Chapter Text
We can’t get to Asgard.
celestial storms take weeks to clear up.
”We are utterly screwed”, Loki tried to hide the panic in their voice. They can’t handle being stuck here. Not for this long.
”Brother-“
Not brother. Sibling. But that isn’t important yet.
”Don’t try to reassure me. This is a disaster. We will have to land, and that is a risk in itself. Do you know how many realms across the universe will take advantage of us? Of their puny midgardian bodies? They’re breakable, and in a universe where everything is stronger than them we can’t land anywhere you deem as safe”, They knew that the others could hear the faintly rising panic in their voice. But they spoke words of truth. In an almost infinite universe, there were few places that the group could land without coming to a worse fate, and earth didn’t need their hero’s fallen to a alien race.
”We’ve found a planet. Nox. Newly formed.”
Newly formed? Planets aren’t just formed.
”Hopefully uninhabited?”
… if he accepted, they could get out of this place, but will their magic work there? What if it doesn’t? What if they can’t use any magic, and it’s dangerous and they can’t protect themself, what if- no. Don’t think these thoughts.
”…Fine. Land if you deem so necessary”
“See space-boy? Not so hard to agree. Jarvis?”
The computer- that thing was creepy, Like it had a mind of its own- responded instantly. ”Yes sir?”
”Show me a geo map of Nox’s surface. Find a place the ship can land”
It takes a few minutes, but Jarvis finds them a spot, and lands the ship on auto pilot.
Loki was not looking forward to this. They expected a wasteland, or and undeveloped forest of dying plants; It was a new planet after all, I mean, who expects it to thrive? But the darling second that the ships door opened they were speechless. It was beautiful. Never had they seen a place, Midgard or Asgard, nor any planet across the nine realms, not with such beauty as this fae-planet.
They had landed on a spare patch of meadow, and almost immediately a doe with antlers growing shades of blue mushrooms wandered over, her six pale eyes staring at them, gazing deep into their wicked divine soul. For once in their life the deity was speechless. It was… beautiful? No, this wasn’t a simple explainable beauty. The place radiated magic, from every perfectly placed purple flower, to the moon-like fruits hanging from a weeping tree nearby, to the fae with their mushroom-cap hats, chittering and talking amongst themselves without a care in the world, without a singe worry; it all radiated power, and ethereal magic only comparable to that either of his mother or to that of a deity. This planet was too beautiful to be a real place, to not be a dream.
They feel a tug on their hair, and Loki turns to see a.. pixie? Fairy? They weren’t sure. It was about palm sized, and with four arms, two legs, and the most beautiful pair of tiny wings, a shimmering blue and pink in the sunlight. It was tugging at his hair, and weaving tiny braids in it, each touch of its fingers moving with expert precision and each time its arms brush together a new flower sprouting, small green ones. By now, Thor was talking to the two faeries, one with flowy blue hair, pink tinted skin, and a dewdrop mushroom cap on top of her head, blocking her complexion from the sun; the other one looking almost human, yet with pointed ears, and freckles that look almost too unnatural.
Bored of Thor’s meaningless- and by the looks of it they didn’t understand a single word the god was saying- conversation, Tony stepped in. This was gonna be fun. ”Listen, girls-“
That simple word seemed to annoy the mushroom fae, but they stayed silent.
”-We just landed here, can you uh, take us to your- what is it, king? Chief? Leader?”
The two fae blinked In unison.
”Uh, hello? You understand me?”, Tony waved a hand in front of their face.
Of course, being waved at like an animal didn’t go over well, and the faerie that looked human slapped his hand away.
”We have no king, nor a chief”
”Do we even know what they are today Èmilie?”, The mushroom girl spoke up. “I’m Rosala by the way”
Èmilie snaps her fingers. “That is a good point. Maybe we have a king. Or a queen. Really depends, What even is a Enby term for a ruler?”
Loki’s ears perk up. A Genderfluid ruler? This is interesting.
Tony groans, “Okay, Okay, stop your bickering, just” ,he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, “Just take me to the palace, or castle, or whatever so we can negotiate a safe stay”.
The two fae nod, and Èmilie grabs Loki’s hand, While Rosala goes to grab Tony’s hand, but pauses. “You’re a bitch” She settles for Nat, who was struggling not to laugh at Rosa’s distaste for Stark.
The two girls lead the group of people through the meadow, and across some stepping stones, where Thor almost fell in, earning a hearty laugh from Loki. As they walk the planet did not falter In its divine beauty. Past forests of tall almost glowing trees, and past vast lakes filled with fae adorned with gills and fins, some fishing, some simply enjoying the seemingly endless sunlight that comes from the three large stars in the sky.
“Are we almo….”
Their voice trails off. The palace. It was…. Unexplainable.
Its marble and stone walls curled up to the sky, lines and designs of swirling gold lining the walls. It had to be at least 200 metres tall. At least. Vines crawled up the walls, and it sat nicely on the edge of a cliff, sprawling gardens built over the cliff-face.
Over the doorway, words were engraved. Words that he was certain no other person in his group would understand, for the runes were what was considered a dead language, even on Asgard they are not used as widely, and Thor never paid attention to his lessons inside the classroom anyway, much preferring Fine metals over the metaphorical sword that is a finely trained poet. ‘Enter the palace of the blessed ruler, defended by gods of sun, war, death, and trickery’. All nice and carved in the norse runic letterings, filled with a shimmering gold metal.
As the two fae lead them through the palace, they can’t help but marvel at the sheer beauty of the place.
Just before they reach a large gold door, they are stopped by a tall fae. I mean really tall. Standing at minimum 10 feet, the dark haired woman looked down. She could pass for human sure, if not for her eyes. Stark contrast against her ghostly pale skin, she looked down at the group with narrowed eyes, dark sclera and pale iris’s. She taps the staff she’s holding on the floor, it dissolving into something the size of a small book which she carefully tucks inside her dark cloak, as the bird that once perched on her staff hovers nearby.
“Èmilie, Rosala, what brings these people here?”
Loki guessed this must be the queen.
Èmilie curtsies slightly,
“Lady Odith, my pleasure, these are simply travelers wishing refuge and an audience with their highness”
Odith glares at them, eyes lingering on Loki for an unnaturally long second,
“Marlin will have a field day with you all. Come. Lady Èmilie, Bam Rosala, you are excused”
The two faeries nod and leave. Spider-Peter couldn’t contain his question, “Bam?”
“Easier than Lady. Our queen once tried to address a non-bianry member of the court, and I believe she said ‘sir? Ma’am? Tham? Bam’. It stuck”
Odith opens the door, and the throne room is magnificent. Her bird flies to the room, and transforms into a blonde faerie as she lands on top of another two girls who sit near the throne.
The woman on top the throne however, was wonderful. Hair short, but still with small ribbons, and her skin shining in a most beautiful shade. She - rather than a graceful posture- sits draped across the throne sideways, feet over the left armrest. She was toying with two identical bronze keys hanging by twin threads around her neck, and she perked up when the group entered. She wore no crown atop her head yet she radiated power and authority. “Ah, Odi, who did you drag in this time my lady?”
“My queen. And they wish temporary refuge”
Thor goes to take a step forwards but is stopped by Steve. “Ma’am, we are unable to continue our journey for at least a week. We simply seek refuge in your palace.”
She seemed to consider it for a moment.
“Very well. You may go anywhere on the upper and ground floors.”
She smiled most cruelly. “I do believe that you’ll find this like something out of a fairytale, won’t you doll”
She spoke directly to Loki with that, seeming looking in their soul.
“Most wonderful indeed”