...3:20 PM...

..Asgard...

Father did not believe me when I told him about the foreseen attack of the Dark Elves; he only warned me making lies about them returning is not wise to do. At the time I had not been lying at all to Odin. I decided, 'suit yourself', figuring Odin might really take advantage of the extra hours he has to begin a preparation by the guards.

Knight brought Jane to my room—with Jane under a disguise, of course—.

"Go get your friends," I said. "I hope your friends know sword fighting."

"They do," Knight said.

"And I taught you," I said. "I amused none of them taught you."

"I can control spikes, honey," Knight reminds me.

I look over towards Jane.

Jane is looking at a mirror showing an ugly side of her that isn't real.

The trickery mirror always works around mortals.

"Okay then," I said, turning my head away from Jane right towards Knight. "Use the time you have left to warn them." Knight nods then leaves the doorway, and I shut the door. "Jane," Jane looks up towards me. "You want the Aether out?"

"Yes," Jane said, putting down the mirror on the table. "I made it rain outside; that is really bizaar."

I come over to Jane taking out a small dagger.

"Hand out," I said.

"What?" Jane asks, puzzled.

"Hand, out," I repeat. "The Aether will be out quicker if you do."

Jane folds her arms.

"I vote for a different option," Jane said. "I am from a democracy."

"Oh Jane," I said, with a sigh. "The other options take an hour and one requires your death."

Jane does a pucker face.

"Well, there is different choices!" Jane said.

"Uh, death?" I offer. "I think not." I hunch my eyebrows. "And you are not in a democracy filled realm, so by the orders of a future king; hand out!"

Jane apparently is so stubborn I had to grab her by the hand then make a cut on it by using a magic spell that prevented Jane from moving an inch. I made a little cut on the palm of Jane's right hand. I knew this spell will hurt me but not Jane and far as Knight is aware it is safe to use. I held my hand above Jane's bleeding right hand.

"This will be over in five minutes," I said.

Jane stares at me in horror.

"You will be fine,Jane Foster," I said, with a small smile. "It is just me who will be in pain."

My smile fades as I look down towards the hand feeling the energy of the Aether radiating off. I meticulously summon the dark power from Jane using strong magic. My hand begins to show dark markings spreading all over peeling away off a empty shell to a egg. The general shape of the infinity stone is coming into my hand struggling to keep it holding.

Jane's eyes are full of fear.

"Nearly there," I said, wincing.

The faint color of red to the Aether began to show.

That is when a powerful force struck the castle walls. I fell back landing on the floor yelping in pain. My left hand is injured but it is not able to function for the time being. I use my right hand to unfreeze Jane out of her paralyzed state also making her hand be wrapped up in some cloth. I can't do that again using my other hand; it may be useful to hold my limp left arm.

"What kind of spell is that?" Jane asks.

I look over to a door near the closet.

"Go hide in the room," I said.

"I am in the room," Jane said.

I turn my head back towards Jane.

"The other room," I said. "It is my...stash of things. It is purely indestructible," I get up using my right arm to help me. "Don't worry about me," I made a cast for my left arm around my shoulder and end at the elbow. "I will have this fixed in no time."

"Loki," Jane said. "What kind of spell were you using?"

"You don't want to know," I said, grimly.

I am willing to help someone my brother cared about in the original timeline.

"I do want to know," Jane said, determinedly.

"That spell is one that extracts infinity stones," I said. "Those who do it...normally do not walk away unless they are well armored which I am not so losing an arm is quite reasonable." I made the door open. "Jane, please, I will make sure it is out of you by the time my arm is healed."

"Wait, it costs a life to do that?" Jane asks.

"Like I said; well armored," I said. "Injuries would be at a minimal. Trust me, I will be prepared for it next time." I gesture to the safe inside and comfy outfitted room. "Now don't make me beg to save your life."

___________ _______

...3:35 PM...

...In the city of Asgard...

I had to make sure if Thor is still in his cell.

It is the least I can do—knowing Knight, she probably is keeping the children safe in a local large building for the parents—other than being a useless prince unable to do a thing. I came into the cave like building. A dark elf charges right at me so I send a gust of ice right into him then strike my dagger into his chest making a effective kill shot. Even with my left arm out of commission fighting is rather easy.

The frozen dark elf fell backwards landing on the ground and the ice shatters apart off his body. He did not move upon landing while I walk past him summoning the pickax of souls in my right hand. A group of dark elves get in my way. All in a perfect row.

"Surrender," I said. "Or face the death penalty!"

"Uh no," The leading dark elf said.

I shrug.

"Suit yourself," I said, tipping it forwards feeling extensive heat burn off the back end of the pick ax.

I swung it forwards.

The pickax flew striking them all similar to a boomer rang except it absorbs their souls. I catch the pickax once more with my right hand. I quicken my pace down the hall seeing a mess of dead Asgardian guards,Dark Elves, and other prisoners laying on the ground except for those who are well hidden out of this portion of the hall such as Amora. Amora can take down great kings and she should be feared. I came to the cell where Thor should be. 'Should be' is the key words.

I stare seeing the field is down.

But I also felt a little hope that perhaps Thor has turned a leaf and decided to help.

"Got'cha."

I landed in the cell,left elbow first, recoiling in pain.

"Brother?" I call, looking up.

I had dropped the pickax on the ground.

There stood Thor, in his mighty armor, lacking the hammer. Beside him stood a group of Dark Elves. No, no, no! This cannot be real. I saw a mess around me including what seems to be a very repaired hole in the wall. I did not have a word to say seeing what had is coming through in words not needing to be spoken.

"Here is the son of Laufey," Thor said. "I believe your mission to find the Aether just got easier."

No, this can't be real.

Not Thor, not...him

"You will never find it!" I said. "What happened to you, brother? I thought—"

"Thought nothing," Thor sharply interrupts me. "Let's see how your kingdom is in ruins."

"Where is Jane?" Malekith asks.

"In your dreams," I said. "I will never tell the likes of you!"

Thor rolls an eye.

"Where-ever Father is," Thor said. "Jane is likely to be near. Odin mus4t be in the throne room nearby, and if she's not there, hallway to the left with the staircase."

That leads to Mother's room.

THOR, HOW COULD YOU?

"Thor!" I shout. "You don't want to do that!"

"Yes, I do," Thor said. "I want to leave this kingdom in ruins." He turns his head towards Malekith. "Let's go; I will help you with Odin."

I get towards the electrical field seeing them walk past.

"THOR!" I shout. "Odin is your FATHER!"

Thor ignores me continuing the conversation.

"AND FRIGGA IS YOUR MOTHER!" I shout. "Please, stop and think about what you are doing!"

"I have had a year to think about it!" Thor shouts back. "My mind is set."

Thor and the Dark Elves disappear from my view.

The electrical beams made by the shield had arisen once more but I leaned forward through that pain leaning my forehead on it. Had I just seen the one and only Odinson just betray his biological family? All that in one single day over Jane Foster concealing the Aether. I feel anger and hurt. I slide down in pain backing off from the shield.

Brother, I thought, I trusted you.

I hear the sounds of loud booming crashing belonging to buildings collapsing to the ground. Asgard is falling to the Dark Elves. The Monarchy is on shaky hill right now in terms of life and death. My right hand curls up into a fist. Stuck in this rut and I cannot do a thing. I had to wait out for someone to find me. I had to wait while others died. I want to make the Dark Elves pay.

Twenty-three minutes later the firing had come to a halt and what remains of living Asgardian guards let me out. But Thor had done the damage to the monarchy in a way I cannot find forgiveness in my heart for him. For that, even with Thor willingly turning himself in afterwards, his fate lies with Odin.

Odin, the All-Father of Asgard, in critical condition.

In critical condition.