~Hundreds of Years Ago~

On an unnamed ocean surface two beings stand. One is simply watching as an entire island is being consumed by the ocean. Thick black smoke rose from the island until it vanished under the weight of the water. The being who simply watched wore flowing colorful robes and a cold expression on his face. This man also bears a third eye on the center of his forehead. He stood with his arms crossed, waiting for the second figure able to stand on the water as he does, to do or say anything. This figure is greyed from age and his beard matched the length of this impressive grey mane. The garb is more like armor than the first man’s garb and covers far more of his body. It is complete with a mantle that appears to be the pelt of a bear. The most notable feature on the older looking gentleman is he wears an eyepatch over his right eye..

“What have you done Shiva”? The older looking man grumbled as his hands tightly balled into fists trying to contain his rage. An act that was basically useless with his body trembling and his breath ragged from his true emotion.

“Child born to he who’s sprint knows no challenge shall stand upon the Pantheons of Gods and mock them as they are re-arranged. You heard the prophecy Odin… If that child were allowed to be born we would all suffer at his hands”. Shiva stated calmly as he watched the landmass vanish forever.

Odin huffed and took a few steps closer to Shiva. “Hermes was there! Even if he wasn’t your target you murdered a god. What’s worse? His child? You fear a Demigod this much that you would go this far?! How could you Shiva”?! The all father barked as his familiar weapon appeared in his hand. A solid gold spear with the print of an eye upon the blade. He pointed the Gungnir at Shiva accusingly.

Shiva sneered at the gesture. With an aggressive flick of his wrist he batted away the legendary weapon from pointing at him. Out loud he scoffed before he took a deep breath just to maintain his composure. “Do not attempt to make me feel guilty over this. The Atlantans plotted war with the rest of the world and even the Gods. If they acquired a weapon as powerful as the son of a god, there would have been no telling what havoc they could have caused. It is better they are gone”. The Hindu god stated in a sharp yet, level tone as his posture only improved confidently.

“Then you might as well exterminate the entire human race”! Odin came back with hotly. “There have been attempts of conquering the world before this and there will be after…” Odin stated with a strange cooling sensation hitting his voice as he spoke.

“Of course you’d take the side of the conqueror. Having been one yourself” Shiva’s eyes narrowed at Odin with vicious intent behind them.

“Yes I was a conqueror… I am not ashamed of what I did. It made me a king, a god, a father and nothing changes any of that. You on the other hand need to atone”. As Odin’s last word hit the air he raised the Gungnir again aiming at Shiva once more.

Shiva growled clearly irritated this time. “I am the God of destruction. If I choose to destroy the human race then that is my right. The next time you point your weapon at me you’d better be prepared to use it”. He turned his back on Odin and started walking away slowly.

The all father’s anger quickly boiled over. He let off a vicious battle cry as he swung Gungnir at Shiva’s right shoulder. The tattoo of a snake on that shoulder came to life and wrapped itself around the weapon and altered its path causing it to fall away from Shiva. The Hindu god then turned with his black glass-like Trisula in hand and thrusted it at Odin. One free hand was all the Nordic lord needed to block and move the weapon away. Both weapons then vanished as the pair of combatants squared off. Shiva inhaled sharply as an explosion went off. The blast only hit a purple shield that magically appeared as quickly as Shiva’s explosion. Both Gods summoned their weapons again and struck them to one another’s several times. Odin shouted and roared as he swung harder causing noticeable atmospheric changes in the form of color distortion in the areas he swung. Shiva effortlessly kept up with Odin and eventually broke the tie with another explosion. Odin emerged from the smoke completely unharmed and unleashing a wide swing. Shiva caught the blade in the prongs of the Trisula. The pair stare at each other with a growing animosity. Sparks practically flashing between them. The standoff is interrupted by something crashing into the water’s surface, causing waves that move the two gods but, neither wanted to give an inch. They acted as if the loud crashing noise didn’t occur as a beardless Thor emerged from the steam. “Father! Loki has escaped! You can track him again, yes”? Thor asked hopefully. He looked between the two Gods. “Unless I’m interrupting something”? He asked slowly as his eyes focused on the locked weapons.

Odin and Shiva looked to one another with that animosity still burning. Odin grumbled as the Gungnir vanished again. Before he could answer the memory cut away and the present resumed.

Present

Slicked back jet black hair is pushed back from an unidentified pale skinned male’s face. The man sighed as he looked down at his clothes. They are dark. Black, skin tight jeans and matching shirt with a green snake slithering up towards his right shoulder. “Not quite what I was looking for but, I guess it will work for now”. The man said as his heavily pierced left ear was turned towards the sound of explosions. “Shit! Shit! Shit”! The man chanted as he became invisible. He ran through the forest with grace comparable to a small woodland animal. His path is swift and strategic, as if he had run this exact path before. At the near end of the path there was a large familiar figure crouching as he watched the events between Shiva and Hanna. The smile on the invisible man’s face was visible even though the rest of him was not. The smile was devious, absolutely foul with ill intent. He made his way behind Ravana and delivered a quick set of jabs to the much larger man’s neck. Ravana’s golden eyes flashed as he tried to react only to find his body wouldn’t respond. “Don’t worry…. The numbness will wear off shortly. Have a nice nap”. The mystery man whispered as he pushed Ravana over onto his side. Without any resistance the behemoth of a man went down. The assailant looked in the same direction Ravana had been so entranced by to find Shiva raising her weapon to finish the job on Hanna. With zero time in between the dark haired man was beside Shiva delivering a quick chopping motion with the side of his hand to the side of her neck. She looked confused as she fell to her knees. As soon as she fell, Hanna’s savior touched his middle finger to the center of Shiva’s third eye. “Rest”. He said in a hissing like whisper. Shiva’s eyes all closed as she fell to the ground unconscious.

“L-Loki”?.... Hanna asked weakly. Her eyes glazed over a white milky color as she fought to get to her feet. “I- I found you”. She said as she made it to her feet. Loki rushed to her and looked into those glazed eyes as if looking for something.

“Dad”? Loki asked still looking for whatever it is he was looking for. He held her shoulders now as he looked into those eyes.

Hanna’s eyes returned to their usual ocean blue color before she lost consciousness.

Loki held her up and even moved her into a fireman’s carry. “Taller than me even as a woman. This is just the bullshit I’d expect from you dad”. He looked at the unconscious Shiva who remains on the ground near him. “And you’ve already made some great progress. Still mortal but, very in touch with Shiva’s favorite attack. Dangerous if you’d mastered it”. Loki observed out loud before he set off into the woods. He runs with no issues even with the young woman on his shoulders.

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“C-Cindy? My friend? Where is she”? Hanna asked weakly from Loki’s shoulders.

He looked at her through the corner of his emerald green eyes. “She’s fine”. He assured just to appease her. He watched her smile at the news and even fall back into unconsciousness. He made his way into a clearing where buildings were clearly visible but, they weren’t quite in the city yet.

“Lokiiiiiiiii!” A voice came like a boom of thunder, it rattled the sky like thunder would too. Grey clouds quickly rolling in above the trickster god.

Loki rolled his eyes. “And it was such a beautiful day. But I guess the weather is quick to change”. He said sarcastically as he watched unamused as a bolt of lightning struck earth leaving a Thor in all his bearded glory, Mjonir in hand. Bellona and Hercules stepped out of the smoke behind Thor. “What is this? The all Brawn brigade”? Loki asked eye brow raised slyly.

“Put father down brother… surrender now and we won’t have to hurt you”. Thor said sternly as he pointed the hammer at Loki slowly getting closer to him. Hercules and Bellona readying their weapons magically. Bellona drew a sword to her right hand and shield to her left. For Hercules, a pair of brass knuckles with Lions fighting each other carved in decoratively on the visible surface. “Do not take your eyes off him for a moment”. Thor instructed his allies firmly. As a group they moved to encircle Loki.

The trickster looked at each of them carefully. “Now now Thor. Be reasonable. All my crimes have been forgiven. There is no reason to be all ‘halt in the name of the law’ we’re brothers. You should practice treating me as such”. Loki spoke confidently as he held his ground against the three gods.

“Don’t be ridiculous… who would forgive your crimes? After some of the stunts you’ve pulled? You are a terrible liar brother”. Thor said almost laughing as he tossed the hammer up into the air and caught it again with ease.

“Believe what you want, the records are there…. And until you see for yourself I forgive you. Now if you lovely gods and goddess will be so kind as to-“ he said jokingly, as he turned to run between Bellona and Hercules.

As expected both Gods stepped into Loki’s path rather than away. The both of them shook their heads slowly. “Hand her over Loki”… Bellona stated calmly.

Loki chuckled and even smiled a big toothy grin. “Starting to feel bullied here. Imma tell my dad on you guys”. He got out through a fit of chuckles.

“I’ve had enough! Put her down Loki or I’ll break all those pretty teeth of yours”! Hercules barked as he got closer to Loki, with his left hand extended to grab the trickster’s collar. Loki dodges the hand with a high pitched ‘whoopsie’ leaving his lungs as he resumed laughing.

“Good luck catching me Protein-shake”. Loki teased as he quickly caught wind of an impatient Thor also closing in on him. With ease he avoids Thor and Hercules who at this point are trying to grab Loki without knocking Hanna off his shoulders. Loki simply laughed and stayed one step ahead of the two larger Gods.

Bellona watched Loki’s movements waiting for a pattern. ‘He’s slippery like an octopus and just as cunning. Is he actually having fun’? She thought as she simply watched. Her eyes widened as they turned red. “It’s not him”! Bellona stated loudly as she put away her weapons.

“What do you mean”? Hercules began as he looked over to Bellona with a dumbfounded expression.

“A fucking illusion”? Thor dropped his head in shame as he even dropped Mjöllnir onto the ground.

“Now why you gotta go ruining my fun”? Loki asked as he let go of Hanna’s illusion causing her to disappear. Loki’s fists then went to his hips as he began tapping his foot impatiently.

“But how?! I never took my eyes off you. There is no way you had the chance to-“! Thor called out in a irate fashion before he simply lowered his head again as Mjölnir rose back into his hand before vanishing.

“Lokkkkiiiiiiii”! The trickster said mocking Thor’s voice. “Yeah I stuck around for that”…. Loki said sarcastically as he shrugged.

“Then we split up. He can’t have gone far”. Bellona stated as she looked around as if expecting to see him in eyeshot.

“You could do that”. Loki added nodding continuing his sarcastic demeanor.

“That’s what Loki would prefer. If we are separate then escape or even victory is assured for him. The two of you have never faced off against my brother before and clearly I still can’t see through his illusions. Even if we found him separately it wouldn’t do us any good. Our best shot is to regroup and come up with a plan”. Thor spoke confidently until his last sentence where shame clearly was choking him. “Open the bifrost Heimdallr”! Thor stated as a bright light came down taking Thor away. Hercules entered the light without hesitation where as Bellona looked at the Loki illusion for a moment. Loki waved her off by wiggling his fingers before he simply vanished. Bellona then joined the others in the portal known as the bifrost.

Back where Loki left Shiva and Ravana…

Ravana regained feeling in his limbs as he struggled to get to his feet. He rushed through the bushes to where Shiva and Hanna had their altercation. When he arrived Shiva was cross legged and meditating. Ravana got on his knees beside her and lowered his head. “Forgive me Lord Shiva”… he stated quietly with his head low.

Shiva opened her eye closest to him. “I almost had him. I could feel Odin’s presence. Why did you stop me”? She asked calmly as she closed her eyes and resumed meditating.

“I-I didn’t Lord Shiva. Loki snuck up on me. I couldn’t stop him”… he admitted slowly, his head dropping even lower.

“Loki… Odin’s son? I’ve heard he was quite the troublemaker. How did he get out of prison”? Shiva asked staying in a meditative state.

“I don’t know… the cell he was in neutralized the powers of gods. There was no hope for escape as far as I was aware”. He responded as he watched Shiva meditate with concern in his eyes.

“I suppose it doesn’t matter now. He’s here and he has Odin. The Morrigan wanted Odin to wake. I failed but, perhaps Loki will succeed. I suppose I go back to training then”. Shiva said as she opened her eyes and stood using Ravana’s shoulder to get up.

“Should we not go rescue Odin? Loki is the trickster God. Who knows what kind of mayhem he could cause if he influences Odin too much”. He suggested as he waited for Shiva to release him before standing on his own.

“Odin is stubborn. Even in death his ideals will carry over. I need to learn more of my previous incarnations powers if I am to ever be a challenge to the likes of Loki”. She said rubbing the spot on her neck where Loki made contact. “She’ll be fine. Besides.. I just attacked her. Maybe it is best if my face isn’t the one who returns to get her”. She said shrugging lightly.

Unnamed home

The room is dark in nature with only sunlight to light the room. Pentagrams and various pagan references and decoration adorn the walls and shelves. Less of actual worship but, more like one who was studying the religion. It also has a great deal of technology. Several televisions, gaming consoles, a laptop, a desktop and even a collection of smartphones. The Trickster simply sat by the bed looking out the nearest window, while Hanna lay in the bed resting. Hanna opened her eyes and looked to Loki with a tired expression. This face twisted into one of confusion before she looked around the room recognizing it. “Good morning Aurora”…. Loki stated calmly not even looking at her.

Hanna blinked quickly before sitting up and rubbing her head. “Why am I in Cindy’s bed? Where is she? What happened? Where's the crazy third eyed-“? Hanna rapid fires question only getting faster the longer she spoke.

“Shhhh shhh shhh shh” Loki hissed as he looked over to her. “One question at a time. Let’s start with this: my name is Loki. After I took you away from from the hot bitch that be makin’ shit blow up with her mind, I ran into your friend Cindy. She had been looking for someone to help you but, no one believed her. When she saw me carrying you she suggested I bring you here. She is now picking up something called a blonde perkums. Still not sure what that means but, she’ll be back shortly. Now. Question”? He asked slowly as he remained seated and actually looked at her now.

“I-I don’t know why but, I trust you. I suppose you did just save my life… no it’s more than that. Have we met before”? She asked looking at him with concern in her eyes.

“In a way…” he admitted slowly.

“What does that mean”? She asked turning herself to face him entirely.

“That answer is on a whole new level of strange. Are you sure you’re ready to hear it”? He asked raising a brow at her.

“Is it related to why the ‘hot bitch’ attacked me”? She asked with uncertainty in her voice.

“It does”… he returned softly.

“Then yeah… I wanna know”. Hanna said a little more confidently.

Loki sighed and nodded. “I assume you have some base understanding of Gods. But, here’s something you didn’t know. Gods don’t simply die. When a God dies they return to this world in mortal form. The process is almost never straightforward and tends to be messy. As it so happens, Pantheon leader, top ranked God and my father Odin, died, twenty years ago. The threat he died to prevent is still a threat so, we need him… I need him… the reason you and I have met before and the reason Shiva attacked you is… well?...” he paused gesturing to Hanna uncomfortably as he worked up to the big reveal.

“You think I’m the reincarnation of Odin”? She asked as her eyes grew wide and her voice dropped out of shock. She grew pale and fearful. She almost started to cry as the sound of a door closing came from the front room of the apartment.

“Welp that’s my cue”. Loki said eagerly as he vanished.

“N-no wait”! Hanna called to him before Cindy entered the bedroom with three coffee cups on a cardboard tray.

“Yay! You’re awake! I’m so glad you’re okay. Here! I brought you your favorite”. Cindy set the tray down on the nearest flat surface and took the cup with ‘Blonde’ written on the side and offered it to Hanna.

She took the cup from the tray with both hands. “Thanks Cindy. I’m glad you’re okay too. You had me really worried”. She said as calmly as she could while she buried the fear attached to the bomb Loki just dropped on her.