"That cell was so awfully dull and tiresome, and the other inmates weren't the most entertaining sources of conversation. Some wouldn't even speak, whilst others would send me a glare so far from terrifying that it wouldn't even make Gullinbursti flinch—ˮ

           "I swear that if he doesn't stop whining, I'm gonna find a needle and thread and sew his damn lips shut," Adelaide growls quietly to me in regards to our father "or maybe I'll just borrow your sword and cut out his tongue."

           I snort dryly. "Why waste so much effort trying to remove his tongue? Just sever his whole bloody head."

          Not even five minutes after breaking all the condemned criminals out, and Sam, Adelaide and I already possess a burning desire to eradicate the Norse God of Mischief and Lies. I'm almost certain Sam hasn't said anything negative in relation to my father yet out of common courtesy, in an attempt to bestow him with the benefit of the doubt. Lord knows he doesn't deserve it after everything, but Sam is Sam, and the only person he doesn't see as redeemable is his own father; Victor Von Doom. It's plainly obvious that the constant, pointless yapping from Loki is driving him over the edge though, even though he's most likely having a mental debate over the fact that he's Adelaide's and my father so he shouldn't be zapped to a crisp on the spot.

          "– wouldn't even last five minutes in that place. He would most likely use that hammer of his and try and barrel his way out. That is how my adoptive older brother seems to settle everything these days; 'maybe if I hit it hard enough, or strike it with enough lightning, all my problems will disappear'. He's got a brain the size of a pebble—ˮ

          "Can someone shut him up?" I exasperate, turning sharply on my heel to face everyone behind me with my katanas gesturing about agitatedly. Sam, Adelaide, Loki and the band of criminals that were trotting behind us in attempts to follow us out of the prison, all fall silent for a prolonged moment whilst coming up with a plausible response. Yet when Loki's mouth opens to most likely reprimand me or come up with a sarcastic remark, a large, looming, purple creature that's about the height of two of me whacks a heavy, metal mace over the God's head, not hard enough to knock him unconscious, but strong enough to nearly make him see little birdies flying around his head.

           Swallowing my smile, I nod to the released criminal in a show of gratitude and politely say "Thank you." Spinning on the balls of my feet, I face forward once more and continue down the last hallway to the exit.

          Once out, the vast stone courtyard with its golden, engraved pillars offer a chance to either head towards the palace gates and out into the local streets of Asgard, or turn into the actual palace and wreak havoc on the Asgardians inside there. A number of criminals don't take the risk of revenge and merely head out of the courtyard and into the town, but the rest of the criminals present their ire against the guards and Thanos in a display of scowls and raised weapons retrieved from the weapons room we passed on the way.

           Facing these Norse races and Gods – a large amount of them most likely innocent but pissed off Thanos in some way – I firmly announce "I don't ask you to follow, nor do I ask you to listen to what I have to say. But this imposter king, this coward that locked you all away because he deemed all of you guilty of trying his patience, is currently sitting on his snug throne in that palace." I point towards the towering golden building to the right of us with my sword, heatedly continuing "A palace that isn't rightly his. He sits on his throne and sneers down at all of us, taking away our liberties and putting himself above us all, as if we're another ant under his ever so important boot. I don't care what you do to him, and I don't care how you do it. But if you want your chance at sweet, long overdue revenge, you better take it now while my friends and I strike his smug ass off that snug throne!"

          A chorus of cheers from a range of alien and Norse races and species dances in my ears, a variety of weapons I've come to know and never seen before raised in unison above all their heads. I don't even utter another syllable before they leap head first into it, charging at the palace doors with all their might and ferocity that could rival the iron spirit of humans back on earth.

          I feel my own eyebrows rise to my hairline at the spectacle. "Okay, I didn't expect a reaction like that."

          A breathy laugh rolls off Adelaide and Sam's tongues. "Who knew you were one for motivational speeches," Sam grins, toying with the metal spear in his left hand "I thought you were going to start spouting Braveheart lines and say 'Tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDO—ˮ

          "They would hardly understand a Braveheart reference," I justify "but I do see where you're coming from. I think being an emotional wreck has helped bring the motivational, persuasive side of me out."

          "Your name is Lillian Nightshade, is it not?"

          The four of us left shift to identify the source asking the question. My brows come together in a knot when I see four of the imprisoned Asgardians, adorned in battle armour almost suitable for royalty. The one in front of them is a strong woman, someone who holds themself with authority and confidence. The posture of a warrior. Her raven hair comes down half way to her elbows in soft waves, her sharp cheek bones and perfectly shaped eyebrows outlining her breath-taking hazel eyes that change from honey brown, to a pond blue or a jade green in different lights. She is truly a woman that I nearly feel intimidated by.

          "Yes...?" I answer uncertainly, head tilted in confusion at the unidentified Asgardians.

          "And you," she soundly cuts in again, eyes fixing on Adelaide "Adelaide Nightshade?"

          Addie looks as wary as I do. "Haven't used my real last name in a while... but yes."

          And finally, the woman moves her gaze onto my father, her eyes glazing over to stone and steel. Evidently, my father has managed to piss off another person. Shocker.

          "These... are your daughters Loki?" She inquires, a shimmer of something akin to surprise and disbelief in her irises.

           He smiles coyly at the woman, the bashful almost timid act throwing me off guard. "What can I say? I've been busy."

          When she turns her attention back onto Adelaide and I, I hear Sam half-heartedly and sulkily mumble under his breath 'Of course, the beautiful woman doesn't even know I exist. How typical. Do I need a neon, flashing sign over my head to get recognised these days?' but no one else seems to notice his little one-sided conversation with himself.

          "We'll help you with whatever you need," she proclaims, startling myself and the others "on the basis that the two of you have never sided willingly with your own father, and the strong love that Thor seems to possess for you Lillian."

         That catches my attention. "Uncle Thor? You know him?"

          Loki snorts down his annoyance at my name for Thor. The woman only sends him a mild glare for the show of disrespect, eyes latching onto me again as she answers "I've known both him and your father since childhood. My name is Sif, and these are the Warriors Three; Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun."

          At the mention of their names, the three warriors pay more attention to the conversation at hand and throw us either courteous or brazen smirks. The one who answered to Volstagg reminds me of a dwarf you would find in Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit, his auburn hair and beard dominating his slightly pink face, but not managing to cover his uncle-like smile that breaks out when I lay eyes on him.

          Unlike his friend Volstagg, Fandral has a more cheeky, roguish aura, his saucy smirk not covered by an overbearing beard. He has a small amount of blonde stubble on his face to match his longish blonde hair, but it's nothing compared to his dwarf like friend. Then there's Hogun.

          Hogun seems the physical embodiment of civility and formality, his jet-black hair in a tight bun and his features in a firm expression. He doesn't appear cold or unwelcoming, just strict and calculating, something to be expected when in situations such as these.

          "We've known Thor since... well... forever," Volstagg comments, followed by Fandral's charming remark "Striking fellow, knows how to celebrate and have a good time."

          "He's done a great deal for us," Hogun admits, a deeper meaning layering his voice "so it's only fair we repay the favour. If not as a favour, then for the sake of our friendship."

          "Which is why..." Volstagg trails, trudging up to Loki and slamming a hand on his chest whilst lowly threatening "Betray her or any of us, and I'll kill you."

          Loki remains indifferent. If anything, he's just tired. Sparing Adelaide, Sam and myself a glance, he replies "Evidently there's a line."

          "So let's not wait around," Sif interrupts "we've waisted enough of your element of surprise already. Where to?"

          "The treasure room," Loki answers, eyebrows raised expectantly at Volstagg's hand still rested on his chest. "And if you would be so kind as to remove those lumpy sausage fingers from my chest it would be rather appreciated."

          Volstagg scowls but does as he says, Sif biting at Loki "I didn't ask you." She faces Sam, Addie and I, repeating "Where to?"

          Hesitantly, Adelaide replies "The treasure room," eyes flickering to our father every so often. "We're not leaving without the infinity stones."

          "Well that's a death wish," Volstagg points out, a guttural laugh rumbling in the back of his throat. "I like it. Let's go."

          Glancing between the new members of our squad and my old friends, I nod in agreement when the Asgardians look at Sam and I for a confirmation. And just like that, the eight of us jog to the imposing palace doors, overstepping the carnage of the guards from the enraged criminals' wake.

          On the way to the treasure room, there are few guards that need to be taken care of, due to the fact that a few of the Asgardians locked up took an obvious detour to the treasury on the way to exact their revenge. Upon arriving at the heavily guarded iron door, my eyes devour the distinct signs of a break in by the criminals. The solid metal door is burned, melted, chipped and littered with various slashes from different weapons. A small ray of golden light peers through the ajar door, and I merely hold out hope that no Neanderthal, malicious beings got a hold of the universe's most powerful weapons.

          Grabbing my father by the arm, he spares me a puzzled look before I feign a comforting grin and shove him in first, watching him stumble through the doorway inelegantly whilst he tries to find his footing. Walking in after him with weapons cautiously raised, I menacingly snarl at the sight before me.

          Thanos – in my father's form – presses his boot to the head of the purple creature who aided me before, and carelessly squashes his skull with little to no effort. The bodies of other Asgardians and aliens decorate the floor, the occasional guard accompanying them. Having not spotted me or the others yet, I usher everyone behind a tall pile of gold coins and antiquities while I remain where I am, resorting to lightly shoving Adelaide when she refuses to budge.

          He must hear Adelaide's protests, for milliseconds after they disappear behind the gold, his gaze snaps to where I stand near the entrance, a sly grin forming on his face when he notices me. "Lillian," he perks up, amused to see me "I should've guessed it was you behind this little prison break. A distraction whilst you snatch the infinity stones I presume? No matter, for it evidently didn't go according to plan. You didn't really think it would work, did you?"

          I shrug nonchalantly, my black katanas following suit. "Can't blame a girl for trying."

          "You tricked me."

          "Don't look so surprised, I'm your daughter."

          "I'm not surprised, I'm impressed."

          "Don't look impressed, it's a weird look on you."

          "Oh?"

          "I also imagine that you wouldn't look too fantastic in Louis Vuitton, you're more so a Gucci or Prada kind of guy."

          "Come again?"

          "Midgardian companies, don't worry."

          "I wasn't."

          "Well then... good."

          The room fell after that, the tension hanging by a delicate thread, threatening to crush us the moment it tears. We could both very well be the God and Goddess of awkwardness, because that's the only thing amidst us now.

          The standoff remains, my 'father's' stare darker and more devious than any previous enemy I've had the pleasure to come across. He's crafty, slick and the master of manipulation. He wields words like a soldier wields a gun; first line of defence, with a ruthless blow to follow.

          His eyes are unblinking, sick emeralds, his hair darker than charcoal. His skin is paler than a full moon on a clear, starless night, and his smile is colder than the heart of Antarctica. If it's possible, Thanos has made my father appear even more ruthless and nefarious than I've always seen him to be.

          He smirks, yet there's no warmth behind it. "All this time, and you played me?"

          Amusement flashes behind my eyes. "I believe we've covered this already, but yes, I tricked you."

          "I'm just so proud," he crows, yet it's obvious to tell it's only a half sincere reply.

          A dry look pulls at my face. "No you're not."

          A hurt look flickers on his face, almost mockingly. "I'm at least trying to be a father, can't you do the same? Try and be a daughter?"

          "I stopped trying when you left me as a child."

          "Ah yes," he feigns recollection "speaking of childhood and pasts, did you ever tell any of them the truth about you past? Does anyone know but the good Director and Allison?"

          May as well lay the acting on thick, otherwise he'll detect the put-on show and it'll ruin the others' chance at a surprise attack. Doesn't mean I can't let off a little of my pent up anger towards my actual father and Thanos himself as well.

          Hatred and malice light up my features, fire forming in my hands and licking up my arms and down my swords dangerously. "Don't you dare speak her name! You have no right after what you put her through!"

          A maliciously entertained smirk lifts his lips up again. "Oh, so they don't know? Pity, I'd have thought you would have at least shared it with your pet soldier."

          I snarl. "You cold-hearted bastard."

          He merely appears more amused. "Cold-hearted? Now that's an incorrect assumption of my heart. After all, I've been reliably informed I don't even have one."

          Fire continues to blaze until it reaches my shoulders. "You can't keep me here forever."

          "But my troublesome little Nightingale," he hums with false affection, treading towards me as his skin turns blue to match my scorching fire "who said you would live that long?"

          "You did," I bite, craning my neck to stare up at him "you need me. Otherwise your precious little 'dark stone' is gone."

          "I don't need you forever," he quietly hisses, his icy breath tickling my nose whilst the temperature of the room fluctuates with the hot and cold being let off by the two of us. "Nemesis used to be all the infinity stones remember? A primordial entity that was needed to be the base the stones were builded upon. Once fully created, the stones could extracted from it and Nemesis, in a sense, died. I only need you for its creation, but once its created, you're disposable."

          My confidence wavering at the recent news, I swallow down my pride and pretend to act desperate. "You are my father," I plead, watching Sif and the Warriors Three position themselves at a respectable distance behind Thanos. "That must mean something to you. Deep down, I still appeal to your humanity and.... you still appeal to mine."

         Over his other shoulder, I notice Adelaide, Sam and Loki quietly advance towards what I still consider to be a jewellery box that contains the six infinity gems, Loki paying more attention to our conversation when I mention him being my father.

         "We're family," I continue, latching my eyes back onto Thanos' "whether you like it or not. We have a bond like no other, and no matter how much I despise you for everything you've put me through, there will always be a sliver of affection for you reserved in my heart. And I know you feel the same way."

          Pathetic, I know. How else was I supposed to keep his full attention on me without raising suspicion for the others? I refrain from mentioning Adelaide as well, in case bringing her up causes him to wonder where my presumed half-sister is.

          I wait, and I unashamedly admit that I'm secretly terrified. My determination, anger and will to get out of here may drive me, but it doesn't completely eradicate the fact that this being before me is merciless and powerful. Everything I've dealt with in the past has been from Earth, so having to deal with a creature that has extra-terrestrial and unknown abilities can be frightening for me.

          But in times like these, the wise words of a friend of mine seem to ring in my ears whilst I reminisce over the memory.

          "Suck it up."

          All eyes, including mine, swivel to Rebecca Banner, even Andrea stares at her with the highest amount of bewilderment. "Excuse me?" I reply, startled.

          She remains stoic. "You heard me. When I first met you Lillian, you were a hard ass who didn't allow any situation you found yourself in get the better of you, no matter how severe or minor. Neither did you allow anyone to get the better of you. You always chastised me for being too soft, for being too caring, for complaining and giving up even when there were no more options. Well now, I offer you the same advice. Suck. It. Up."

          I daringly stare Thanos in the eyes as the words echo in my eardrums, awaiting his response. Turns out his response is simply another smirk. "You think me for a fool," he whispers, mouth moving next to my ear with his bone chilling voice talking into it "but after all this time, you should know that I'm not Nightshade."

          I hardly have enough time to register him spinning unnaturally fast to face behind him, throwing his hand out which seems to be glowing a dark, ominous purple.

          The power stone.

          A large energy blast soars through the air and barrels Sif, Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun barrelling over in attempts to evade it, the sonic boom reverberating from it knocking over Sam, Adelaide and Loki in the after affects.

          I spring into action, allowing the fire in my hands and on my katanas to burn out when I strike his arm, only nicking him when he speedily dodges to the side. He moves to strike me in the face, but I weave under and spin both my swords aiming for his throat and chest. Like me, he swiftly evades and manoeuvres away.

         "To release the prisoners, you would've had to notice him," Thanos bellows, pointing his other hand towards the real Loki who is struggling to get up from the haze of being struck with the after affects of the power stone, quite like the others. "And don't think I didn't notice the absence of your sister and your pet human. I've fooled every Asgardian on this planet, a planet and species known to be a primitive race to all others, and to do that it takes no small amount of trickery and skill. And here you stand, thinking that you could fool me?"

         "You said it yourself," I retort, swinging my katana in my hand once "I tricked you."

         "Only at the beginning," he says, his body flickering like a glitch as he morphs back into his actual form. "But the moment I saw you standing there, I knew what you were up to."

          I involuntarily gasp when he grows three times in size, shoulders broadening and skin turning to a crinkled, light purple prune-like texture. His jaw is rectangular enough to put Batman or Superman to shame, and his golden armour and helmet is unlike anything I've ever seen.

          Shaking my head from my stupor, I aggressively snap "Just shut up and fight me you old bag of prunes."

          I give a battle cry – more like grunt – when I charge forward, attacking every which way I can. At one point when he whacks his fist into my stomach, I lurch forward and wheeze, about to swipe my right hand's sword up when Sif imbeds her own sword in his shoulder.

          He roars in frustration, and maybe a little bit of pain. But he's not allowed much time before Fandral's sword lashes at his legs. Thanos lets out a slightly louder cry this time, spinning around with his arms out and swatting us all to the side.

          Staggering to a stand, a fire of determination blazes in me like the earth's sun, and my long, wavy brown hair is matted to my forehead and the back of my neck from sweat and a small amount of scarlet blood. Now he stands at the only entrance and exit for the treasury, a large, carcinogenic barrier between all of us and the fresh freedom that awaits us behind him.

          I feel the rest of my friends and family come up beside me, some more fatigued, worn and battered than others. I glimpse to Adelaide to see the box perched on one hip, her left hand holding it in place as her right hand tightly holds the baton threateningly.

          Thanos' deep, sadistic laugh throbs in our ears, his hand fingering the purple power stone held in it. "None of you really think that you're getting out of here, do you? You may have the other stones, but without the right, practiced control over them with an appropriate medium, their power will devour you as a whole." He lifts the purple ingot in his golden gauntlet hand, his smirk dark enough to curdle blood. "But me? I know how, and I have a means of protection between the power it emanates and myself. Surrender now, and I'll make sure your deaths aren't too painful."

          "Enticing offer," Fandral sarcastically chimes in "but I'm afraid we're going to have to pass."

          Thanos' chuckle grows deeper, more malevolent. "You think you have a choice in the matter. You think you're capable of killing me–"

          "There's always a choice," Adelaide strongly intervenes, gaze sharpened to razor slits "And we don't have to kill you. We just have to beat you."

          He snorts as a show of amusement, dryly replying "Good luck with that." I observe his hand glow an even brighter, menacing purple, and the pull I feel towards it at the moment is nearly tenacious enough to force me to cave in, in allowing it to strike the others and I. But when his hand raises, poised to send another energy surge at all of us, I do the only thing that my gut instincts tell me to do.

          I leap in front of it.

          Pretty stupid thing I know, but wouldn't you do anything to save your friends and family?

          The purple energy cracks like lightning through the air towards me, and the difference a matter of milliseconds make is enough to keep me alive. For when the purple power is about to strike and end my eventful, broken life, that matter of milliseconds gives me enough time to lift both katanas and cross them like an X in front of me.

          Never have I felt such power thrumming in my hands before. My cells and molecules scream for me to release the weapons, but the small voice in the back of my mind that has been on holidays for the past five months seems to come back and yell at me not to. Push on it says.

          If I had used any other weapons to block an attack from the power gem, the stone's force would have immediately obliterated it then proceed to obliterate us. But the fact that my katanas are a mix of adamantium and vibranium, seems to be enough to hold it off.

          Or so I thought.

           I observe in horror as my beloved weapons that I have come to know and love begin to melt before my very eyes. The metallic liquid starts deteriorating from the very top, and I know that I don't have very much time.

          Powering forward one overwhelming foot at a time, the blinding purple light illuminates and dances across my vision, blocking almost everything from my sight. Glancing down, I see the tips of Thanos' boots cross into my vision, and when I glimpse up, the power stone held securely in his hand is held right in front of my very eyes.

          With my katanas almost melted to stubs, I use my right arm to knock his hand to the side, cutting off the attack thrown at us by him. With my other hand, I use the left katana to slice down onto his wrist with what little is left of the blade, a proper, effortful battle cry surpassing my dry, cracked lips.

          Thanos howls in pure agony and ire, his hand detaching from his arm with the infinity ingot still clenched in it. When he falls to his knees in pain, I press my foot onto his chest and push him backwards with all the power I can muster, compelling him onto his back.

          I don't acknowledge the others bolt past us, or Adelaide pry the stone from the cold, callous fingers of Thanos' severed hand with a linen cloth. I merely stand there while they all sprint out of the room, Sam loitering in the doorway for me to follow suit.

         Thanos raggedly exhales, his lungs greedy as they feed on all the air they can. He grits tiredly, but still equally as savagely "You played me. You beat me, and you played me. I can't believe I let myself be played by the enemy."

          I cluck my tongue in bitter agreement. "So early on in the book too."

          He seems perplexed by my statement, but rolls the confusion off his shoulders and replaces it with animosity once again. "No matter where you go or hide, I will be there. I will be around every corner waiting. I will be under every rock watching you. And I will be hidden in every shadow ready to strike. So do not think that this is the last time we will ever see one another."

          I shake my head, my face no longer wearing any readable emotions bar perseverance. "I know this won't be our last talk, but listen to me now Thanos," I lowly warn, pressing my one foot into his chest harder as I gravely lean in. "I will be ready at every corner I turn. I will annihilate every rock you hide under. And I am the shadows thanks to you, so there will be no refuge for you there."

         "Why don't you just kill me now then?" He inquires, his stare challenging.

         "Because," I start, slamming and lodging one of my forever broken katanas into the ground right beside his head "That's what you want. You want me to give into this darkness you've nourished and nurtured inside me. Because once I do concede to it, your precious dark stone will have completed its formation, and it would be ripe for the harnessing."

           A sceptical glint twinkles behind his pupils. "Clever, and you're right. But you won't fight against it for long. How could you? You're an assassin. Assassins kill. It's only a matter of time before you do so again. Each kill will turn you more and more. And from what I've seen of you, you only need a few more kills before it consumes you."

          Striking and wedging my last katana in his shoulder, I disregard his hiss of affliction, grinding out between gritted teeth "I think I've had enough of your bullshit for one day."

          Standing up and not so gently pushing myself off of him with the foot still rested on his chest, I stride arrogantly towards Sam, grabbing his shoulder and ignoring his stuttering as I spin him around to face where I'm walking and whisper "Don't glance back, it looks cooler if you don't."

           It takes a couple minutes to catch up to the others, but when we do at the open, cobblestone courtyard, chaos has ravaged the yard, the remaining prisoners fighting skin, tooth and nail against the guards who protect this mighty castle. I notice Volstagg missing when I approach them watching the battling, so when I reach them, I anxiously ask "Where's Volstagg?"

          Sif's face is blank, the hand with her sword in it pointing somewhere to the left of me unimpressed. "There."

          Glimpsing in the pointed direction, I crack a smile at the sight of Volstagg cheering and grinning as he sweeps through guard after guard, his laughing proving to be quite infectious. "Someone's having a good time," I muse, sincere entertainment lighting up my features for the first time.

          Sif rolls her eyes, but doesn't manage to hide the quirk of her lips. Hogun does the same, but nonetheless calmly walks up to Volstagg and powerfully thumping all the guards over the head that make the mistake to jump in his way. When he eventually reaches his friend, he waits for him to finish his last attack before smacking him over the head with his hand, earning an "Ow!" from the Asgardian in return.

          "Time to go," Hogun grins, ambling back over to us with a borderline sulky Asgardian warrior trailing behind him.

          "I presume the next step is returning to Midgard then?" Sif asks Adelaide and I, Adelaide still nursing the box of infinity stones in her arms.

          I nod. "Yes, but it's going to be a bit of trouble without Heimdall."

          "He's not there?" Fandral inquires, not holding back his surprise.

          "No," Loki pipes up "Thanos took care of him. He wouldn't be dead, but he wasn't in any of the prison cells either. And quite frankly, we don't have the time to go searching for him when Thanos will be up and on his feet with a few squadrons of guards soon enough."

          "Well what do we do then?" Sam speaks up. "As far as I know – which isn't a lot when it comes to Norse mythology though – the only way to realm jump is through Heimdall and his sword. How else do we get off of this planet?"

          Sif regards my father curiously, which manages to pique my interest. When Loki catches her gaze, he immediately knows the silent message she's sending him. He groans, admitting "There are a couple other hidden passages to other realms, but they're unpredictable. We may end up on a desolate planet with no way of getting off it."

          "Right now, I'll take that chance," I say, eyeballing Sam and Adelaide for their input.

          "I'm game," Sam agrees instantly, a warm smile briefly sent my way before he faces Addie.

          Adelaide grunts her approval, shifting the box on her hip into a more comfortable position. "As long as I can put down this jewellery box soon, I don't care what means it takes to get out of this place."

         "Right then," Sif declares, reluctantly turning to my father. "Lead the way."

          He smirks almost flirtatiously at the female Asgardian. "I thought you'd never ask."

******

          "Do you even know how to drive this thing?"

          "I've done it once before," Loki confesses "but I crashed it. Hopefully this time will turn out more fortunate."

          Gripping to the side of the flying sleigh (or whatever the hell it is), I feel my cheeks nearly burst at the rims as I try to push down the barf surging its way up my throat, my face undoubtedly such a sickly pale it's nearing a lime green. I lean over the side as much as I can without the threat of tipping the flying death trap and falling out.

           "I think I'm going to barf," I heave, knuckles going a ghastly white from my death grip on the railing "and when I do, I'm going to do it all over your fancy garments."

           Loki snorts at my comment, nose scrunching up in disgust. "It would be carried away by the wind before it hit my garments."

          "I think my stomach got carried away by the wind," Adelaide inputs eyes sewed shut as she sits on the floor of the contraption and leans her forehead against one of the seats built into it.

          Fandral just laughs at Addie's and my display of nausea, lightly patting me on the back. "Not a fan of flying?"

          "Flying I don't mind," I say, gagging when we turn another corner in an attempt to lose the guards chasing us in their flying machines. "Flying with Loki as the driver? That's what's raising my stomach to my throat."

          "At least you have a stomach," Adelaide groans, Hogun awkwardly rubbing circles on her back to try and reassure her.

          When we partially collide into a stone statue, the lot of us jerk to the side and I fall in Fandral's arms, clutching to him for my dear life. I feel his chest rumble with laughter when I dig my face into chest, the feeling of his chin resting on my head moving when he says "Would you look at that, someone seems to have fallen for me."

          "Wouldn't be the first time I've fallen for someone," I incoherently mumble into his armour, clutching his leather clad arms in petrifaction.

          "This is our stop." My ears pick up Sif's distinct voice, the news turning me from sick to glum in a matter of seconds. I may have not known them long, but they're practically Thor's family. In some indirect way, that makes me feel as if I'm letting go of my own family.

          Releasing Fandral and overlooking the devilish smirk planted on his lips, I inquire "Must you go? I'm sure Thor would love to see you guys again."

          "Someone has to get these guards off your tail," Hogun reasons, his sympathetic eyes watching Adelaide as her eyes almost roll to the back of her head. "And Thanos needs to be taken care of. The people of Asgard won't suffer under his reign any longer."

           "I suppose you're right," I concede, staggering to sit down on the built in bench at the back of the sleigh. "But don't get yourself killed; I don't think my uncle would appreciate that."

           "I don't think I would appreciate that," Volstagg says, nearing the edge of the flying boat thing (still have no idea what it's called). "Best of luck in your travels and endeavours Lillian, Sam and Adelaide. Don't have too much fun without us."

           A smile slips onto my lips despite my current state. "No promises Volstagg."

          His infectious laugh reaches me one last time before he jumps off, hopefully landing on one of the enemies flying contraptions. Hogun follows suit, nodding and bidding his luck and farewells before doing so. Sif smiles at Adelaide, Sam and I, sincerely admitting "It was a pleasure meeting and fighting alongside you. I wish you luck, and bring Thor back to us."

          "We'll do what we can," Adelaide promises, returning the kind, amiable gesture.

          Her smile and tangle of raven black hair is the last thing I see of Sif before she leaps off, a lot more elegant than Volstagg or even Hogun. Fandral advances towards the edge as well, shooting me a sly wink. "If you ever change your mind about where your love lies, my door is open," he impishly flirts, earning a scoff from me.

         "Go with your friends before I push you off myself," I tease, humorously snickering when he mockingly bows and says "Whatever the lady wants," before dramatically plunging backwards over the side.

          Once gone, I hear my father grumpily grumble "If he stayed a second longer, I would have pushed him off myself."

          I can't help the smile that pulls at my lips at his words, my smile falling and shifting into a overwhelming mix of envy and disbelief when I glance at Sam beside me, who seems to be entirely unmoved and with the utmost composure out of all of us.

          My eyebrow exasperatedly arches in scepticism. "How are your insides not turning inside out right now?"

          He innocently beams at me, his arms splayed and leaning on either side of the back rest. "I've been to all the fastest roller coasters in America, and quite frankly, this doesn't live up to half of them."

          "We're nearing the portal," Loki announces over the wind, warning "grab onto something and make sure the box doesn't fly over the side."

          I meekly stand up to help Adelaide steady herself, but find my own self teetering and swaying like a sailor who's lost his sea legs. When I'm in danger of falling, I feel Sam's warm, soft hands grip my upper arms and balance me, allowing myself to rest my back against his chest. "Thanks," I splutter, shaking my head in an attempt to gather my thoughts.

          Yet when I spare a peek at Adelaide, panic begins to set in.

          I failed to notice the infinity gems' box open, and Adelaide is currently madly scrambling for the ingots scattered across floor. "Shit!" I cry, lurching forward with Sam still gripping me tightly to collect the stones, managing to grasp the time and mind stone with my bare hands. I instantly feel the power course and convulse through my body, the stones lighting up brighter and brighter as we grow closer to the portal, meter by meter.

          Adelaide stumbles and falls against me, Sam clumsily losing his footing and doing the same. The light of the portal streams at us ahead, Loki unable to spare a glance at us under his severe concentration.

          The last thing I feel is Sam and Adelaide huddling up against me, and the raw power of the time and mind stones activating in my hands. And the last thing I see, is pure white light before it's consumed by one thing.

           Darkness.

I think I'm getting back into the swing of updating regularly (hopefully I am anyway). I'll try to update Conquering an Untamed Flame soon as well, but I'm indecisive about what I want to do with its next chapter and have scrapped and restarted it over and over. Ah well, I'll figure it out eventually.

So I'm a tad curious towards something... if I asked you guys to leave a bunch of questions (any questions from what's my favourite colour to most embarrassing moment I've ever had) about me, would you guys like me to answer them and post my personal Q&A video on Youtube? I just thought it would be a cool way to show my face and for you guys to see my pure reaction and response to each question. If I don't get enough replies for 'Yes' then I won't bother, but I'm just curious about your intakes on that.

QOTD: Favourite band?

AOTD: Can't choose between ACDC, Imagine Dragons and Fall Out Boy.

Thanks for reading and that's all for now, bye! :) xxx

~ T.L