The ceremony was almost exactly like the one Loki remembered from a few months earlier, with some key differences. Odin still stood by the throne in full battle regalia, Frigga and the Warriors still stood on the stairs leading up to the dais, and the people of Asgard still filled the hall nearly to bursting, their screams and cheers filling the air with excitement. Jane, however, now stood where once he himself had stood, and he stood beside his brother in the center of the throne room. Thor, of course, was drinking it all in. He held Mjolnir aloft, his smile so bright it seemed to glow. Loki was much more subdued, but his eyes were shining and he held his head high. He was proud to be standing here beside his brother. At least, he started out that way. As the roar of the people intensified, though, so did the apprehension in his stomach. Before he realized what was happening, the old doubts closed in, building up inside his head. He wanted out. He wanted to be back in his room, by himself, back—suddenly, he felt Thor's mental presence sweep into his own mind, surrounding him like a warm breeze and supporting him like a stone wall.

Smile, Brother. Today is a day for rejoicing. Loki realized his hands were clenched in front of him and made a conscious effort to relax them.

Thor…I don't belong here. I'm tired of pretending. Thor actually laughed aloud.

You have got to be kidding me! You, the Trickster, tired of pretending? Loki, you've gotten so good at lying you've begun lying to yourself. Loki glanced over at Thor is surprise.

What…? He had to stop and think. Tired of pretending? Thor was right. He was good at pretense, and enjoyed being good at it. So what was really the problem here?

Loki, you're afraid that we're just repeating bygone mistakes, aren't you? This isn't like last time I almost became king, nor like the time you almost became king. I'm no longer the warmonger I was, and you are no longer scheming in the shadows. I promise you, this is a new start for both of us. You are up to this task, my brother. We're not alone this time. We have each other, now and forever. Stop hiding in the past. Join me in the future. Loki glanced down at the polished stone floor and smirked.

Thor, please, do allow me to figure some things out for myself, won't you?

I tried doing that, and you figured things out all wrong. Your solution involved genocide and a lot of running and hiding. Not so effective, little brother.

Little brother? May I remind you that I'm a Frost Giant? Surely even you know the definition of Giant.

May I remind you that I'm the Mighty Thor? Doesn't get any bigger than that.

Ox brain.

Bookworm. Loki realized that he had completely relaxed again, and was even starting to enjoy himself. It was a good sign. Odin drove the end of his staff into the ground, causing a hollow ring to echo through the throne room. The roar of the crowd died down into silence.

"My sons!" Odin shouted. "The long awaited time has come to the Nine Realms at last. Many years have I served Asgard and its people, but the time is now come to pass on the burden to you." Thor and Loki both dropped to one knee, removing their helmets and placing them on the floor in front of them. "For the first time in remembered history, the crown of Asgard shall be shared equally between two. Thor, you shall represent the strength of the kingdom, whose arm and hammer shall ever be ready to defend and equally ready to build. Loki, your arts shall stand for the intelligence of our people, and your schemes and tactics shall be used to outsmart all of Asgard's enemies and devise the cleverest way to lead her into the future. Together, your brotherhood shall represent the unity of the people and the bond that holds the Nine Realms together!" The crowd erupted in cheering again.

Long-winded as ever, the Allfather, Thor said cheekily.

Will you stop abusing the Mind Link already! Loki quipped back. If Father could hear you, he'd have your head.

Well, good thing he can't, then! Loki sighed. Thor suddenly became quiet.

Loki…I'm proud of you, brother. You've come a long way.

We've come a long way, you mean. I'm proud of you, too.

"Thor, Loki," Odin continued, "The time is now." It became so quiet in the room that one could have heard a snowflake fall. "Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?" Thor nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

"I so swear!" Loki hesitated only a moment before adding his quieter proclamation to Thor's.

"I so swear."

"Do you swear to preserve the peace?""

"I swear!"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition for the good of the Realm?"

"I swear!" Thor cried, without hesitation. Loki took a deep breath and met Odin's one-eyed, stern gaze. Cast aside his selfish ambition? There was a time where he didn't think we he was capable of such a thing. There was a time when he had nothing but his ambition keeping him alive. But now…now he had someone else to live for beside himself. This was a new beginning. He was excited for it, even. It was time leave the shadows.

"I swear!" he cried, quieter than Thor but louder than he had ever cried before.

"Then this day, I, Odin Allfather, pronounce you both Kings of Asgard and the Nine Realms!" The cheering that erupted was almost deafening. Thor rose smoothly to his feet before offering Loki a hand up. Loki couldn't believe how much had changed in such a short period of time. The people he had spent so long hating were now cheering for him, the brother he had rejected and hated for so long was now standing beside him as he equal and as his friend. It was a very good day indeed. Surrounded by his family—whom he realized were truly his family—and his friends, Loki couldn't remember a time he had been happier. A new era had begun in the Nine Realms, and Loki intended to enjoy every moment of it.

That was a lovely ceremony, Loki said to his brother, since the roar of the crowd was still far too great to try and get a word in edgewise. Jane had made it down the dais and was now standing beside Thor, her smile almost as brilliant as Thor's.

Wasn't it just? It will be good to rule beside you, Loki. Loki smiled.

Just make sure I'm not chasing after you and your wild schemes all the time.

Ah, but anything less would be no fun!

But of course. His brother was predictable, but Loki wouldn't have him any other way. Time to celebrate, brother?

TIME TO CELEBRATE! Thor's mental cry was still ringing in his ears as they all began to move out of the throne room towards the banquet hall, where without a doubt a veritable feast was waiting for them. Yes, it was a very good day. Maybe he'd even bring Hyrrson back a bone. The very idea made Loki laugh aloud, and Thor joined in without even knowing why. Loki wasn't surprised though, because Thor was his brother after all, and that's just what brothers do.

~Fin~