Chapter Thirty- Seven: A Reality of our own

*Many Years Ago*

The young Princess of Vanaheim was currently sitting in the palace gardens, one of her favourite places in the entire terrains of her birthplace. The garden was surrounded by occult powers that she had created with the help of her mother.

"Sweetheart, what are doing out here?" the youthful Princess raises her head at the sound of a familiar voice.

"I'm in my safe place, mother," the Princess informs the older woman as she approaches the young Princess, walking with grace.

Pride shines in the Queen's eyes as studies the blue shimmering birds flying next to her daughter.

"You know, magic isn't entirely frowned upon in this kingdom," the Queen reassures her daughter as she lifts her hand, a light lilac butterfly appearing in her hand lightly fluttering its wings.

The Princess stares at her mother's palm, an excited gleam in her eyes as they land on the small mystic insect.

"You have to teach me that one!" the Princess cheers out in excitement, mesmerised by her mother's power.

"And I will, but first we must address why I came looking for you," the Queen states as she takes a seat beside the young Princess on the stone bench.

"Do we have to? Can we not just avoid it?" the Princess whines, lightly tugging on the dark blue dress she was wearing. Her mother chuckles lightly and places her left arm around her daughter's shoulders and hugs her tightly.

"We cannot avoid the inevitable, my Leilani," her mother says softly placing a gentle kiss to the side of her daughter's head.

"Does Vanahiem really need to take part in this alliance?" Leilani complains, sulking a little.

The Queen sighs at her young daughter's antics. Leilani was only a young child, a beautiful girl with honey-gold locks and bright eyes. She was a gentle, loving and intelligent girl who knew her rights and responsibilities. Leilani never backed away from a fight, she was too stubborn in nature and her talents for the mystic arts were to be admired.

"Borr is struggling enough to keep the Nine Realms at peace, my flower. With this alliance, we will be protecting another planet from harm and helping Asgard sustain peace," the Queen explains as her young daughter raises her brow.

"Come now, mother. When Odin is King we will not need to make alliances, he will have the power to keep the peace himself without Asgard needing any help from us," Leilani says smugly remembering back to the brief chats she had with the older Asgardian Prince when she and her mother would visit.

"Then why don't marry him?" the Queen jests as her daughter scrunches her face up in disgust.

"Me and Odin? Are you joking mother?! I would kill the stubborn boy!" the Princess shouts in shock, pushing her mother away.

"Besides, I don't need a man to make me feel protected, I already am powerful," the young Princess stands to her feet hitting her chest lightly, her head tilted proudly.

Leilani would definitely become a strong Queen in the future.

*****

The grass was luscious beneath their feet as they walked across the new land they had arrived on.

"A'lar's did tell me this place was beautiful," the Queen mumbles under her breath staring in awe at the place.

"This place will be overpopulated in years to come, there will be no more beauty after that," Leilani says as she studies the planet watching as crowds of people rush around happily.

"Did you guess that or did your gift tell you that?" the Queen questions curiously as Leilani looks away from her mother with shame.

"As I walk this land, all I see is the fire-red dead grass, dust surrounding the fields, the planet is extinct and there's only one survivor, the person who predicted what was to come," Leilani replies, her eyes staring at the floor as they glaze over.

Leilani was born with a curse.

Some would call her a Vaticinator commonly known as a Seer as she was able to see glimpses of the future. Her magic may not have been feared, but the young Princess knew that if her kingdom found out what she was, they would be afraid of her.

Maybe that was why in the years to come when she had her child, she ensured that no one would judge them for their own curse.

A curse she regrettably knew was of her own doing.

"And that's why this alliance needs to take place, without Vanahiem's help, this planet will be poor and its people dead," the Queen explains as she takes her daughter's hand, attempting to reassure her worries.

"And you dare call me pessimistic," Leilani jokes with a small smile on her face.

"What are they like, the Royal family?" the Princess asks as they walk over to a large building which she believed to be the planets palace.

"They are a kind-spirited family, although their son is a little misunderstood, he is judged because he is different," the Queen explains as the young girl sighs, briefly closing her eyes.

"I get it... become his friend and blah blah blah..."

*****

The young Princess walked among the hallways of the palace as she went to find the young Prince her mother told her about. Leilani knew that for this alliance to work, there had to be a strong connection between her family and this one, and she was going to make this happen.

Stepping outside, the Princess walks into the gardens and is taken back by the attraction of many of the flowers and trees that covered the small piece of land. A small smile appears on her face as she studies the plants and wildlife, this planet's architecture was not so different from her own.

As she looks around, she feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand on edge. Her small right-hand attaches itself to the double-bladed weapon with a red jewel in the centre. Just as she senses someone getting closer she attacks.

Twisting her body, the Princess grabs ahold of the individual's shoulder and pushes them onto the ground, placing herself on their torso with the blade aimed at their throat.

"You dare sneak up on me?!" the Princess hisses with malice as she glares at the figure underneath her.

"Believe me or not, that was not my intention at all, I just wanted to know who was the young girl that found herself in my garden," the figure underneath her replies.

Leilani was trained by the guards back in Vanahiem on how to defend herself in battle, she had requested it personally as if she was one day going to become the Queen, she would need to be able to protect her realm.

The girl studies the older looking boy who was beneath her and her eyes slightly widened at the purple hint his skin showed, he was not like the others on this planet, he was different.

"You can remove your weapon from my throat, I will not harm you," the boy instructs as Leilani reluctantly removes the two-sided blade and retracts the blades with a press of a button.

Hesitantly, she stands to her feet and stares as the boy stands up brushing his clothes from the dirt that had collected on them.

"That blade is unique, it has two blades to keep the weapon balanced, not too heavy, and not too light, it's balanced," the boy comments studying the blades as the Princess places it back in its hiding place, shielding it from his view.

"As all things should be," the Princess replies smugly with a brow raised.

"You believe in balance?" the boy questions a little shock showing through his voice, he had never met someone who shared similar views to himself.

"When there is life, there is death. Without either nothing would prosper, life would be limitless... irrelevant. There always has to be a balance of some kind. Survival induces evolution and creativity amongst people, and knowing we are all eventually going to die, it means we make our lives worthwhile, to be remembered," the girl explains softly shrugging her shoulders, her eyes not moving from the boy.

"No one ever thinks like that around here," the boy comments sadly as the Princess takes a curious step forward.

"Why?" she questions which fascinate the boy. He liked that this girl he had just met was both intelligent and curious.

"My people derive from the Celestials, the living Gods themselves, life to us, though peaceful, is limitless," he explains as the Princess nods her head.

"If my people don't change their minds about their lives, they will soon learn that we won't live much longer, starvation, hunger, and death will plague us all," the boy mutters, his eyes tearing away from the girl.

"Exactly as I saw..." the Princess mumbles under her breath staring at the boy in wonder.

"You're very philosophical for a little being," the boy expresses as she watches the Princess' eyes harden with that statement.

"Do not judge me on my age. Just because I am young does not mean I am not intelligent," the girl spits, a small blue light beginning to appear in her palm.

"I apologise, it's just that I have no met someone on my planet who views the world as I do," the boy says with an apologetic look. The Princess offers the boy a small smile but before she could answer him a familiar voice calls her name.

"Leilani, there you are!" the Princess turns her head to see her mother walking towards her with a smile on her face.

"Wait, Leilani, as in Princess-" the boy begins to say in wonder as the Queen hugs her daughter giving her a light kiss on the forehead.

"It seems as though you have met the Prince..."

*****

*Present Time*

*Katrina*

"I do not remember anything after calling your name. All I remember of that day is that I lost both you and your mother. You running back inside of the palace was the last thing I saw before darkness," my father explains as we all take a sip of the drinks he made us, all expect Killian who politely declined.

"I ran following mother's voice, she was calling me to come and find her... it was too late when I found out that it wasn't her voice calling me out..." I explain my voice stuttering towards the end of my statement due to flashbacks of that day playing in front of my eyes.

"She died trying to protect me... shortly afterwards I was kidnapped and locked in a cell. I became the prisoner of Laufey, King of the frost giants on Jotunhiem for a while..." I continue taking a sip of the hot liquid he had given me.

"Nearly every day that I was kept on that frozen wasteland I was reminded of my failure of protecting mother, of protecting you," I whisper as Killian places his hand gently on my knee, rubbing small soothing circles into my leg.

"It was never your fault, remember that Katrina," my father reassures me as he watches Killian closely.

"Then I was rescued by the two Princes of Asgard and their companions. They took me to Asgard where I lived for a while under the keen eye of Odin... until..." I begin to explain as my head feels a little fuzzy.

"You don't need to explain anymore of your life to me, Katrina," my father says trying to comfort me.

"A year I was kept by him... a year until my escape..." I mumble under my breath, my hairs standing up at just the mere memory of what I did under his orders.

"Do you have a bathroom I could use?" Killian asks out of the blue looking at my father, managing to snap me out of the trance I had put myself into.

"Down the hall, to the left," my father says with a small smile. Killian nods his head before standing to his feet. He walks past me lightly brushing my shoulder.

"Do you remember how you ended up here in Norway at all?" I question softly, changing the subject as I clear my throat.

"I've already told you all that I know," my father says sadly taking my hands in his.

"Kat, maybe don't ask your father too many questions. His memories have been altered so it must be hard for him," Tristian suggests as my eyes adjust to him, only now had I noticed he hadn't touched the tea either.

"Are you not going to have a drink of your tea?" I question Tristian as he shakes his head. His vision was focussed outside of the window he was stood in front of.

"I'm not thirsty," he mutters to himself, not turning to look at me. I put the cup down on the coffee table in front of me and stare at the contents... something wasn't right...

"Tell about that year... the year you were with him," my father asks out of the blue, changing the subject.

My brows raise as I lift my head in confusion and stare at him.

"What are you-" I begin to say, my words getting twisted on my tongue.

"You were telling me about the year you were kept captive by him. You did things for him, unspeakable things... gruesome things... tell me what it was like..." my father trails off as I lick my bottom lip nervously.

"I never said I did anything unspeakable or gruesome," I state turning to look at Tristian who was ignoring the pair of us.

"Come now, little tigress, tell me what you know," my father urges.

I feel my body physically freeze as my head begins to feel heavy.

Previously, when my father called me that name I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me.

"What did you just call me?" I ask, beginning to stand to my feet in trepidation.

"What? Little tigress?" my father repeats the name, not realising the fear it installed within my mind.

"Why do you keep repeating that name?" I continue to question, dread beginning to pool in my stomach.

"Tell me about that year, daughter, I want to know what brilliance he did," my father states standing to his feet as my eyes widen.

"You're not my father," I breathe out in fright as I take a step back looking over to Tristian who doesn't move a muscle.

"Who are you?!" I spit out as I try to move back again but fail to do so.

A cold sensation travels around my feet as my body begins to tremble. Panic installs in my body as I look down at my feet and notice thick-ice has moulded around my body preventing me from moving.

"What the..." I mumble to myself and look up to see my father has vanished.

...

"Killian?!" I shout in panic as I try to break the ice. When I get no response, I look around and notice that Tristian has also vanished.

...

"KILLIAN?!" I yell out as I continue to dislodge the ice. Tears begin to surround my eyes as I clutch my head in agony and let out a painful moan.

...

"Reality can be disappointing, can't it?" I lift my head and see Tristian staring at me with a small sad smile on his face.

"Tristian?! Where's Killian? We need to get out of here and I'm stuck! We were tricked to come here, we're not safe! We need to find Killian and return to Vanahiem as quickly as possible!" I ramble over my words as panic continues to run through my veins.

"I can practically hear the racing your heart over here," he jokes with a smirk on his face as he takes a step towards me.

"Help me, please! We have to find Killian! Something is wrong! I don't think that man was my father and-" my rambling is stopped when I notice Tristian look at his fingers, a red glow emits from his hand.

It had all been a lie...

"If you want, I can bring Killian and your father here to you, all you have to do is ask and you shall receive," Tristian states, however, my focus is on the red veins which travel up his arms.

"H-how did you get that?... It was on Knowhere..." I ask as my eyes widen in fright.

"Thor got his friends to take it away, so it was safe... how the hell did you manage to get it?" I murmur in confusion as I stare at the Tristian who was admiring himself.

"I visited an old friend of mine, the Collector, on my journey to Vanahiem, he was rather resistant to give me what I wanted," Tristian explains shrugging his shoulders as he watches the red energy float between his fingers.

"So I simply manipulated his mind," he finalises looking over at me with a smirk on his face.

This was all for nothing...

"Do you even know what power you hold in your hands?" I ask in horror staring at him.

"Well, maybe not as much as you... considering you are the expert," Tristian mocks as I try to pull my feet out of the ice using my magic, but nothing works.

"What have you done?" I interrogate angrily as he chuckles at my struggle.

He walks towards me with humour laced eyes until he is centimetres away from my form. Lifting his hand in the air, he places it on my cheek softly as I feel raw energy try to enter my mind.

"You're blocking your thoughts out again, stop. The more you struggle, the harder it will be for you to understand," he demands, grasping my cheek tightly in his hand,

Wincing in pain, I watch as he waves his other hand in the air the perception of reality changes.

The home around us vanished, leaving nothing more than us both back on the coast of Norway. I glance around as the wind blows in my face, my eyes targeting on the two figures laying on the floor unconscious.

"Killian! Father!" I exclaim in fright, struggling to get out of the deranged Prince's grip.

"The dog was smarter than I imagined, I knocked him out when went investigating. Your father, however, well, he wasn't happy to see me and put up quite the fight," he begins to explain as I stare down at my bruised father, tears collecting in my eyes.

"I thought about putting him a cage, so you should thank me for my kindness," Tristian comments as I attempt to push him away from me in anger.

"Why are you doing this?! What did I ever do to you?!" I shout, my eyes lightening in anger as my words come out in wild snarls.

"As children, you were always the perceptive one, although, you lacked the vision I saw, so I knew my plan had to be something you would never suspect. Your family were always your weakness Katrina," he mentions with a thoughtful look.

"I had to get you to let your guard down long enough so you wouldn't suspect anything, that's why I sent you on this wild goose chase," he comments as he chuckles shrugging his shoulders.

My body stops, my mind stopping in its function, the capacity to speak leaving my body.

"What have you done?.." I mutter, lifting my head to face him.

"My job was to find the reality stone and deliver it and one more item in exchange for Vanahiem," he explains softly in my ear.

"What was the other item?!" I ask, my voice was barely audible.

"You..." he whispers as tears roll down my face as everything as reality crashes down on me.

"I think the tea is finally kicking in, you're already weakening," he comments brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

The pain in my head intensified as I cried out. My tear burned my skin as they escaped my eyes.

"Shush, my love, it's okay. I'll make the pain stop, I'll make it go away," Tristian mummers gently, wiping his thumbs against my cheeks.

"I think you deserve a nap after this tiring day, don't you think?" he asks as my body begins to hyperventilate. Tristian nods to himself, smiling as he places his hands on either side of my head.

"This reality can be yours as well if you stop fighting," he whispers as my eyes begin to feel heavy. The ice at my feet melts away making me stumble back.

"Just sleep and I'll be here when you awaken, I promise," he finally says as my body tumbles into darkness.

*****

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty, wake up," a voice calls as I feel my head rock a little, my eyes refusing to open.

"Katrina it's time to wake up now... you don't want to disappoint me," the voice continues as I groan, my eyes now deciding to work.

"That's it, open those lovely eyes of yours," the voice says as my vision becomes clearer.

"Hello, Katrina."

A scream leaves my lips as I stare at the man I had feared finding me after all this time.

"Impossible..." I whisper fear sending me into hyperventilation.

"Did you really think you could escape me for that long?"

...

...

"Thanos..."