Hello! I'm so sorry for the late update, I simply don't have any time to spare right now and the next chapter probably won't be up until september. But thank you again for the reviews/favs/follows and so on. I hope you enjoy the chapter (which was admittedly written at one in the morning, so I am not that proud of it, in fact, I will probably re-write it if I have enough time...)

Tony POV:

I know I said I was starting to hate darkness, but I was beginning to reconsider that statement, as bright light suddenly assaulted my senses. I scrunched my eyes shut and covered them with my hand. Soon enough, the feeling of someone trying to rip my head open subsided and I slowly opened my eyes.

I was gaping again. Some part of me was amused at how not-me I was acting. The other part (that sounded suspiciously like Loki's drawl) was telling me to please shut that mouth before you catch flies Stark, so listen I did and tried to compose myself. I was interrupted from my musings when Bruce started talking.

"This is… what is this place?"

The picture-perfect site in front of us truly was an eye-candy. Tall, gold towers were stretching to the sky (hey, how much do you think one of these costs?), there were some sort of anti-gravity thingies floating nearby and I had a strong urge to go and see how they work and damn, I so want one. I turned my head to the right, and was that a rainbow walkway there in the distance? Why I never…

"Uhhh….I don't think its Narnia, but uh, maybe magical pony land?" I offered.

Bruce snickered and Steve just looked confused. I looked around again and finally spotted someone (a kid?) near one of the abandoned hallways.

"Oh hey guys, look, I think I see someone."

Just as I said that, the little mop of black hair ran further ahead and disappeared behind a golden pillar. Before I knew what I was doing I was already following him and ran to the direction of what appeared to be some sort of palace. Bruce and Steve were quick to follow and soon we were trying to keep up with one lively mop of black and green (and doesn't that just scream Loki to you).

It took a while, but we finally caught up with him and stopped at a large garden in the middle of the palace. There were some benches in front of us, where the little guy was now sitting. Only when we got closer I noticed a large book in his hands. He seemed completely absorbed into the worn out pages, reading the thing like it was the most interesting thing in the universe. Which to him, it probably was, even though he couldn't have been more than five at the looks of it.

His face suddenly scrunched up in what looked like confusion and I felt my lips twitch, 'cus damn if that wasn't adorable (hey, I am man enough to admit it). I so wish I had a camera or something. When we get back (and I hope to god that somehow we will) I'm so going to use this as a blackmail material on the little leach. Huh, maybe something good will come out of this after all.

In the distance, shouts could be heard, and about four sets of footsteps soon followed the voices. Kid Loki suddenly looked up, wide-eyed and groaned. I guess whoever is coming isn't on the trickster's 'invite to the party' list. The voices were coming closer now and Loki reluctantly closed the book.

"Brother!"

Oh, yeah, now everything makes more sense. I silently watched as little Thor came running toward the benches, followed closely by another three children. One was blond, who was slightly out of breath, muttering something or other which I couldn't quite hear, the other was a bit smaller, with dark, long hair and looking like he never heard of a thing called emotions before, and the third one…

Steve and Bruce looked at me oddly when I couldn't keep in my snort, which in my defense, I did try to cover up with a cough, but not quite succeeding.

"Tony?"

Okay, so it's not really my thing to make fun of children, because that is just wrong, but that, that was not a child. My eyes darted to the red-head again and my mouth twitched, and I swear it was not my intention, but soon I was biting my cheek in order to keep quiet, and fuck it, you know how it is, the more wrong it is to laugh, the funnier it becomes, right? So yeah, totally not my fault.

Bruce and Steve soon connected the dots, and I swear Steve's glare was pealing the skin of my face with its intensity but fuck if I cared. This was just too hilarious and my resolve totally broke and I was laughing hysterically pointing at the whale in front of me (because I will not call that thing a kid, and just what is his mother feeding him?).

"Tony! How dare you!" Rogers was fuming right beside me and man, if looks could kill...

I calmed down enough to gasp out: "Oh come on Steve, did you see this monstrosity? I mean how many times a day do they feed it?"

"It's not an it Tony! He's just a bit chubby!"

"A bit chubby? Are we looking at the same thing here? He looks like a balloon on legs Steve!"

Rogers turned away with a huff, but I could totally see he tried to cover up a laugh himself. Or at least a humorous thought. Or well, something of the sort. Bruce just looked from one side to another, like he couldn't decide whether to be disappointed in me, or start laughing along, but in the end decided not to react at all as he does most of the time. I don't know how he does it. I have to make a mental note to get the guy to relax more. No, not relax; shit, any more relaxing and he'll slip into a coma. Fun, that's what he needs, lots and lots of fun.

We were suddenly interrupted by a loud exclamation.

"Come join us, mine brother, for we are discovering the mysteries of the woods today!"

Shakespeare in the park again, joy.

For a split second Loki looked absolutely murderous, and shit,that look should not be present on a face of a five year old, (and aren't kids supposed to be all happy-like and swooning over toys and playing and not looking like they knew how to kill a person with a spoon?) but then again, after that split second, he smiled almost sweetly at Thor and I can't really decide what's worse.

"It indeed sounds very interesting Thor, but all the same, I unfortunately must decline that offer, you see, I have just acquired this lovely book when I was visiting the library this morn and..."

He was interrupted by a snort coming from the little blond on my right. Loki just turned to face him and didn't lose an ion of his composed façade.

"Is there something the matter, Fandral?"

"Again with the books Loki? Could you be more vain?"

Ooooh, there it was, Loki's mouth twitching at the corners. Nice to see and have proof that even Loki wasn't born perfect, because yeah, that gives me some more things to use against him in the future and ever the opportunist I am, this is gold. If I wasn't a good guy, I would totally do the super villain laugh right now.

"Vain? Now please Fandral, just because you are too stupid to read a picture-book, doesn't mean the rest of us can't appreciate good and educational literature that will one day actually help us in our lives."

Fandral scowled. "Hmph, you are the stupid one."

"Is that the best you can come up with? Your mother must be so proud. Maybe you should brush up on your rhetorics instead of pointing out other's –in your humble opinion- flaws."

I snorted, even as a kid Loki was an asshole. And then Thor laughed and slapped Loki on the back.

"Don't be so mean Loki, I know you want to come along-

"No Thor, I really don't-

"Besides we are going to try and capture a bilgesnipe-

"Well then, even more reason not to go, don't you think?-

"Ah brother, don't be scared-

"Thor if that bilgesnipe won't kill you, I will-

"I know you would join me in my quest brother, and you can prove your-

"All right that's enough! I will come along, if you stop pestering me!"

"I knew you would come to your senses brother!"

And damn if that wasn't the biggest shit eating grin I ever saw on Thor's face. Although it was kind of funny in a way. I could actually see a vein pulsating on trickster's forehead. He sighed and did a little trick where he vanished the book into thin air, and I was not even a little impressed. Not a bit.

Then he got up and followed Thor and his enthusiastic friends.

Normal POV:

Five children were making their way to the edge of the mighty kingdom, when they were stopped by a young female voice.

"Prince Thor!"

The boys turned around, to see a golden haired girl running in their direction.

"Another one of your admirers, Thor?" Wondered the blond boy who went by the name Fandral.

Thor laughed, it's not like it had never happened before. They waited for the maiden to catch up to them before Fandral spoke once again.

"What is a fair lady like yourself doing so far out the safety of home?"

The dark haired prince couldn't help but role his eyes at the stupidity of Thor's friend. He would absolutely not acknowledge these fools for his friends. No, Loki was better than that, better than them. He had no reason to stay in the company of such idiots, except for his brother, who he admittedly loved and looked up to, no matter how much he denied it.

Now more than ever he missed his older brother, craved the safety and love he received before these fools came and took Thor to all these adventures, when before he would play with Loki, show him how to shoot a bow or played with him in the gardens. And while he felt resentment toward the warriors, he would never dare voice his thoughts. He was now a few decades old, and he should stop acting like a child, for only a child needed constant attention of his family and Loki hated being dependent on anyone.

With that last fleeting thought he turned his attention back to the scene in front of him.

The girl frowned, dismissed the blond charmer and turned towards the crown prince of Asgard. She slightly bowed her head and spoke.

"Prince Thor, I came here since I heard you were going on another exploration and wanted to join you."

The other children looked befouled at the exclamation and even Loki couldn't help the widening of his eyes. Then the red-headed boy, Volstag, laughed. "You would join us?" He taunted. "Why you are just a girl!"

The maiden growled and her head snapped in the bigger child's direction. "Do not look down on me just because I am a woman! I am of Asgard and female or not I am born to be a warrior."

Volstag looked taken aback and Loki could silently admit to himself that the golden girl seemed quite interesting. Then Thor stepped forward and looked the maiden in the eye.

"Forgive us young lady. Tell us, what is your name?"

"I go by the name Sif my prince." She answered.

"Well lady sif, today we are going to visit the woods of Asgard. There you can prove your willingness to become a worthy warrior."

With that last retort the children headed into the majestic looking forest at the edge of the golden kingdom.

TBC...