

"I'm beat. Loki sure became stronger huh." Volstagg said. "He completely took care of me." He said with a laugh. Well Volstagg was back to his cheerful self. She saw Hogun and Fandral nod.

"Was he right, about us knowing how to kill." Hogun said and entered a contemplative mood. Sif saw Volstagg and Fandral also become a little contemplative.

"Lady Sif, a word." She was approached by Queen Frigga.

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"Lady Sif, a word." Queen Frigga had approached Lady Sif.

A sharp look inside her eyes.

"Yes my Lady."Sif replied.

She glanced at the warrior three. "In private, please." She glanced at the warrior three.

They nodded and left the area.

"Lady Sif, ae you aware that Loki intends to leave Asgard." Queen Frigga had started.

"Pardon me." Sif had said in surprise. Any other thoughts gone from her head.

"He had been planning to leave for a long time. This demonic incursion delayed his plans." Frigga explained. "His heart has not been in this place for a long time. He had always intended to leave. However, Thor's words had pushed him beyond a breaking point. Causing him to want to leave." Frigga had said, giving her a pointed glare.

"You shall keep watch over him for tonight." Frigga had told Lady Sif.

Lady Sif nodded and began to leave.

"One more thing Lady Sif," Lady Sif had stopped to listen to her Queen's order. "Loki is of royal blood. Guard him with your life. Don't fail me. Don't fail your duties."

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Loki was standing in the balcony, his sharingan out in its three tomoe form. Loki had a bad feeling about tonight and he was watching over the city.

"Prince Loki." A voice called out to him. Stopping the flow of chakra to his eyes, he Turned around. Loki saw Sif approaching him.

"I have been ordered to escort you for tonight."

"I am not a child, Lady Sif. I can take care of myself." He said sharply to Lady Sif.

Loki turned around to leave when his shoulder was grabbed, "The queen insists. She fears that you may want to leave."

"Is that not your wish? To see the only black spot on asgard gone. Lady Sif, should you not hope for me to leave." Loki had said to her, his back still turned.

"Am I not honor less, a coward." Loki hissed at her.

'Am I truly this shallow.' Sif thought to herself.

Sif tightened her hold on Loki's shoulder. "I will not fail my duty."

"You are not capable enough." Loki took her arm off his shoulder. "Remember, during out duel. I never used magic." Loki turned around and at the last part was staring her in the eyes.

He turned around and began to leave once more. Moving towards the doorway. Intending to join the others within the throne room. He heard footsteps following him. Turning around, he saw sif still following him.

Loki sighed and continued on.

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"Are the sacrifices ready." A black robed individual said.

"Yes, we have captured them." He was answered.

"Good, erect the barrier. And start the broadcast. The time for our acension is here."

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"My Lords and Ladies. Something is happening outside." One soldier rushed in and reported.

Everyone moved outside and a screen was on the sky.

"Magic Projection." Someone said out loud.

A hooded figure was standing there.

"For so long, Asgard has rejected the call of the abyss. Preventing your people from joys of ascension." Opening his arms.

"But no longer, rejoice. For ascension has come. You shall share in the joy with us." Apentagram became visible, in the middle people were herded. "In one hour, when the moon rises the highest. These people will have the pleasure of meeting the abyss lords. Their blood shall power the portals which will usher in a demon army from the main forces." The figure began to laugh out loud. His laughter tinged with madness. His laughter receded and his voice became grave. "Asgard will fall. TikTok. Time is running out."

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A grave look was in Loki's eyes. This was not good.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Gretta trembling. Loki approached her, "Whats wrong, Gretta."

"My grand daughter was among the sacrifices." She told Loki. "I cannot lose her, my son already died during the war against Jotun." She said.

Loki remembered the girl, how she smiled. So full of life. A demon host, an army invading. He remembered the mongol's invasion. The amount of death and starvation. His continious failure to save anyone. One child's body after another discovered by him. The people he failed to save. He had always wished for the ability to stop them at the shore. No one deserves such a fate. He would stop this invasion right here and now.

For now, he will hear what the war council will discuss. Then, he would move. If necessary all alone. He will become the ghost once more if necessary. The Ghost of the Uchiha, the Ghost of Tsushima would stalk the battlefield once more.

"Gretta, everything will be alright." A steely look was in Loki's eyes as he stared into Gretta's eyes.