Prologue – In Times Past…

Most children played some variant of warriors and princesses, with one child playing the hero, another the damsel and the unlucky one who got to play the villain.

But on the beach in Vanaheim, close to the royal palace, two children, a boy and a girl, simply sat crossed-legged facing one another, their hands resting on top of the other's and a flat stone between them. Both children had their eyes closed in concentration, and the stone between them began to twitch. Both faces puckered in further concentration and the stone twitched more before levitating about a centimeter off the ground.

It only lasted a moment before the stone crashed back in the sand again.

The boy, who was tall for his age but lacking in the visible strength held in high regard in the realm of Asgard, ripped his hands away, disgusted. He glared at his companion, "You have to concentrate."

The girl, who was already beginning to show signs of the loveliness she'd possess as a grown goddess, glared back. A slight whine entered her voice as she answered back, "I'm trying."

The boy's scowl only grew. He growled, "Well, try harder." He held his hands out once more. "Again."

She folded her arms. "No. I'm tired of this game."

He inclined his head, looking at her curiously. "I thought you wanted me to teach you magic?"

A pout consumed her pretty features. "It's too hard."

He held in a sigh, acting much older than his true age. "It's magic – it's supposed to be hard."

She remained steadfast. "Well, I don't want to do it anymore."

"Well, I do." He folded his arms as well, acting like the spoiled boy he really was. He held his head higher. "And I'm a prince, so you have to do as I say."

She bit back, "I'm a princess and don't have to listen to you."

"Asgrad rules over Vanaheim, so you do too."

"But you're in my kingdom."

"As a guest, so we should do what I want."

She stood up. "I'll leave."

The boy took a deep breath. He hated to lose. "Fine. What do you want to do?"

She smiled and sat back down. "I don't know. You always have a plan."

The boy grinned mischievously, which the girl noticed was a comfortable look on him. She leaned toward him; excited for whatever trouble he was about to involve her in. He leaned in so that his face was close to hers, but before he could speak there was a loud crash in the far off palace. Neither child could hear them, but there was surely shouting and cursing, and both could guess who was getting the blame.

The girl turned serious, "You'd better run."

The boy nodded, but before taking off he took advantage of the girl's closeness and went ahead with the plan he'd formed earlier. He leaned forward quickly, softly taking one of her hands in his and stealing his first kiss from her lips. It was a quick, chaste thing, but when he pulled back he grinned as though he knew what she looked like naked. Before she could decide between blushing in embarrassment or yelling in anger, he was gone.

She brought the hand he'd held to her chest, keeping it delicately closed.

It was for the best, as the girl's mother appeared only moments later, storming towards her on the beach. The girl stood up to face the mess her friend had caused. She took in her mother's usual perfect appearance, along with her fury, as she seemed to be covered in some wet, sticky substance. It smelled foul. And the girl had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing.

The beautiful woman wasted no time, "Sigyn, where is Loki? Where is that little monster?"

The little girl, Sigyn, frowned, "I don't know, and he's not a monster."

The mother, Freya, continued to yell, "That boy," she spit the word, "is most certainly a monster. And I would forbid you from ever seeing him again if your grandfather wasn't so insistent that we build a strong alliance with Odin and his children."

Sigyn worried at her mother's words. She didn't want to lose her friend. She hunched her shoulders and appeared to become pliable to her mother's wishes. She was glad Loki had taught her to lie as well, "He'll be good."

Her mother only looked angrier at her daughter's words. She knew better than to go looking for the boy, when he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't be. He had to come back sometime. She turned, whipping her cloak in an elegant fashion behind her, "Come."

Sigyn hesitated following her mother back home. She turned to the ocean and brought her hand from her chest to study the flower Loki had left in her hand when he'd kissed her. It was a small purple (her favorite color) blossom. She loved it, but knew it would only anger her mother further. So she took a deep breath and concentrated for a moment.

She was pleased when she opened them again to be holding instead a purple butterfly. It paused for a moment, before it took off with fluttering wings.

Sigyn ran to catch up with her mother.