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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Slither Hope

By the Norn’s they have done it

They actually have done what was the impossible five years ago. They had corrected the wrongs done by the Mad Titan, and Thor, he realizes, has gotten his chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his comrades (even if they explicitly did not want to blame him, but he knew if he just would have gone for the head) and himself.

Thor manages to stand up, his bones ache from the sudden physical activity that is battle. Moons ago it was his life force, he had lived for glorious battles then going back to Asgard with his courageous tales. Eating and drinking fine meals alongside the Warriors Three, jesting until the sun rose from the great valleys into the Hall.

That was many moons ago.

He shakes his head, better not think about what no longer exist.

Instead, he scans his surroundings. Aside from the devastating landscape and the ruins of the Avengers Base, there is happiness in the air. Comrades all crying and hugging one another. Thor could see Steve Rogers hugging a tall man with a metal arm tightly, his face buried in the other’s neck. T’Challa, the respectable King of Wakanda embracing his little sister, who was shedding tears that could rival his thunderstorms itself. The nice Rabbit who picked him up all those years ago now embracing what could be a wiggling small tree root alongside another human with strange hair.

Even Stark, partially roasted from wielding the Infinity Stones sending Thanos and his army to Hel, slightly embraces a young man dressed in red. Lady Pepper at his side.

Families have been reunited at last. Thor smiled as his heart sank further in.

“We did it”

Thor almost jumped from his armor (the suit has gotten a bit too tight lately) but played in calmly turning to his green comrade.

Bruce Banner smiles down at him, his great chest rising and falling, “I can’t believe we actually did it.”

“Yes,” Thor response, glazing back at the reunions. “It is a day of celebration, friend Banner. Families are together once more.”

Banner nods, “I only wish Natasha could see this. See her sacrifice had worth something.” He looks down to his right arm burned from using the stones. “Her death made this possible.”

Thor nods looking down at again, Stormbreaker resting on the ground by his side, so when Thor clinch his fist the fathom Mjolnir is there.

Banner looks at the god realizing the weight of his words, “You know,” he begins cautiously. “I never got the proper chance to say, well, I’m sorry about your brother, Thor. I know everyone has lost someone during the Snap, but you have lost so much more, and I wish I could have help you through it as friends. After all, I did get to see a glimpse of the Loki you used to talk about…not the take-over earth one.”

He gently rests his hand on the Thunder God, “So what I want to say is I’m sorry that we couldn’t bring him back for you. If he were Snap, he would have been here but…”

The Thunder god sighs deeply, a blob of air chokes in this throat as he tries to fight new tears from falling.

He has cried for his lost kin far too much over the years even at one point banning his name to be uttered near him in fear that he would simply break down.

This has been the first time in three years that someone has mentioned his brother.

Pushing the blob back within, Thor smiles up to Banner, “Thank you, Bruce for your kind words.” He gently lets himself sit on top of a piece of cement through the mount letting Banner’s hand fall off, Thor blinks his tears down. “Truth be told, I have not allowed myself to think about my brother all these years. While he has been dead before, knowing this is truly final has tormented my heart.”

He glances once again at his friends reuniting with one another, “I have myself hope after seeing those portals come to life,” he shakes his head, “All in vain, I suppose.”

“Not quite”

Both Banner and Thor turn around to see the Midgardian sorcerer he had met before Ragnarök.

“Dr. Strange” says Banner seeing the man walking towards them, “Welcome back.”

Strange’s lips form a tight smile, he looks directly to the god who has gone confused.

“Let me clarify,” he begins, “I’m not saying we can bring your brother back. He’s gone. But there is something from him that cannot be killed.”

Thor could not quite comprehend. Loki is dead, he has come to acknowledge it was final. Thor could not even have a proper Asgardian funeral for him for his body was lost, possible and most likely destroyed. There had be nothing left of his brother physically. Not even a dagger. 

“What do you mean?” Banner asks for him. Clearly, he has lost the ability to speak.

Before Strange to answer, Roger’s voice fills the area.

“Guys, I know this is a lot, really a lot, but we need to make sure everyone is alright. We just brought back people in their original positions, who knows what chaos is happening right now.”

He turns to Rhodes, “Rhodes, take Tony and Pepper somewhere else. Get him treated. The rest of you, help out any civilians.”

Most the Avengers nod, taking their orders and scurrying elsewhere. Strange turn to leave but Thor caught him, “Wait, please what do you mean?”

Strange sighs, “I will tell you later Thor, it needs proper clarification. I’ll come find you.”

“I’ll come find you”

That is what the wizard said to him a month ago.

Thor snickers, glazing into the Norwegian sea overseeing New Asgard. After the battle and helping as much humans as possible, Thor opted to head back home. Valkyrie mobilized the remaining Asgardian troops that had fallen during the Snap, and Thor had called the Bifrost to take them all back home.

Families were reunited once again and a great feast was held in honor of the returns as well for himself, King Thor, the brave remaining royal member of the house of Odin.

The last remaining royal member.

He sighs once more; kingship is something he had once aspire to have. It was birthright long ago. In what really could have been a millennium ago. Now, after everything that has happened Thor did not have the same desire. He still very much cared for his people and will help and protect them to the end of his days, but leading as a King…no, it was no longer in Thor’s heart. For the first time, he really had no direction.

“Your majesty?” came Valkyrie’s voice behind him. When he didn’t respond, Valkyrie tried again, “Thor...?”

“You know,” he starts taking off his sunglasses. “I once thought my life would be exactly as my father had planned out. Me ruling Asgard after him, having my brother at my advisor, marry probably a noble woman from Vanaheim. My life had been dictated to me since a child. And for once, now, I don’t seem to want it.”

Valkyrie frowns, “Thor, you people need a King?”

“No, they already have one.” He says starting at her. She laughs shaking her head, “That’s funny”

He wasn’t jesting, and she seemed to notice when he continued to stare. “You are being serious?”

Thor smiles slightly, ‘It’s time for me to be who I am rather than who I’m supposed to be.” He looks at her again, “But you, you are a leader that’s who you are.”

The warrior turns her sights to the town, “You know, I’d make a lot of chances here.”

“I’m counting on it…your majesty.”

Valkyrie couldn’t help to smile at her King, well now her friend. “What will you do then?”

“He has an important mission of sorts,” a calming voice says behind them. Dr. Strange silently passes through his orange portal, letting it close gently behind him. “I promise to come find you when the time was right.”

“What does he mean, Thor?” Valkyrie asks looking up at the Thunder god.

Thor only narrows his eyes at the wizard, “You told me a month ago something I did not think possible, but now, wizard I do not trust your word.”

Strange sighs, “Master of the Mystical Arts but okay. Listen, Thor I’m not staying this lightly nor to torment you. What I’m about to stay is true. While I cannot bring your brother back there is something from him you can have again.”

Valkyrie stares from Strange to Thor and Strange again, “I don’t know who you are, but you better not give him false promises. Speak!”

Strange looks down for a moment before looking back at the god.

“I once told you I keep track of any magical being, good or bad, that enters Earth. That is because, as someone within the Arts I can see and trace magic frequencies. Of course, there is no one particular magic, what your brother did is vastly different from my own or Ms. Wanda but there still is a signature. A unique frequency each sorcerer, witch, or mage has. Even now I can feel your own abilities as the God of Thunder.”

He steps closer to the two Asgardians, “What I need you to understand is that magic or seiðr as you call is simply energy from the universe itself borrowed into specific people. When the vessel holding this magic is gone it does not simply go along with it. It moves and changes and molds.”

Thor blinks, holding his hands up. “You are saying to many words, Strange. What do you mean by this? What does this have to do with Loki?”

Strange smiles slightly, “It means Thor,” he steps closer.

“Loki’s seiðr is alive. And as one of the most powerful sorcerers that existed, his seiðr can be bad at the wrong hands. Thor, you have to get it back before someone else with ill intentions seeks it first. You will have to help your brother’s seiðr find peace.”

Chapter Text

The twin suns of Asgard feels nice on his skin.

T hor smiles, excited for a new adventure surly his brother would like to go this time. After all it was summer, and the best time for hunting sport that usually hid away during the colder seasons. With his mother visiting in Vanaheim and his father preoccupied in the throne room, there was not a single reason why nothing could go wrong.

He should’ve known it would though.

“Loki, come on brother! It is a beautiful day! We should be out there in the forest searching for game instead you rather be lock up in your chambers reading books!”

Loki did not even glance up, instead flip the page nonchalantly. He sits on his desk, away from the sunlight streaming in.

  He should’ve known then something was different.

  Thor one of us has to be resourceful, I hardly suspect you will be since you have not even done your homework. The tutors will not like it and tell on you. You know how Mother reacts.”

  Thor laughs, launching himself. “Come Loki! Where is your sense of adventure, brother? It is like you are allergic to the sun!”

  Loki scoffs, now raising his head to look at Thor. “I am not allergic you oaf! I just don’t find the need to be all sweaty! Now let me be! Go find Frandral or Sif if you are so dire in need to kill an animal.” Thor lays silently for a moment; he looks up at his kid brother. “What if I say I will give you permission to play tricks on them, would that make you come too?”

Loki laughs setting his book aside, “Wow, just a deal. Tell me why do you want me to go so desperately? You know I am no use during hunting.”

  “I juuuust want your compaaaany.” He says smiling brightly.

  The younger smiles back, rolling his emerald eyes. “Mmhm I will give you zero point for originality brother, you tried this tactic last time we went swimming in Vanaheim and came back with leaches on our backs. No, not this time. Go on you oaf! I will still be here when you return.”

  Thor gets up, heading to the door. He looks back for a second. “You promise right, we will do something together.”

  “Of course, now go! You are interrupting my study.”

  “….Loki….are you a draugr?”

  “Thor get out now!”

  “I assure you, brother, the sun will shine on up again”

Wait, hold up there buddy, you want to do what now?”

“And go where?”

Thor frowns, surly he explained what the wizard had said to him to the Rabbit correctly.

“I merely asked if you and your companions would like to help me find the realm of magic—Lumenheim—the light world. A forgotten small realm within Yddgrasil.”

“And why would we help you find this Lum-Luh-whatever you just said,” comments the human with dirty blonde hair, Peter Quill, if he isn’t mistaken.

“Look buddy, I just met you like an hour ago…again ‘cause we found you, you know, before this whole Thanos wiping civilization act, you were unconscious in space, okay…and while its cool adventure we got our own mission.”

They were all reunited in the new safehouse Stark had before the Avengers base on the outskirts of New York. Most of the Avengers (those without a home actually) had camped out.

Thor came swiftly through a portal after speaking privately to Dr. Strange.

Thor nods, “I understand, friend Quill, you are after your love?” 

Peter perks his lips, “Y-yeah, something like that…but still we can’t help you.”

“Okay, first of all,” said the Rabbit uhh..Rocket, “This guy right here helped me when all of you combusted alright. I owe him some. Besides we can handle this side job easily, we can find 2014 Gamora, cause that’s who she is, Quill and go to this other realm thingy.”

He turns to Thor, “Why are we going to this realm thingy?”

Thor debates tell him, if Strange was correct, the less people who knows about the realm and its powers the better. But these were Avengers, right? They help defeat Thanos.

Granted he has not known then others as well as the Rabbit, but this was his family.

And Thor respects family.

Better not reveal all the cards, he thinks and chuckles. This is certainly something Loki would do.

“I cannot say exactly why, friend, though I will be ever in your debt. Besides it’s an adventure, as guardians, I would think you are all up for it.”

“Hey,” Peter said, hands on his hips, “You didn’t have to take it that far. Okay, fine who here wants to help out fellow Thunder god here?”

The Rabbit swiftly raised his hand (paw, perhaps). Followed by the small but no means fragile antennas girl he learned called Mantis. Thor nod his thanks to her.

“Drax?”

The better built muddy grey-colored man with scars running through his torso eyed the Thunder god for a second before nodding yes.

Nebula nods swiftly before darting back into the ship.

“I guess that does it.” Peter smiles, “We are going to whatever way you pronounce that and find Gamora.”  

~ Earlier~

Strange led Thor through the portal in front of the New York Sanctorum. “Come in” he says opening the door opened but Thor looks attentively at him, “What?”

“Last time I was here, the whole rooms shifted. Can we go in as normal people?”

Strange chuckles, “Alright, though being Asgardian I thought you were used to magic.”

They both enter through the door, Strange closing it behind him. He then swiftly walks up the staircase heading for the library. “Yes and no,” Thor comments following closely behind. “Seiðr wasn’t always the first line of usage in Asgard, apart from the Healing Chambers, my mother, All-Mother herself and perhaps my father, it was only called upon when needed. Then again, we were mostly raised to be warriors, not sorcerers.”  

Strange nods heading towards a particular section of the library, “Is that why your brother was outcasted?” He asks casually.

Thor froze. His blue eye glances dangerous at the wizard. “Careful in what you say, Strange.”

“Oh, sorry, but frankly you said it yourself. Sorcery isn’t accepted as a noble profession—ah, here it is”---he gently levitates a  brown bonded book from the higher self. “If anything, it seems to be a women’s duty to learn if what I read about Asgard and its inhabitants is correct. I’m sure your brother learning, the second prince no less, wasn’t acceptable.”

Thor breaths in heavily, ready to defend his home’s customs but stops short. What Strange is saying its correct. Magic- wielding was always frown up for males, ergi was the world constantly use for them. Thor himself sometimes joined in on bully those men practicing some form of magic even at his brother.

If Thor is being honest, how many times himself had he said to Loki “why you are learning a women’s art?” and scorn him for using seiðr during battles (when in truth many would not have been won without it). What did he say?

Gimmicks and tricks

You were a lousy brother

Strange looks up to him from the book, noticing his words had affected the god.

“How much do you know, Thor? You have some magic in you, I admit not as strong as your brother’s but it’s there.”

Thor moves closer settling Storm-breaker, now an umbrella, down on the stand.

“I am afraid not much. I never really had the need to study, finding I am much more suited for swordmanship and battle though my mother did teach me alongside my brother. He always had an apt for learning about it than I. I just learn how to channel it through Mjolnir. After… Ragnarök, I was able to channel it through my own senses instead, but other than summoning lighting, and perhaps controlling a storm or two, there is nothing else I can do.” 

“mmhm”, Strange comments thumbing through his dark-brown book.

“Loki--”

Thor swallows a sudden lump that always creeps up after his brother’s name.

“Loki was the one who took it to heart. He is--was a fast learner, a natural at wielding magic. By the time he was five hundred, huh Midgardian three-years old, he could shapeshift.”

Thor laughs lightly, “There was once Mother screamed from his chamber and I went out scared and panic, but all I found was Loki as a small snake, curled up on the pillow it gave her such a fright!” He continues, “Then later he could cast solid illusions and at time went on, I don’t know what he did or where he learned, he could teleport without help of the Bifrost, and wield energy that moved like an extension of himself,  he could summon what seems like a thousand daggers from nowhere and he—” Thor pauses realizing Strange looking at him with a small sad smile.

Thor clears his throat, “Sorry, I did not mean to keep talking…”

“It’s fine, Thor. No matter what he had done, and he has done plenty he was still your brother,” he comes closer with the book in hand. “And you miss him.”

The Thunder God nods slowly.

Missing does not being to describe the absolute ache in his heart even after five years, the ache has never left since the Stateman.

So much have remained unsaid, connections that were laying dormant brought to the surface during those few months on the Stateman. Loki had become his brother once again, the brother he knew and grew up and dreamed with. And all was stolen in a mere second.

He never got the change to say I love you.

Come to think about it, when was the last time he has spoken those words.

When they were young, unafraid, simply living peacefully oblivious to their fates.

“Ah, here we are.”

Thor snaps back from his internal turmoil as Strange smacks a book down right in front of him.

The pages show of a great meadow, filled with different creatures and people, at the center a Citadel of some sort standing tall.

“That my friend, is Lumen or Lumenheim for your native tongue, a world of magic at its core. All magic from the universe, of course only this specific kind, does not simply disappear, it travels back here. Here, the magic is protected awaiting their rightful owners or to be reabsorbed into the universe. When your brother died, his magic must have expelled itself and traveled here.”

Thor looks intensely at the pages, “I have never heard of this place before.”

“You might not have actually. The Light World was created at the beginning of everything, and it has been hidden ever since.”

Strange waves his hands rhythmically.

Orange magic fills the space above them highlighting a planet surrounded by three moons.

“This is the Light World, its occupants dedicate their lives to the Well, a vast pool that flows energy into space.”

Strange’s energy transforms into a huge, adorn well, its center looks endless. Tall, lanky creatures hover above seeming to pour contents into the Well.

“Your brother’s magic is contained here, awaiting to be claimed, if it’s not, the residents will pour it into the Well to be reused.”

Thor looks back at Strange in awe and confusion, “Wait you said…you said specific magic...what do you mean?

The illusions fade suddenly, and Strange waves his arms again.

“Magic, Mystic arts, Seiðr—different names for different energies. There is no linear path, no commonality or basic rules for magic. Dimensional magic works differently than Asgardian magic. It comes from connections to the universe itself.”

“Yggdrasil,” Thor whispers as the particles form the World Tree.

Stephen nods, “Yes, I suppose so. Now to get to the Lightworld is not an easy task. You must rely on your own senses, unfortunately you are not too in tune with your magic so this might be difficult. However, is it possible you know someone who could relate to Asgardian magic or similar to it?”

Thor nods slowly, “I might know of a person, but Strange, how—how would I even get my brother’s seidr? Would it be possible?”

Stephen looks at Thor for a moment. “You will know once you are there, Thor. Just hurry, there has been some disturbances and I have the feeling whatever it is needs a whole lot of energy.”

Strange waves his arms once more, the illusion stops entirely. “And whatever it is, it is blocking any tracking spell I know. I do not like that at all.”

Thor nods, gripping the umbrella. He has absolutely no idea how to accomplish this but has the urge to do good by his brother. Even in this small way.  Perhaps it is an opportunity to honor him truthfully. For the first time.

"Alright listen up crew and uh, guest!” shouts Peter Quill as he spins on the captain’s chair.

Rocket growls going for his own seat. Little Root hands on his shoulder.

A few hours ago, the crew and its new guest have gone out into space.

The turmoil and sudden stargazing left Thor feeling confused.

Confused to the back that his hands had a slight tremor it didn’t have before.

Confused for the way his throat tightens at the sight of space, and sudden hiccupping of his heart bouncing against his chest. It felt strange and wrong as if Quill forgot to vent the oxygen through the craft.

As if he could not breathe.

Stumbling, Thor ducks through a beam heading to the front of the ship where the rest of the Guardian are sitting, he spots the soft creature he has come to understand is Mantis.

She looks at him with soft eyes making Thor frown slightly.

He turns his attention to Quill, “Friend Quill we are journeying to the realm, are we not?”

“What? Of course! Where else we gonna go huh? I mean if this signal can trace Gamora then I will for her, just to let you know.”

Thor nods, selfishly hoping it would not be the case. He really needs to get to the Light World.

“Thor?”

A soft voice fills through, and Thor turns to look down at the young lady Mantis. Her big eyes look soft and sadden. She touched his bicep, not with the eagerness other maidens have in the past (and present) but with tenderness and love it reminded him of his mother.

“I- I sense create pain from you, a pain that has never sealed and continues to haunt your heart.”

Thor breathes in deeply, smiling awry at her.

“It was not all in vain,” she continues touching his cheek. “The sun will shine again”

Thor froze.

How?

She smiles lightly before moving on, leaving the Thunder God stun.

Bright

It is too bright

They couldn’t understand why it was bright, it shouldn’t be so.

No, they should not be able to—

Heat

It is warm, softly touching them.

How could they feel?

They were not supposed to feel

Right?