Malikith's ship was like a dream, no, I corrected myself, a nightmare.

The black stone that was carved of reeked of something that felt wrong, it's very presence sending a shiver down my spine. The long, massive craft hummed and whirred in the sky, I could hardly tear my eyes from it long enough to focus on what was about to transpire.
Loki and went into me and Thor's mind and explained the plan in immense detail, how exactly we could use Malikith to rid Jane of the burden of the Aether and destroy it all together. I was the one who proposed we manipulate Malikith to extracting the Reality Stone, on Asgard I told Thor it was the only way to safely take it from Jane's system without permanently damaging her in the process.

And that led to this plan. It was a long shot, but it had to work.

Staring at the waiting Dark Elves at the bottom of the hill, Thor rubbed Jane's shoulders. "Are you ready?" He asked her, she gave a shallow nod, her skin sticky with sweat and skin sickeningly pale. Loki angles his head toward his brother, a small smile playing on his lips, and says, "I am."

And thus our plan commenced.

The three of us simultaneously rose to our feet, I stroked Dygo's hilt, allowing myself to indulge in the comfort it gave me. Loki threw Thor and I a sideways glance. "This plan of yours is going to get us killed," Loki drawled, I couldn't stop my smile at that. "Very likely," I replied at the same time Thor said. "Yes possibly,"

Loki then turned to Thor, holding his bound wrists toward him, indicating he should release him. Thor hesitates, staring at Loki uneasily. Loki sighed, grinning at his brother. "After all of this you still don't trust me?" Loki sneered, Thor glared at him. "Would you?"

Thor reaches forward and released him of his binding, discarding the cuffs without a second thought. I brace myself as Loki rubs his wrist and sighed, a small smile coming to his lips. "No," he sighed. "I wouldn't," Loki whipped toward Thor and drove the dagger through his stomach, Thor grunted, hammer falling from his hand and going rolling down the hill we stood atop. "Thor!" Jane screamed, I unsheathe Dygö, raising it over my head toward Loki and making to drive it down, purposely giving him the opening to my abdomen. A green mist then pins my arms in the air, he stabbed the dagger he wielded into my stomach and I made a show of dropping my sword and falling back, clutching the wound in my stomach. Dirt gathered in my hair as I too rolled toward the bottom of the hill, toward Malikith and his Dark Elves. "No!" Jane cried, stumbling after the man she loves, swaying on her feet and stumbling all the while. Loki stepped over me as he approaches Thor, not even sparing me a second glance as he came toward the writhing blonde. "You think I really cared about Frigga? About any of you?" Loki seethed. I groan in pain, pressing my fingers to the blood that stained my armor. "Loki, please," I choked, blood spilling from my lips, he didn't even glance at me, just continued his act. I expected him to look at me and sneer some maniacal comment, not straight up ignore me, but whatever works for him. As long as this charade fools malakith.

"All I've ever wanted was you and Odin dead at my feet," Loki ground out, a vicious smile on his lips. Thor raises his hands and I heard the whir of Mjolnir being summoned. Loki grabbed his brother's hand, raised his dagger, and cut Thor's hand clean off. I flinched at how realistic it looked, Thor's bellow if pain roared throughout the land as he clutched his arm to his chest, face contorting in agony. "No!" I screamed, trying to stand on my feet but falling back down.

Jane rushes to her lover's side, crying out and grabbing at him, but Loki grabbed her by the torso and slung her forward, gripping her against her side. "Malekith!" He roared as Jane struggled against his unwavering grip, the Dark Elves took a few curious steps, angling their heads at Loki. Our plan seemed to be working by the glint of joy in their eyes. "I am Loki of Jotunheim, and I bring you a gift," he sneered. He pushed Jane to her knees, albeit gently, and whipped his maniacal head toward the Dark qElf is"I only ask for one thing in return- a good seat from which to watch Asgard burn," Loki seethed, the corners of his mouth pulling into an evil grin. It truly bothers me how easily this facade came to him, as if he'd done this a million times before....

The Kursed spoke from beside him, it's gnarled mouth rumbling as it spoke in the tongue of Svartfelheim. "He is an enemy of Asgard, he was a prisoner in their dungeons." The Kursed told Malekith, who then turned his white head toward Jane. He barely spared me a glance as he approached the girl, taking his eyes up and down her body and taking her in. I reined in my snarl, keeping my eyes low and preparing myself for what was about to follow. Malekith then walked toward me and it was an effort not to growl at him, to keep my face a mask of betrayal and agony. His eyes raked over me, surprise and curiosity sparking in those dark pools.

"The daughter of Clove," he hummed, staring down at me. I didn't dare meet his gaze, keeping my head bent down and my fingers itching for the hilt of Dygö. Malekith reached forward and my grunt wasn't faked when he tilted my chin up toward him, staring at me so intently I thought he could see through my soul. He angled his head to the side curiously, squinting at me. "How very interesting," he purred, as if seeing something I couldn't. He turned toward Thor, and I had to refrain from growling when he kicked him to the side, never breaking eye contact with Thor as he held his hand toward Jane.

Jane rose in the air, her back arching as an invisible force held her afloat. I clenched my fists and readied myself for what was about to happen. From her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears the Aether emerged from her. It moved like a serpent, clad in metallic red and black, moving around like water in a bowl or waves on a beach.

As the Aether then stood in the open and Jane fell back to the ground, Thor yelled, "Now, Loki!"

Thor's hand appeared once again and the illusion disappeared, I rose to my feet and Dygö appeared in my hand, and I lashed out toward the Aether with the invisible power in my mind, trying to break it down and destroy it. Lightning attacked the Reality Stone as well as Thor. Loki lunged to protect Jane from the blast of lightning and my telekinesis. It seemed to be working for a moment, I felt it's power weakening under my mental talons, felt it writhe in protest, but then it surged against my power, like a wrecking ball against a brick wall. I cried out and my knees buckled out from under me, but I planted my feet and refused to fall. I pushed harder with my power, flinging my hands forward and trying to break apart the very fabric of its being. Then again it happened, harder this time, slamming against me with more ferocity. I cried out and black spots started forming in my vision, red mist clouding my sight. My feet swayed, and then there was a loud explosion that sent my to my knees. I pulled my power back into myself, the red mist releasing me and allowing me to see again.

I looked around, the smoke of the explosion clearing. Loki was still crouched over Jane, shielding her with his body, our eyes met and he fell back away from Jane: "Are you alright?" He asked me, I nodded, my breathing evening. I stood up, looking at Thor, I was about to say something when the air is knocked out of me.
The fragments of the stone rose from the ground, around my feet the shattered bits floated into the air. My stomach turned leaden as the Aether reappeared, shimmering in all its glory. My fingers curled around the hilt of my sword, shifting my feet in a battle ready position.

"Well, shit,"

The Aether floods through Malekith's arms, attacking his skin and pouring in through his eyes and nose, writhing against his skin. His back arched and his arms spread wide, a vessel of the infinity stone. My knees wavered under me, and I gulped in shock of what happened. Of course it didn't work, it's an infinity stone for Hel's sake. The long tentacles of the Aether then all collapsed into him at once, and his arms came to his sides and his head sunk down. His face slowly titled up, and in his eyes blazed red and black, the potential destruction of the universe in those very eyes. I clenched my teeth, waving my hand so my hair ties neatly into a braid so it would stop whipping around, a golden armored diadem donning my forehead.

Malekith began to walk away, the Kursed and the Dark Elves shifting to protect the leaving Elf. A growl rumbled from the back of my throat and I took a predatory step forward, prowling forward and walking to the side to get a better vantage point. I lunged forward toward the elves in front of the Kursed, sidestepping the one in front of me and slashing them through the torso, sliding to the side and rushing to my feet toward the Kursed.

The Kursed only lazily looked at me, grunting in annoyance. It pulled out a grenade type object, clicking a level, and throwing it toward us. I threw my arms in front of my face, a large bang and a flash of light sounded and I cried out in surprise, feeling my stomach lurch and my body raised. I heard a scream- maybe my own, I wasn't sure- and then hands were pushing me toward the ground. I fell onto my back, throwing my arms out to brace myself. I hissed in pain and my palms sting at the impact, and when I looked up to see what had happened, my heart lurched. A green burst of light and I saw what had happened, Loki stood amidst in the air, shock apparent on his face as he got sucked toward the vortex the grenade had caused. "Loki!" I screamed, panic rising in my chest. I flung my hand out to try and grab his, but in a flash of red Thor soared through the air, colliding with Loki and shoving him from the pull of the vortex. The green material that had almost dragged Loki to his death disappeared, and I stood up and quickly ran to the Loki and Thor. "Are you two alright?" I panted, surprise still taking control of me.

Loki nodded and they both rose, staring at Malekith's ship as it became to whir and power up, ready to take off. "Oh no you don't!" I exclaimed, I took a running  start and leaned through the air, raising my sword and preparing to attack the engine, I heard Thor's hammer hum as it flew through the air as well, but then a wall of magic slammed into me and sent me to the ground.

The three Dark Elves that had stopped me stared at me, porcelain masks and hair stark white against the dark landscape. The blackness in their eyes tore through me and a shiver rolled down my spine. I stared hopelessly at the ship that rose to the endless dark sky, a shimmer rolling over its deep, black exterior, and then it disappeared. I groaned, then faced the Elves. "Let's get this over with,"

-

There were two of the three dark elves remaining, the third one now laying dead on the barren ground. I twirled and struck with my sword, Dygö, searching for any weaknesses in their defenses. I left openings when I attacked, awaiting them to strike those openings and me taking advantage, but after I killed their friend with that technique they weren't falling for it. I had to give them credit for learning. I found the perfect opening and was about to deliver the death blow to one of the elves, when a set of strong hands wrapped around my waist and my mouth, yanking me away from the scene.