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ide. She saw Loki, waiting for her on his horse. But, what really caught her eye was the immense glow that decorated the atmosphere.

"Did I just walk into Heaven?"

Loki chuckled. "Frigga used to tell me how beautiful the cave was. We must be getting closer,"

Alex looked all around her. Birds chirped, and flowers glistened in the sunlight. It was warm, which contrasted the bleak forest they had just escaped.

"There's no way we're there yet," Alex said. "There must be something ahead."

They rode their horses at a minimal pace, making sure to be on the lookout for bilgesnipe or any other dangerous creature. They did this for about an hour, though it didn't feel like it. They laughed and joked while riding, carrying on to pass the time.

"So what exactly does it do?"

"Loki, the name is self-explanatory. It blends food."

"You'll have to show me because I'm very confused."

Alex's laughter rang as music to Loki's ears. He had made it his personal mission to make her smile every moment he could. He never wanted to see her in pain again, especially since he caused most of it.

"There's the upside down tree," Alex pointed. "On the map did it say right or left?"

"Right at the upside down tree,"

"Do what right at the upside down tree?"

"No, go right at the upside down tree,"

"Ah,"

"It should be about a mile until we get there,"

Alex beamed. "We're almost there, then!"

"It's about time you got excited,"

"Well, I'm actually excited to go back because I'm hungry."

"Of course. You know what I was thinking about the other day?"

"What?" Alex looked at him.

"What ever happened to the scepter?"

"That's a good question," She thought for a moment. "I remember Pietro and I guarding it before we went to Sokovia--"

"You and whom?"

"Oh, get over yourself. You left me with Strucker."

Loki scowled. "Are you ever going to get over that?"

"Probably not. But, I don't know about the scepter. You used it last in Sokovia, and I'm assuming Tony recollected it after we returned to New York. A shame if that ended up in the wrong hands, huh?"

"Yes, it would be."

"Loki, look!"

Loki straightened his head, and about fifty yards in front of them was a cave. He nodded his head toward it, picking up the pace on his horse. Alex followed, and they stopped right in front of it. She got off her horse by herself this time, her feet involuntarily bringing her to the cave opening.

"Is it weird that I want to wait a second before we go in?"

"Yes." Loki walked up, grabbing her hand. "Let's go,"

She allowed herself to be pulled into the cave, and she held her breath. It was dark, and wet, but as they kept walking, the sight in front of her took her breath away. There were vines, hundreds of them, and they glowed magnificently.

"Holy shit," She breathed.

"I've never seen so many in one place, and so, so, vibrant."

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

Alex reached for a vine on the cave wall, but recoiled once her skin came in contact. She hissed in pain, holding her stinging fingers.

"What? What is it?"

"It burns?" Her voice questioned.

Loki reached forward himself, but he too was stung.

"What in Valhalla?" He furrowed his brows. "Frigga must've put a charm on mine, it never did this."

"Now it makes sense why Odin gave us the jar,"

"Yes, but the oaf didn't explain how to physically get the vine into the jar."

Alex thought for a moment.

"I may have an idea,"

"I do not like the sound of that," Loki spoke.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Hear me out. What if I cut the vine off?"

"It'll die." He deadpanned.

"Okay, so if I can take energy, I wonder, can I...give it?"

Loki rose a single brow. "Have you ever done that before?"

"No, not that I know of, anyway. Come on, it should work--"

"--No, there has to be another way."

"Oh, yeah? What?" She threw her hands up.

"I don't know, but what if that hurts you? Or worse--"

"Worst thing that can happen is I fall asleep in this dank ass cave. I'm trying it,"

"Wait," Loki sighed. "Don't cut it then. Take its energy like you did to the one around my bed, and simply restore that same energy. Maybe, since it's not technically your own energy, it won't hurt you,"

Alex grabbed his face and kissed it. "You're a genius."

"Well, we knew that."

"Here goes nothing,"

Alex held her hand out, and focused on draining a singular strand. She gritted her teeth, and touched the vine to begin the transfer. It stung, but to transfer energy, she had to maintain contact. It wasn't the same as temporarily halting someone's energy, or, as she liked to say, freezing someone. It simple sounded more badass.

The vibrancy of its color began to diminish, and after a minute, the strand fell limp. Alex felt extremely energized from the transfer, cutting the strand off the wall. She placed it gingerly in the jar Loki handed her.

Next, she held the jar in her left hand, and placed her right inside the jar. She touched the vine, and began to attempt to give the energy back.

She gasped when the vine started to regain color.

"Motherfucker," She hissed as the vine stung her. Loki laughed in astonishment. She held on, however, until its energy was fully restored.

"Well, would you look at--" Loki started before she just collapsed onto the ground. He scrambled to catch the jar, of which he screwed shut.

"--that."

He knelt down next to her, picking her head up off the ground and placing it in his lap. He felt her neck, and was relieved to feel a pulse. He sighed, stroking her hair until she came to. Which, this time, took a lot longer than the other times.

After about fifteen minutes, she stirred. "What the hell just happened?"

"You successfully gave energy to something, then you passed out."

"Oh. Well, it's a new skill to be mastered, like anything else. Help me up?"

Loki steadied her on her feet, placing a kiss to her forehead. "Let's get back to Asgard, hm?"

"One step ahead of you."

Their journey back was about the same length as the journey to the cave, maybe even shorter since they knew what to expect. The sun was beginning to set, making the views even more enjoyable. Loki pointed out a baby bilgesnipe from afar, which Alex quite enjoyed. He asked her to explain more random human objects, and was entertained by the concept of cable TV.

Before they knew it, they were back at the castle.

"Lovely to see you return in one piece," Odin jested.

"Thank you for the warning about the vines, dear Father, Alexandra damn near burned her fingers to a crisp."

"I'll see if a medic can assist. Now, follow me,"

They handed their horses off to the stableboy, and followed Odin into a familiar room. It was dark, with sky high bookshelves and a glittery ceiling.

"We came here with Thor once," Alex spoke. "Frigga brought us here,"

"Yes, this was her favorite area of the castle," Odin spoke. "She snuck Loki in here against my wishes many times,"

"Guilty."

Odin took out a very large book, with foreign writing on its cover.

"This is the Book of Fjorlid. It contains all the myths of the Fjorlid creatures, with an entire chapter dedicated to the vines."

"I have to do a book report?" Alex sighed.

"No, I'm going to tell you what you need to know."

She nodded.

"Once you consume the vines, there is no going back. Its effects on you are permanent. These effects, however, will enhance your abilities. So, a word of caution, exercise them regularly, so that they don't become too much for you to handle."

"I can handle it."

Odin softly smiled. "Now, about what you're thinking most of. Consuming this vine does not mean you cannot perish. You will eventually die, just as Loki and I."

"Well, you are taking your sweet time," Loki muttered.

"I thought--you said it would make me immortal."

"Immortality is not a black and white subject, it means you are no longer mortal. Mortality, means death, yes, but more importantly, it means weakness. You will become stronger after consuming the vines, but you can still die."

"Kind of like vampires?" She asked.

"You keep mentioning these vampires," Loki groaned.

"Sorry, sorry."

"My counsel would be to not prance around acting like you cannot be hurt." Odin spoke over them.

"I don't prance," She muttered.

"Know your strengths, and assume anything can be your downfall."

Alex nodded before glancing to Loki. He squeezed her hand, which he held below the table they stood at.

"Now, the vine will be made into a liquid, which you will drink."

"Oh, god,"

"It shouldn't taste like anything, and you won't appear any different on the outside." Odin assured.

"Thank you, your majesty, for helping so much."

He simply nodded before walking to the shelves of small cauldrons. Alex looked to Loki, who had been staring at her through the whole conversation.

"Be sure of this decision, my love."

"I've never been so sure of anything,"

She thought of Tony, and what he would be thinking of this decision. She thought of Bruce's skepticism, and Steve's support due to what he had done to himself decades ago. But, she needed to begin living for herself. She had always lived to make others happy, but not anymore.

"Whenever you're ready," Odin held a goblet out to her.

She let go of Loki's hand, taking the bronze goblet into her hands. The liquid was a vibrant green, just as the vines were, and it slightly bubbled.

"Well, here goes nothing."

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𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎 :)