Sylvie's POV

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
What can I hear?
Sound of shuffled footsteps, hoarse laughs, painful groans, Loki flipping a page of the book, clinking chains, shattering dreams..

"Princess Sylvie, All-Father commands your presence before him," a voice disrupted my meditation. Two guards stood in front of me on the other side of the barrier, waiting to escort me to the judge, the All-Father.

It's time. As they handcuffed us, Loki and I exchanged glances, realising that today's judgement will rewrite our future entirely.

*****

Three days ago..

"'Sup guys?" I waved at the casual looking superheroes as they sat lazily in Tony's lab. Only Tony and Bruce seemed engaged with the machinery there.

"Too informal a greeting for a goddess," Clint quipped.
"What do you expect me to say after being an American for six months?" I plopped into a plushy swivel chair, popping an M&M into my mouth. You can't really say it's Tony's lab unless there is a bowl of munchies nearby. I know I haven't been with them even for a whole day, but I still know them all too well.

"Who is this young lady?" Pietro noticed my acquaintance standing next to me, her face half-covered with the hood of her jacket. "A friend of mine. Anyways, where's Thor?" I didn't want to spoil the surprise earlier.
"Out for an urgent matter," Bruce answered.

I bit on the M&M too hard in anger. "I told him to stay put. Did he give you any information about it? When is he coming back?" It was a matter of a day or two. Couldn't he stay that long? His impatience is something I was always upset at.
"No, we don't.." Steve was cut off by a ping sound. The doors opened to reveal Thor behind it.

"There he is. Now run along," I tilted my head towards him. Jane pulled back the hood staring right at her fiancé, surprise written all over their faces. She ran upto him and they exchanged a long kiss, making up for the diminishing romance between them.
"Too much PDA," Tony remarked before shifting his focus on me. "You definitely don't look jealous."
"Everyone meet Jane Foster, Thor's fiancé," I introduced her to them.
"So you are not.." Barnes doubted.
"Of course not. I am his half-sister," came the response. Tony's surprised face was worth seeing.

"Mission accomplished? What were you up to?" Wanda asked, referring to my short trip.
"Running errands. And of course, arranging this surprise."
"You went to get supplies in the middle of a just suppressed war situation?" Steve questioned in disbelief.
"My clinic happened to be situated at the battlefield. I went to check on my only source of living. You do not know how difficult it is for an independent person to live in this city. Especially for an alien like me. Also I wanted to give Loki some buffer time before the actual investigation starts." I explained.

"That buffer time's nearly cost you. Loki attempted to flee away," Nat informed.
"WHAT?" My voice almost cracked at the exclamation.
"One of Fury's minions went in to interrogate him but as expected, the mischief maker tricked them to escape. Thankfully, Goldilocks here came to your rescue," Tony clarified.

Next to the bout of happiness came frustration. I stomped up to him, ignoring Jane's looks. "I give you one job to do, and you disappear without informing. I'd smack you by now, but that would be immature of me." I hissed in anger.
"That's kind of your fault," Clint pointed out. It was true. I shouldn't have left. I nodded my head in regret, scolding myself to hurry up now.

"We need to go to Asgard. All-Father has summoned for us," the god informed.

*****

James was the last one to hug me goodbye. I hardly got time to thank him for saving me, let alone acquaint ourselves properly. I made a mental note to become friends with him after the dilemma is over.

A look at a muzzled and handcuffed Loki disappointed me to the core. He dared not to look in anyone's eyes. He might be repenting either ways : should have escaped, should have not. I received only negative vibes from him, upsetting me more. What has happened to him?

"See you soon, Miss Fireball."
"Later, Mr. Richie Rich," I smirked when I saw Tony's raised brows.
"Someone finally took the initiative," Nat commented.
"Stay sharp, Avengers. See you later." I took a mental photograph of my newfound Midgardian superhero friends, before blinding lights encircling me made it look sketchy.

Those golden eyes made me feel home in an instant. "Welcome home, princess. Though I am afraid your experience this time won't be a pleasant one," Uncle Heimdall hinted. Before I could unmask his hidden meaning, Thor locked my hands in chains. "I am sorry... but I have to," he said it regretfully as guards surrounded me on all sides. Well, I should have known.

*****

So here I am, back on my home turf, just my accommodations have changed a tad bit. I stayed in countless different shelters and lived in every habitat, but never did it cross my mind that a prison cell too will be added to the list. Prison accomplished.

Time flew like a bird as I meditated for hours and meddled in matters of my neighbour, Loki. I envied him as he seemed to be comfortable back in his own cell, with books to entertain him. He would either spend time reading or resting, most likely planning to escape. He already did it twice, third time's no different. The better part is I somehow established a telepathic connection with him, so that I could familiarise myself with the stranger Loki, but he always gave me the cold shoulder. With every attempt, I found the meaning of my mission drop a level down.

A particular memory of Thor telling me about it when he visited me in prison replayed in my mind infinitely. "I appreciate your efforts in putting a stop to the multi-realm war, to Loki's endless wrongdoings. But what if he desires to do this? Get revenge for the injustice Father did to him? He fled away from prison when he was under control, but that did not change even after his recovery. We have taken strict precautions and Almighty forbid it, but what if he returns back to Thanos and Laufey? Would your mission mean anything after that? You ended up in prison for him, but he never acknowledged it. I request you to stop chasing him now because I care about you. What if Loki has truly changed?"

Every 'what if?' loosened a thread of belief in Loki. Was my worst fear of losing someone dear to me again going to come true? I second-guessed my actions every minute, after what I saw, heard and felt. But there was a question which bugged me the most.

Why did I care for Loki all this while?

*****

We were soon presented before the queen we loved and the king we despised.
"Hello Mother. Have I made you proud?" Loki ignited a conversation between the two.
"Please Loki, don't make this worse." Mother still cared for him, no matter what.
"Define worse."

"Enough," Odin silenced them. "I wish to speak with the prisoners alone." Mother gave a reluctant look before she left the throne room. Good move, Odin. He knew Mother would interfere in his judgement if it meant any harm to us.

"Three days have passed by and none had the courtesy to inform me of my charges for which I was imprisoned." I said in a frustrating tone.

"Princess Sylvie Lushton, you endangered the existence of an entire planet by the reckless usage of your powers."

"A city, Your Grace. Besides, there were no Midgardian casualties, I promise."

"You did it behind my back."

"I did the work you should have, but I here I am, stowed away in a dungeon. A single act of gratitude would have been appreciated.

"You were sent to exile, not fight a battle with two deadly races single-handedly. Breach of rules is punishable by offence."

"Rules cannot exist if realms don't!" My mind raised my voice involuntarily. "I saved not only a planet from the despotism of the Mad Titan but also the rightful prince of Asgard."

"You helped a traitor. Now please step aside."

I gritted my teeth in fury, trying to suppress the fire in me. I walked back, looking down at the floor. Loki took a step forward and banged the side of his foot to the other, causing the chains to produce a resonating sound. Surprisingly, he let out a laugh. "I don't really see what the fuss is all about."

"Do you truly not feel the gravity of your crimes?" Odin asked. "Wherever you go, there is war, destruction and...death."

"I went down to Midgard to rule the people of earth as a benevolent god, just like you."

"We are not gods, we're born, we live, we die, just as humans do."

"Give or take five thousand years." A cute mischievous smile formed on his face.

"All this because Loki desires a throne."

"It is my birthright."

"Your birthright.. was to die!" Odin hollered. "As a child, cast out on a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now." The brutality in his voice pierced my heart. I couldn't imagine how much Loki had to bear.

"If I am for the axe then for mercy's sake, just swing it." I just couldn't believe it. Did Loki just request to execute himself? "It's not that I love our little talks, it's just that... I don't love them."

"Frigga is the only reason you are still alive and you will never see her again. You'll spend the rest of the days at the wastelands of Anaheim."

"And what of Thor? You will make that witless oaf king while I rot there?"

"Thor must strive to undo the damage you have done. He will bring order to the nine realms and yes, he will be king." Odin finally passed the judgement. "Princess Sylvie will be sent to exile on Blenheim, while having mercy considering her hasty decisions. Their powers will be stripped off and they will be sent to their designated places at the first light of dawn tomorrow for an indefinite period." My prediction turned to reality.

***** 

Loki's POV

So that was it. A Frost Giant left to waste away in the burning sands of Anaheim. How was I supposed to live there with no acquaintances or powers? And somehow, even if I successfully survived, how could I protect myself from facing the outrage of the two biggest rivals? I will cease to exist without my powers, the weak person I am.

Odin should have done the realms a great favour by presenting me before the axe. He should have put an end to  my misery and that I caused. I was already destined to die as an infant, then why still keep me alive?

My eyes once closed now opened to look at my neighbour sitting on the floor with her knees pulled towards her chest. I experienced a sharp pang of guilt. The most perfect goddess in the universe was to be banished on a different realm just because she helped a traitor prove his innocence. Just a few hours now, and then she will depart again. Just like she left me fifteen years ago. All this time in prison, I prayed for Sylvie to leave me alone. But now I wish she could stay. Yes, she bugged me questions all the time. Yes, she disturbed me in every possible way. But even her presence around me made me feel more serene.

No, no, no. She was nothing to me by blood. Just like my fake family. Why do I think of her all the time? She had no connection with me whatsoever.

Then, why do I care about Sylvie at all?

*****

At dawn...

I saw her for the last time, her face laced with the most solemn look I had ever seen on her. She did not glance at my direction even once, since the trial yesterday. I don't know why, but my heart ached as she disappeared into the bright light. I hope I get to see her again, even if it's for just one time. 

The guards pushed me forward to the entrance and released me from the shackles. Heimdall wished me luck before he transported me to the last place I ever wished to go. I wasn't mentally prepared, but I decided to go with the flow.

I hid my eyes behind the palm of my hand, shielding them from the sun I anticipated would burn my skin. Instead, I felt a cool breeze tingle my senses. The sky was the darkest blue, decorated with stars. The ground was layered with grassy cover, rather than the golden sand the realm is known for. I realised I landed in front of someone's house as I stood in the lawn. I wasn't on Anaheim.

The door clicked and opened as a figure approached slowly from within. I immediately went into a state of shock after I recognised her in a moment. "Sylvie?"

She smiled. "Welcome to Midgard."