Chapter Text
"Quick, painless, scary, inevitable. Just a few words that describe death, the sheer concept that we can go at anytime and anywhere can be a motivator to the fearless. Some spend their lives paranoid by its overwhelming force and let the concept take over them, but all these people have one thing In common, accepting death as fate. The end to all, a harbinger of sorts, and to that I say, fuck fate."
Hel, Region of Niflheim
Hel, a cold an barren wasteland complementing the chilling presence of Niflheim surrounding it. A place known to host the felled spirits that failed to reach the gates of Vahalla, Consisting of the less valiant and darkened souls that wasted their lives.
Up in the clouds a glowing spark charged down like a shooting star into the empty world, crashing into a small hill, from the smoke of the impact emerged a young man. He groaned feeling an aching pain in his head from the fall, the headache lead to a panicked realization that he was even alive.
The man took some time to calm himself and looked to the surroundings of this world, he stood up noticing the dune like hills spread out for miles. Endless sand that would light up like silver when Niflheim's moon rose for the night, and wilted roots with petals sticking out out of the ground. He felt a feeling of emptiness having ended up in a place like this, after everything that's been handed to him this is what life has destined him for, to be alone roaming Hel. No, not like this! The man refuses to be bound with uncertainty, his hands began to glow with green light forming out like flaming sparks and charging up huge energy, surging through hus veins like never before.
"It'd be futile to even try, but go on I'd love to see a display of some real magic."
The man stopped for a moment at the feminine voice behind him, it sounded familiar. He couldn't put his finger on why but it reminded him of a recent memory, one in flames and destruction. The feeling of something once held important to him gone in a painful experience, wait....no, it can't be. As the man turned to acknowledge whoever had joined him he saw a woman in a black bodysuit riddled with green patterns sitting in a thorned throne covered in wilting flowers and charred bones. Her pale skin accompanied with the flowing black hair sent everything rushing back into the man's mind, those green seering eyes looking down upon him sent off the feeling of judgement in a way, like she had been expecting more.
"To think that I'd cross paths again with you, Hela.."
"Oh what a suprise it is to be in your presence dear brother, Loki is what many of those people address by correct."
The goddess bore a huge grin, Loki stood on alert conjuring his magic yet again. If he was doomed to spend an eternity in Hel then let it not be at the mercy of his crazy wretch of a sister. Their first meeting wasn't exactly pleasant and that lead to the destruction of his home of Asgard, so the least he can do is fight back. Hela rose from the throne and manifested a horned helmet while creating her necroswords.
"You know it's been a while since I've been able to clash with anyone worth my time, at least it seems that I've found a capable opponent."
The goddess announced in anticipation, she leaped towards her younger sibling ready for a big duel, Loki would rush in as well but with the hope of surviving this run-in with Hela. What a way to be brought back into the universe.
----
And with that a storm had begun in this dead of night.
Loki was sent flying through four mountains by his sisters blade being launched into his torso, no major damage was sustained as the god used his magic to throw various rubble in Hela's direction, the deadly warrior easily disposed of them while soaring at her brother, Loki stared in awe at her brute strength, she was stated to be in leagues with Odin but this is just ridiculous. Fine, if that's how this is gonna be then maybe i should go out so well
He thought.
"Let's us begin!" Loki exclamined, he held up his fists as green energy and surges surrounded them.
Hela smirked, anticipating the duel
"That's the spirit!"
The goddess of death soared in Loki's direction and to throw her off Loki started releasing blasts of energy, he ran the opposite direction so most of his trajectory was off but he kept his ground. She finally caught up to her brother and tried swinging out him with her axe, Hela ended up striking the ground revealing her target to be an illusion and that loki was above her ready to deliver a downward kick imbued with magic, Hela couldn't dodge this due to the previous attack catching her off guard and the kick sent her into the ground. While the goddess was disappointed with herself she had to admit her brother was pretty resourceful with his planning.
Loki leaped away from Hela while keeping his guard up, this was going to be a difficult battle if he didn't think straight. Usually in a situation like this he'd escape any trouble but no more, perhaps incorporate that with your fighting the god thought.
The goddess chuckled while lying in the tiny crater, how fun it was to actually have an opponent to keep up with. Loki jumped off the ground and levitated into the sky, even if he got the upper hand things could only get worse with his sister around. Got to find a way off this realm he thought.
Unfortunately for him his luck would fall short as Hela was right on his tail wielding fiery necroswords in hand, oh well..suit yourself. Loki charged a huge amount of magical energy and flew head on into his sister's direction, before the two knew it their class would result in a blinding explosion.
---
From what felt like hours later Loki woke up in a daze, raising his hands to the sky to see they were transparent. Was he dead? The god frantically looked around to dee his body laying unscathed next to him and on a rock to his right sat Hela without her signature helmet.
"You know I have to admit, even through all our transgressions you seem to enlighten me with your skills."
"What foul trick have you casted upon me goddess?"
Loki remarked, he wasn't amused in the slightest.
"Clearly the art of astral projection, a manipulation of the soul. This realm while barren still helps my powers grow, you can return to your body if you want."
Hela gazed off in a direction as Loki looked to his body, he was hesitant but eventually retreated to it feeling relieved.
"I must ask though, what brings you to such a realm of this standard? I'd expect someone like yourself to not heed the chains of inevitability so soon, yet even wind up in such a terrible place as this."
"Well forgive my sudden intrusions dear sister a run in with the mad titan didn't play out in my favor, but I guess it was for the greater good..he surly survived the destruction..."
Loki looked down to the gray sands, feeling disappointed from that encounter.
"Ah, the norns had led you to his doorstep yet again but trying to stray from the path only resulted in your death. Made to be the lapdog to a conquerer, both our cases huh."
The goddess stated in a somber tone, she gazed up to the clouds and saw distant stars lighting up the sky.
"I guess it's better to be dead than to disappoint those you love, really spent my entire life in a shadow and couldn't realize my worth until it wss too late. Life is such an ass when you try your hardest, and look at me now..bound here to watch the stars fizzle away as the universe goes on..."
Loki started to feel bad, his whole life was filled with him trying to appeal to everyone but he forgot the most important thing, himself. If you can live for yourself then you can't do the same for others, Hela had to admit while she rarely knew him this couldn't be all that was expected from her brother, no he couldn't end up like her.
Hela rose up from the rock and thought of something, she turned to Loki after this.
"Look, our lives may not have been perfect or even great in the slightest but that doesn't mean yours has to end. My soul is bound to this place, as it is for the goddess of chaos to rule under the realm of the fallen but you should be free to at least go out and find yourself.
Loki looked at his sister confused but was caught off guard as she raised her hands. She started performing some type of spell or incantation, the lifeless sands of Hel began to spiral around being illuminated with the stars from above and upon closer inspection Hela's eyes and hands lit up with a raging green light. Then in a spark of flames a rift formed in front of the two creating a portal, wherever it led was unknown but this could be Loki's only opportunity.
As Loki started to approach the portal he looked back to see Hela standing with a smile on her face, her body looked to be withering away like ash in the wind. He rushed back to her in a panic.
"What's happening?"
"Tis not a matter of what happens to me, my life has been filled with painful experiences but at least I could aid you in finding meaning in this wild universe."
"T-thats nonsense, I can heal you w-we can both leave this place-"
"Loki, my soul has been bound to this place for the longest time. With this I can go out knowing i actaully did some good with my life, if helping one individual can make them change for the better then that's enough for me. Who knows, maybe I'll emerge again someday, but this is the beginning of your story. Try and actually live for yourself."
Hela chuckled, the portal was starting to shrink.
Loki clenched his hands as he rushed for the portal, before he jumped in he looked back.
"If it is true of what you say then I'll come back for you, in any shape or form I'll make sure you're not forgotten.
The god of mischief went through the portal, Hela felt a warm feeling in her heart as she fully faded away. She was right, this was just the beginning of his story.