"WILL YOU NOT SPAR WITH ME, MY FRIEND?"

Kaipo looked up from where he was seated on one of the walls of his kingdom, a book splayed across his lap. He smiled as he caught sight of Alasdair, head of the guard and his own personal protector, sworn in ever since they were young. His smile was sad and apologetic, and Alasdair's own hopeful one melted into a mirror image.

"You know I can't, my friend," Kaipo said, closing the tome and tucking it under one arm, moving to walk with the man along the streets, glancing towards the wall which, if he had fallen, would have landed him down onto another, most likely crushing a citizen passing by.

"You won't be fighting," Alasdair tried, sounding all of the younger man that Kaipo had known him to be, with the same boyish excitement that never truly left him, "You will be aiding me in my endeavors to stay sharp and alert in the event of a crisis."

Kaipo laughed, shaking his head and continuing to walk, brushing past him. "Using the word 'endeavor' does not automatically make your argument any less paper thin that it already is."

Alasdair groaned then, a sound so immature and adolescent that the prince had to make sure it had come from him. "Training with the troops is out of the question, I have to be a leader with them, it's not as..." he trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Fun?" Kaipo supplied, unable to hide his massive grin. Alasdair nodded, almost pouting, and the larger man threw an arm over his shoulder, laughing heartily. "You were always looking for trouble, my friend."

"Not trouble," the other man argued, "Fun. Something, anything. Doesn't have to be a battle."

Kaipo's eyes darkened at that. "Battle is never fun, my friend. War is never something to wish for."

"I know," the guard replied, nodding, "I am aware of this, but there is little else that gets the blood pumping in such a way."

The prince motioned towards a group of men and women that passed, nodding in respect towards the prince and the head of the royal guard. He gave his friend a sly grin as they all passed, "I'm sure you can come up with something."

"You," Alasdair said, hiding his smile and punctuating his words with a sharp jab in the chest, "Are a filthy animal."

Kaipo laughed as the head of the guard turned a bright red, ducking his head as some members of the group turned back to look at him, some casting kind smiles that affected the leader greatly. For all he was stone cold and calculated in battle, he was less than strategic in affairs outside of the battlefield, a realm Kaipo secretly wished he would depart from.

But it was not his place to force his most trusted friend out of the realm that he had been forced into. For Alasdair was not an Asterion, but a Kallrynion, a people that had long since been captured and forced under the rule of Kaipo's people. At least they had, many millennia ago, but that was a history neither were a part of, neither were their fathers nor their fathers. It was during the time even before the conquest of Odin, an event they were narrowly spared from, but had, after some time, been able to morph itself into a treaty of understanding and mutual respect.

The Asterions and Kallrynions now live in harmony, though the tension in still there. That was why the ceremonial bond between Kaipo and Alasdair had caused much uproar; the heir to the throne of Asterius choosing a Kallrynion to fight alongside him was unheard of, a shift in a tradition as old as the people who held it.

Yet there the two were now, Alasdair still standing as Kaipo's protector. While the bond was still intact, some aspects had changed. No longer did they fight side-by-side, Kaipo's oath against violence had voided that, but they still did look out for the other.

Theirs was a bond stronger than anyone else in their realm understood. It was one that ran deeper than brotherhood, than love, than anything else, it was as natural and as necessary as the blood that ran through their veins, the history that they shared surpassed them, holding the weight of all others who had sworn the oath before them.

That was why Kaipo could never ask anything of him; these were not Alasdair's people, yet he served them willingly. It was not in his place to demand anything more than a king could demand of his head general, and asking him to stop fighting on the grounds of something personal was foolhardy and selfish.

"What would you like to do, my friend?" Alasdair asked, noticing the pensive and pained look on his prince's face.

"I would like to return this, it's rather heavy," Kaipo joked, lifting the tome under his arm, brandishing the cover towards the soldier, "Would you like to read it, it is quite interesting."

"I think I will leave your history to you, my friend," the other man said politely, barely giving the cover a glance. While he would willingly defend the people, there was still tension in the man's heart that Kaipo would never truly understand.

"My apologies," he said, giving him a nod of apology.

"Don't apologize," Alasdair scoffed, shaking his head, "And don't talk so formal, remember what happened the last we visited Midgard?"

Kaipo couldn't help but smile at the mention of the friends they had made during their visits to the other realms.

The people of Asterius were skilled in various magics and sorcery, their ancestors being prolific hoarders of knowledge, studying and keeping safe the dying stories and facts of old, the past always there to help guide the future.

As a result, traveling to various realms was child's play, a leisurely jaunt that sometimes took no more than a few hours depending on where they chose to go and how long they chose to stay.

Making allies and friends on Midgard was expected of the prince, if anything, especially as he had the ability to wipe the minds of the people if things went awry, a spell he had practiced with Alasdair in their youth.

A dangerous game they played, not that any on Asterius were aware. What was there to fear when power was in play?

"Then let's get to the library," Kaipo urged, pushing his back, "It's hot out."

Alasdair scoffed. "You've grown soft, my friend."

"Not soft," Kaipo replied, "Kind."

º º º

Everything was on fire.

Time had passed since the two found their way into the expansive maze of the library. Alasdair had branched off on his own, but had managed to work his way back to where Kaipo was nestled in the corner with a stack of books.

"If not for our bond, I would be lost forever," Alasdair mused, taking the seat across from his friend and setting down his own stack, much taller, but the books not as expansive.

"Well, then, you must be grateful to have me around to guide you," Kaipo hummed, hiding his sly smile behind the book he had in front of him, using it as a shield when Alasdair threw one of his own at his head. "My friend, if you just listened to me, you would already be wedded."

"As if I would listen to a bachelor on the affairs of love," Alasdair laughed, and that was possibly the last calm moment the two had together, smiling and laughing easily as they sat in the building, oblivious to the chaos just outside.

Then there was a scream.

In an instant, the two were on their feet, running to the front of the library to find a citizen staring at them, blood trailing down the side of his face as he stared up at the two pleadingly. "The Setera. They're here."

"How did this happen?" Kaipo demanded, more to the bewildered Alasdair than to the wounded citizen, "Did someone send you, why are you not with the medics."

"It's all been destroyed, your majesty," he breathed, holding onto his arm as his knees gave out, "They're not taking anything." With that, the man fell to the ground, unconscious.

Kaipo carried him in his arms as he followed Alasdair who had already run out towards the training arena, shouting for the troops to rally. Kaipo shouted for civilians to get to the escape units, calling for the elders to choose a destination for all. Everyone knew the plan since the very beginning and needed little reminder for what to do next.

"Kaipo!" Alasdair shouted, racing towards him. The prince placed the unconscious man in the arms of a running civilian, meeting his partner in the middle.

Alasdair gripped his arm, breathing heavily. "Your parents were on Seter."

The heir to the throne struggled not to crumble under the revelation, his hands shaking despite himself. He looked towards the inferno slowly making its way down, licking at the heels of the terrified civilians making their way to the escape units at the edge of the kingdom, far away, teetering on the edge of oblivion.

"Call back your troops," he commanded, on the edge of calm.

"What?" Alasdair exclaimed, "We are being invaded, we—"

"That is a direct order," Kaipo snapped, "This is not an invasion, it is a massacre, we cannot afford all these casualties for a battle we cannot win, call them back, we need to get everyone to the escape units."

Alasdair sighed and closed his eyes, throwing his head back and shouting. Despite no longer fighting, Kaipo heard the command in his ears, still bound to the legion like all the others. When Alasdair opened his eyes, they nodded, immediately running towards the various homes.

"The escape units have never been used," Alasdair called over the sounds of screaming, breaking down doors and helping out those who couldn't get out, dropping them into the arms of the passing civilians who took them easily.

"But they are always ready to be used in the event of a crisis. This is a crisis," Kaipo pointed out, helping a running child to their feet, watching as they took off, through the crowd and out of sight.

"Infinite power and no way to stay fighting," Alasdair grumbled, his frown disappearing for a moment to cast a reassuring look towards another running child who paused to look at him.

"One," Kaipo said, holding up a finger, "We do not have infinite power. We are just like most. Two," he held up another finger, pulling a man to his feet after he tripped, "Fighting would give us casualties, ones that would be for nothing."

Alasdair sighed in frustration, kicking the side of a building as he stepped out of the crowd. Kaipo watched with disapproval and made his way to his side, gripping his arm. The man nearly pulled back, raising his head to look into Kaipo's eyes, close to challenging.

"My people already lost their home, now we are losing this one as well," he whispered, "I don't know what your plan is, Your Majesty, but you are the leader now, you better have one."

His 'Your Majesty' cut like a knife and Kaipo took a deep breath. "We take the last escape units available, we find someplace new, we find allies. Simple. The elders have chosen a place, that is where we shall regroup."

"Great, we're placing our faith in the dying," Alasdair scoffed, turning away, only to find that Kaipo was still holding onto him. He raised his head again. "I trust you, Kaipo. Not them. They were still alive when everything happened."

"Everything will be fine," Kaipo whispered, his other hand moving to grip the side of Alasdair's face, "I promise."

An explosion shocked the two into action, moving back into the streets to find that the fire was now reaching the top of the hill, able to be seen. Turning, they found all the citizens were long gone, possibly already at the escape units.

"Let's go," Kaipo breathed, the two sprinting down the incline as they made their way towards the escape units, nearing the edge of the kingdom.

"This is taking too long," Alasdair growled, grabbing onto Kaipo's arm before the two jumped, soaring over the rest of the buildings, bracing themselves as they landed onto the ground in the forest, causing the nearby ground to shake.

"That should also buy us some time," the warrior said, calm and collected despite himself, "After you, Your Majesty."

The two ran the rest of the way to the escape units, skidding to a stop. They found themselves staring at the cliff off into the oblivion of space. Kaipo scanned the grounds, noticing with a start that he couldn't find any sign of the people.

"There one over here," Alasdair called out, groaning as he pushed it out, "It's only enough for one of us. They should have kept one of the elders here, but..." he raised his hands, letting them fall to his sides, "Take it."

"No," Kaipo said, shaking his head, "No, you're going to take it."

"We don't even know where they went," Alasdair sighed, running his hands through his short hair, an anti-thesis to Kaipo's long locks, "You need to take it, you're their leader."

"If we don't know where they went, it's no use for me to go and for you to stay," Kaipo argued, "I stopped being their leader the minute they left without us. The elders disproved of me, you know they always did. And my parents are dead."

"Then why should I take it?" Alasdair demanded.

"Why shouldn't you?" Kaipo countered.

"Because I won't leave you here!" he shouted, standing inches away from him, breathing heavily, "I will not leave you."

Kaipo sighed. "You must. If you are still loyal to me, you will."

That was the breaking point. Kaipo knew that Alasdair was loyal to him and only him, a different sort of loyal that Kaipo himself was. Alasdair would never betray that statement, even if it meant leaving him behind.

"You know I..." the man began, his jaw set, eyes beginning to water despite himself, "You know."

Kaipo nodded. "I as well."

He followed as his best soldier—his protector, his best friend—climbed into the small unit, leaning back, shifting in discomfort. He turned to look at where he was to input the coordinates, glancing at Kaipo with all the worry of a young boy.

"Where do I go?" he asked.

Kaipo bent down, pressing their foreheads together, closing his eyes. He drew in all the energy he could, calling upon his ancestors and all the forces he had been taught to invoke throughout all his studies.

He began to whisper the enchantment, words that came not from his mind, but from his very being, words he would never understand nor remember once they were released from their hold.

"Go to the far reaches where I will find you again," he finished, breathing the words.

They opened their eyes, sharing one last look before Kaipo closed the pod and stepped away, losing sight of his friend. Possibly forever. He watched as it pushed off into the oblivion and disappeared.

He turned back around, catching sight of the fire. It was still at the top of the hill, unmoving. He had time.

Making his way back towards the kingdom, he forced himself not to drag his feet, jogging towards the library. He ended up sprinting, carefully expending his anger into the action, wishing he could feel more pain than he was; he had to keep it all carefully contained, he had a job to do.

His studies had taught him many different spells, different actions. In the library were all the knowledge of his people and of Alasdair's. He couldn't let them be forgotten, he wouldn't allow it. If no one remembered him, he'd at least make sure his and Alasdair's people weren't.

He pushed his way into the library, frowning when he saw that the fires still hadn't moved. What were these people playing? Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, he made his way to the bottom of the building, into the ground, taking a seat at the large, rock table, in the middle of the circle.

"Mother, father, I hope I know what I'm doing," he mumbled, before tilting his head back.

He felt his entire body be overcome with a wave, a feeling he could not describe. His breathing became barely noticeable, snippets of thoughts and images and memories flooding his mind. As a descendant of the direct bloodline, he had the power to take all the knowledge of his ancestors and his people and direct them into himself before casting them into the ether where they would be taken by the one worthy of keeping his people alive.

It was something done by warriors who were to die in battle.

He could have done it anywhere, but the library was the best place. Surrounded by all the knowledge, sitting on the very artifact engraved by his forefathers—and mothers—it was a perfect way to finish the life of his and his home.

All the knowledge, everything. Every tear, every laugh, every choice in battle, all of it, he knew. He understood. He felt. It would have torn him apart, but he was an Etera, that was not a possibility.

He felt the foundations shake as the doors were broken down. He took a deep breath, ready to accept his fate. He could only hope it was swift; he would go down peacefully, he had sworn an oath, he would not break it.

He heard footsteps shake above him before descending down the steps, going over each floor in haste. He barely registered his confusion as to why they were searching; they had to assume no one was no longer there.

Finally, he heard them reach the bottom. Where he was. The inevitable. He sighed as the last of the knowledge was taken in, the warm feeling dissipating, leaving him alone in the cold.

He would die alone where no one would remember or find him.

As he braced himself for the attack, he realized that he could only hear one set of footsteps. A scout, perhaps. If he was to die or be captured, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of taking him with his eyes closed.

He opened his eyes just as they were about to appear in front of him.

Much to his surprise, he didn't find the insect-like makeup of a Seteran, but a man who looked just like him. He took in the blond locks and large build, a hammer in his hands. He watched as the strong, defensive look turned to one of confusion.

"Who are you?" the man demanded, pointing the hammer in Kaipo's direction.

He raised an eyebrow. "I am Kaipo Etera, heir to the throne of this burning hellhole, but all of my people have abandoned me. Who are you?"

"I am Thor, god of thunder, son of Odin and heir to the throne of Asgard," the man declared, raising his head up high. His resolve was broken by a particularly harsh shake from above ground.

"And I need your help."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

( 01.13.18 )

3000 words, and here I was thinking that it wouldn't be a long enough chapter. Welp, here's the start! I know this didn't have Thor until the very end, but I really wanted to solidify the Asterions and who Kaipo is and what he can do, as well as why Alasdair is so important to him.

Speaking of which, Alasdair won't be showing up until Part Two, but you will be seeing him and his own adventure in my upcoming Loki fic, which ties directly into this one. It will be interesting, as he won't be the blushing carefree guy we see here, he'll be very different, but awesome.

That's all I have to say so...thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!