My loves, I have returned!!!!

OMG I MISSED THIS.

But hey, I did get a lot of editing for Blue Moon done. Man, it's tricky, and a lotta work, but really rewarding :)

AHHHH, well, just spend the last 3 hours planning and typing this up. I hope you like it :)

I have to start my AP Summer homework. I have 100 pages of AP Biology to read. Like why. WHY.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Thea, Angelique, and Videl are so exhausted, they decide to wait to discuss their next movement, and crash on the bed, Asgardian regality and moths and all. They sleep deeply, all three of them, until the sun rises the next day.

Videl, naturally, wakes up first. Sitting up slowly, he looks around him and sees Thea and Angelique sleeping on either side of him, Angelique on his chest and Thea snuggled against his shoulder. Carefully, so that he doesn't wake the girls, Videl moves out from between them and climbs off of the bed.

Running his fingers through his hair, Videl walks over to the partially open window, which offers him a view of a dismal alleyway. The sun flickers on his face, warming him.

From the roof of the building across from him, a white owl soars to the window, and Videl lifts up his arm, letting Wairua rest on his wrist. Wairua turns his piercing amber eyes to Videl.

The sorceress desires the throne. Not only the throne to Asgard, but the combined realms of Asgard, Ardhigiza, and Earth. In this, she hopes to gain unlimited power, not only for herself, but for her son.

Videl frowns. "And how is she to accomplish this? She might have influence in Asgard, but that's not enough to raise an army."

She knows a secret of Loki's- that he killed his father, Odin. She plans on using this information to expose to the public Loki's treachery, and hopes that this will turn the people away from Thor and Loki's family.

"Thor is innocent, and older. He's the heir to the throne. What would discrediting Loki do

for Neidra?"

Thor does not have an heir. Loki does. And Thor's innocence and stand to the throne will last only as long as he is alive. Neidra means to destroy Loki and Thea first, and then move on to Thor.

"Is Loki alive?"

Scarcely. But yes, he is. Neidra has stopped torturing him for the time being, but is feeding him more of the poison that affects his mind. He may go mad.

"He's already mad," mutters Videl, and then adds, "Why doesn't Neidra just kill Loki? He's weak enough as it is, it wouldn't take much."

Loki is still in Odin's guise in Asgard, although she has forced him to keep the post. If the people of Asgard knew about Loki's betrayal, they would surely want his death and also his daughter's. Thus, Loki has kept up the guise, for the protection of Thea's life.

"How considerate," says Videl, "How does Neidra plan on taking over three entire realms?"

Wairua flutters his wings slightly. In the depths of her mansion, below grounds and opposite the dungeons, there are three doors made of solid steel emblazoned with solid goal. She claims to her Fjodr that there is a power in each of them that will destroy each of the races: Asgardians, Velah, and humans.

"Fantastic. Three mysterious powers hidden behind loaded doors that will give Neidra the ability to ransack basically everyone. What does Fjodr have to do with this?"

Neidra is manipulating him. There are three major powerful families in Asgard: Neidra's, Fjodr's, and Odin's, now Thor and Loki's. The combined influence of Neidra and Fjodr may be enough to squander Thor and Loki's power in Asgard, even if the people have taken a liking to the brothers.

"Well, I doubt they'll take a liking to them once they find out that one of them has murdered Odin and the other has no heir."

That is precisely Neidra's plan.

"Any idea when Neidra is going to release said three powers?"

I do not. Which makes the prospect even more dangerous.

"And you don't know what these three powers are?"

No. Only that they are concealed and more to the point, they are powerful.

"Thank you for that, you're so helpful, Wairua."

Wairua clicks his beak in annoyance, Perhaps you should know now that Thea is awake, and she has been listening since I flew through the window.

Videl whirls around. Thea is lying half-off the bed, her midnight-colored dress flowing around her, her hands underneath her face. Her shoulders rise up and down steadily, her mouth partially open.

Glancing back at Wairua, Videl raises an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

She's a convincing pretender, you know this.

Wairua flaps off of Videl's shoulder and lands on the ornate armchair across the room. Rolling his eyes, Videl walks across the creaky wood floor and tilts Thea's face so that she's now looking up at him-or she would be, if her eyes were open.

"You're awake, I know it," says Videl, shaking her slightly. She moves like a ragdoll, and mutters something incomprehensible before sinking back to the pillow with a sigh.

Bending down, Videl bares his fangs and touches them lightly to Thea's neck. Her eyes snap open and squealing, she kicks at him, but her skirts get in the way and she misses.

Sitting up, she glares at him, her hair-which is blonde this morning-askew around her face. "I hate you."

"Tell me something I don't know," says Videl, "How much did you get from that conversation?"

"Loki's alive, and Neidra has three powers that she is planning on unleashing and she's also turning Asgard against Loki and Thor and me."

Wairua hoots. Videl snorts.

"So when are we going?"

"What do you mean, when are we going?" asks Videl.

"When are we going to get those three powers?"

He stares at her.

"You're joking, right? Oh, of course you're not joking, you're just a lunatic."

Movement from the bed, and Thea and Videl look over to see Angelique blinking groggily at them. Yawning, she says, "Thea's not a lunatic. What's going on?"

"Well good morning to you too," says Videl.

"This is what's going on," says Thea, standing up and fixing her dress so that it at least isn't completely wrinkled, "Neidra has three powers that she's going to try to unleash on the world, because she wants control over everything and everyone. She's also trying to make Thor and Loki seem bad to Asgard, because she'll need the Asgardian's trust to get anywhere with them. We don't know what these three powers are, but we know we need to get them, or at least find out what they are in order to make Neidra weaker, because if she's successful, then we're all screwed, each and every person on Earth, Asgard, and Ardhigiza."

"Thea," says Videl, "We barely got out of Neidra's mansion alive last night. And if it weren't for me, you definitely wouldn't be alive." He pauses to glare at her, and she glares right back, and he continues, "Do you think we're just going to waltz in and grab whatever the hell these powers are, the three of us against however many guards Neidra has safekeeping her entire plan to take over everything."

"We can get help," says Thea.

"From what? The alley cats?"

She ignores the sarcasm, "No. The Avengers."

"I thought you've been avoiding them to keep them safe," says Videl.

"There won't be anyone to be safe if Neidra takes over everything," says Thea calmly, "And you're right, we can't do this by ourselves."

Angelique looks between the two of them, her eyebrows raised. She seems to have woken up rather quickly.

Thea pushes on, "We can't keep running, Videl! We've got to go after Neidra before she figures out that we've figured things out. What are we going to do, travel from city to city forever?"

"We could visit India," says Videl, "I've heard the chital population is excellent there."

"This isn't funny, Videl!"

"I agree, it's not. Which is why this is a terrible idea. Shall we do a run-through of all your terrible plans? Trying to give a note to your friends nearly got yourself killed in New York-"

"But we got Angelique with us, and found out that Loki's possessed, and not just being crazy."

"Going to Disney World almost got you killed again-"

"First of all, that was Angelique's idea, and second of all, Loki would have caught up with us anywhere we went."

"It was my idea to rescue Angelique, and that idea actually worked-"

"Yeah, who was it that scorched Caomh? I don't think it was you, you were going all Lancelot on Angelique."

He glares, "Your plan to run out in Chicago and try to find Loki to reverse the spell ended up with you nearly killed AGAIN, and also resulted in the death of someone else."

She looks pained by this, but says stubbornly, "I'm not even going to bring up what your brilliant plan was during that time."

He ignores this, "And your plan to get the immortality potion was the worst of all. Firstly, there's no immortality potion. Secondly, the entire thing was a ruse. Thirdly, you almost let yourself get killed."

"And," says Thea, "Wairua also got insight into Neidra's entire freaking plan."

"You could be a lawyer," says Angelique to Thea.

"So," says Thea "We just need to think things through this time. If we figure out exactly when this is happening, where, and who's helping, then we might be able to do this. If we don't do this, then we're all screwed."

Videl is losing ground, "But-"

"Do you really want Ardhigiza to get squashed by Neidra? She might just want power in Asgard and Earth, but you know she'll want to destroy your entire realm. She thinks Velah are beneath her."

"That's ridiculously beside the point."

"Is it though?"

Videl is silent.

"Wairua," says Thea, turning to the owl, "If you get us into Neidra's, then can you lead a group of people to where Neidra has the powers locked up?"

The owl regards Thea and nods with a small hoot. Then, he swivels his head to Videl, Consider your position. You are the heir to the throne of Ardhigiza, now that your brother is dead. In your protection at the moment is the heir to the throne of Asgard, the legitimate princess. This may be more dangerous than you would like, but the fate of both of your lands rests on both of your shoulders. There are few people in Ardhigiza you can call for aid right now, and Loki is lost to Thea, for the time being at least. You must rely on your wits alone, unless you want Neidra to gain power over all.

"Well that's certainly cheerful," says Videl, "Thanks for that."

"Now what?" asks Angelique, looking between Videl and Thea again, "If this is going down, then we need to do some serious work, starting with changing out of these clothes and getting something to eat."

"So apparently, you agree with Thea?" asks Videl morosely.

"Naturally, I do.

"When have you ever taken my side?"

"Do you really want me to go there?" asks Angelique, stretching her arms above her head and peering at him with mischief in her smile.

"Oh yes," says Videl, his eyes glittering, "I think I really do."

"Excuse me," says Thea, "You two can do all you want to each other later, God that sounded awful, but we need to focus."

"Do you have a plan?" asks Angelique.

"I don't have a plan, but I'll improvise," says Thea.

"Oh goody," says Videl, "I was beginning to worry that you actually had an idea about what we're going to do or something."

Thea pretends not to hear this, "Angelique, are you feeling good enough to be moving around and everything?"

"Of course," says Angelique, "But what about you, Thea? There's dried blood on your dress."

Thea glances down at the blood, a result of Neidra's whip, but then waves it away, "It's nothing. I'm fine."

"Sure you are," says Videl.

Angelique speaks up before Thea can finally snap at Videl, "Firstly, Thea, if you're going to ask your friends for help, then how are you going to do it? It's probably a bad idea to just pop in right now to Stark Tower, especially if Neidra has spies, which she evidently does. And Videl sort of destroyed my phone the day we met."

"Isn't that romantic?" asks Videl, "Our first meeting, you yelled at me and I broke your phone."

Tears are coming to my eyes at the very thought," says Thea dryly.

"Sarcasm, Thea?" asks Videl, "Seriously?"

"I'm sarcastic a lot, if you haven't noticed."

"Not when you're trying to make a plan to save the world."

"Fine. I'm sarcastic to people that are being sarcastic when I'm trying to manipulate them to do what I want them to do," Thea retorts, "Does that make you happy?"

"How could the realization that you're manipulating me possibly make me happy?"

"Back to realism, Angelique," says Thea, turning her back on Videl, "I know how to contact who we need. Well, one of them. And you can thank a bet for it."

*

~Thea's POV~

Twenty minutes later, I've changed into jeans and the warm BCU sweatshirt, and am walking into the snowy Detroit streets with Videl, who is likewise now dressed in normal pants and a shirt. Angelique and Wairua are back at the loft.

It doesn't take me long to find a payphone. As a native New Yorker, I've learned to look for them either near libraries and banks, or near the subway station or bus stop. Since the subway in Detroit is alien to me, I've found a bus stop. Neither Videl nor I have any money, but before Videl can get it into his head to go harass some innocent stranger, I've salvaged two quarters from a nearby fountain in a busy street across from an office building.

While Videl stands near the street, looking around carefully, I pull the hood over my head and slide the quarters into the payphone slot before entering a number.

Last February, Jack and I had been playing Concentration while Kyle had been texting and Max had been reading. I'm not extremely good at Concentration, mostly because of the concentrating part, and against Jack, I'm nearly completely useless. I had been complaining that Jack had been cheating (he hadn't been) and Kyle had intervened, telling me that my problem is that I just have a bad memory.

"You know, I didn't have contacts in my phone for the longest time because I just memorized everyone's numbers and just didn't need them," he had said.

"Oh yeah?" I'd asked, "Then what's my number?"

He promptly had recited it back to me in about seven seconds.

"Then why do you have contacts now?" asked Jack, making three matches in three turns. I punched his shoulder.

"It's aesthetically pleasing," replied Kyle.

"My memory is fine," I snorted.

He had smirked at me, the way he usually does with half of his mouth quirked up, "All right then, Missy. You've got ten minutes to memorize my phone number and in a week, you'd better be able to tell it to me verbatim. If you do, then I'll give you five bucks. If not, I get five bucks."

"Fine," I'd said.

(Spoiler: I'd gotten the five dollars.)

Now, I press the buttons for Kyle's number and cross my fingers that he'll pick up, partially because I don't have much time, and partially because I don't want to have to steal more coins from public fountains.

I lean against the wall in relief as I hear his voice.

"Yeah?"

"Kyle?"

There's a pause, "Thea?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's me!" I exclaim.

I can hear commotion in the background, and am fairly certain that I hear Jack beginning to yell. I smile.

"Thea, what the hell!" sputters Kyle, "What-are you okay, tell me you're okay right this instant, Missy."

"I'm fine, I'm fine, but I need help."

"Tell me, you can-JACK AND PETER, SIT YOUR ASSES DOWN. Sorry, Thea, go on, talk."

"Um, so I can't really say all of it, because of reasons which I also can't tell."

"You're talking about the fact that Loki's your dad and you're under a spell?"

I blink, "Uh, yeah. That. Surprise."

He chuckles, "Go on."

"Okay, well he's alive-"

"We figured that out too."

"And Neidra's controlling him. Sometimes, she tortures him, sometimes she controls his mind to try and kill me."

"That, we did not know. You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Ky, and even if I weren't, we have other stuff to do."

"Translation: you're not okay, but I'll roll with it for now."

"Neidra and Fjodr are working together. But Neidra has three powers that she's trying to unleash on Ardhigiza, Asgard, and earth. She wants everyone and everything under her personal control."

"Boy, does she need a hobby. What are these powers we're talking about?"

"We don't know."

"Okay, when is she going to unleash them?"

"We don't know."

"Where are the powers?"

"We don't know that either."

"What's two plus two?"

"Huh?" I wrinkle my nose, confused.

"I just want to make sure that you know something. What's two plus two?"

"It's three."

"Oh good, that's a relief, I was getting worried." He's smiling, I can tell, and I smile too. I realize now how much I miss Kyle.

His tone turns more serious, "What do you need help with? Or do you not know that either?"

"Her three powers are in her mansion, we do know that for sure. Wairua knows exactly where, you know-"

"Videl's parrot, right. How's he been treating you, by the way? Do I need to beat up someone?"

"He's been fine," I say, pressing on, "Wairua knows where the powers are. But Angelique, Videl and I aren't enough to go get them. We need some help."

"Done. What do we do?"

"Wairua will come and get you. He can do the Jaunting thing like Videl, and since Videl refuses to leave Angelique and me by yourself, you're going with the bird. We need to spread out in the lowest levels of the mansion, but not spread out enough to be vulnerable to someone attacking us. But at the same time, there can't be too many people, or Neidra will definitely know we're coming."

"Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but she's a sorceress. She'll get a whiff of this anyway."

"I know, but not if we're quick."

"What about Loki and Fjodr?"

I slump my shoulders, "Um. Damn it, I still can't say his name, this is really getting old."

"I know who you're talking about, keep going."

"Okay, he's under Neidra's control still. Either in the dungeon or going after me."

"That's unfortunate. Have you ever met him before he sort of kidnapped you?"

"Yes I have, and so have you."

"Well that's just creepy and weird."

"Fjodr won't be at the mansion, I don't think, because Neidra's trying to keep their alliance under wraps."

"Naturally. Okay. When is this happening?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow when?"

"Tomorrow evening. Six PM. If Neidra is away from her mansion, we'll have an easier time."

"How do you know that Neidra's going to be away from her mansion?"

"I need you to talk to Thor. He needs to create a distraction at the Asgardian palace, something that will draw her there. An emergency meeting, an important impromptu festival, anything."

"And Neidra will fall for it?"

"If it's important, she will."

"I can do that. Anything else?"

I consider this. "Can you get Jack and Pete not to help? I don't want them getting hurt."

"Honey, if the roles were reversed, would you want to stay behind?"

"Fine, fine. But I don't want them, or anyone getting hurt."

"I don't want you getting hurt either, so keep that in mind," Kyle says firmly.

"Oh wait, wait, is Klaka okay?"

"Klaka is fine. Loki hurt him when he tried to grab you in New York, but Bruce fixed him all up. He misses you though. Bringing him along might be a good idea, now that I think about it. He's getting gigantically big already, he's bigger than Lucy now and he's still only like six months old. He'll listen to you."

"Um, sure, bring him," I say, "If you're careful. Anything else I should know? I can't talk much longer, Videl's getting antsy."

Videl, who is leaning against an electric line post, gives me a look. I stick my tongue out at him.

"Well, we all miss you, Thea, and Jack's been going crazy. You know, his Juliette being taken from him and all."

I hear loud protesting behind him, and I smile. "I miss you too."

"You probably have to go, so I'll talk to Thor and round up the 'ol gang. Where exactly do we meet you?"

"I'm not positive yet. Wairua will take you, though. It might take a couple trips."

"All right, need anything else?"

"No." I pause, and then say, "Um, Ky?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

I hear the smile return to his voice, "Um, Thea?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

I smile.

"We'll get you back, Missy, count on it."

My time on the pay phone runs out, and after hasty goodbyes, I hang up and turn to Videl, who raises his eyebrow.

"Is it done?"

"No, it's not done, that's why I'm walking away from the phone."

"You're being sarcastic again. Are you manipulating again?"

"Shut up."

We walk through Detroit, heading back to the loft. We're mostly silent. I kick some snow up with my sneaker, and some of the powder flies away in the sharp breeze. My nose is getting red and runny from the cold.

"You know," says Videl, his hands in his pockets as he hip-checks me down the alleyway that'll lead us to the loft, "You're still immortal. I don't think there's anything we can do about that."

I purse my lips and my steps falter a little. Videl doesn't comment, but slows down with me.

Pushing my shoulders back, I stride forward, "I'll worry about that later. I have to go ruin a bitch's evil plan first."

He smiles at that.

This chapter made me happy, because I've ridiculously missed writing Kyle and Thea together. Hoped you liked it! Please VOTE and COMMENT.

I am now extremely hungry. Time for lunch!

xxSierraxx