The Infinity Stone

12

He pulled back, not wanting to seem too desperate, and not crossing the line. He looked into her eyes, waiting to see anger or embarrassment, but saw none. She looked back at the others, before facing him again, and bringing him back down for another kiss.

Loki favored this one much more compared to the other, there was no hesitancy, and they both new what they wanted. Much do is distaste, she pulled back, he leaned his forehead against hers, basking in the moment for as long as he could. " We should go," she said still smiling. He nodded, and so far they both kept their promise. The others were speaking about how they would get past Heimdall.

The two joined the group, and Aria immediately frowned seeing only six horses. " I'm sorry my friend, it was too short noticed. But fret not, you can ride with me if you wish." Thor said, placing his hand on her shoulder, which she pushed off of her.
" I think not, she can ride with me." Loki said, coming up to the two.

" Why can't you two share a horse, and I get the other? You two are the only ones related." Aria snapped back, which only made Thor laugh.
" Very funny." Loki said, offering a hand to her. She shooed it away, and got on herself.

They passed through the massive gate, leaving Asgard behind, and made their way to the Bifrost. Upon reaching their destination, Aria remembered she had once been here before.

As they drew near the Observatory, they could easily spot Heimdall standing at his post on the bridge before them, managing to block their way. He held a massive sword in front of him, as he stared down at the group.

" Keep your weapons sheathed and your mouths closed," Loki said as they dismounted from their horses. " This is going to take subtlety and sincerity, not brute strength. Leave it to me," What is with this familys cockyness? Aria thought to herself as she watched him step forward.

" Good Hiemdall-"

" You are not dressed warmly enough." Heimdall said, cutting straight to the point. Thor, Loki and the others all trade looks, already looking in defeat.

" I'm sorry?" Loki said acting confused.
" The freezing cold of Jotunheim. It will kill you all in time, even Thor.

" You think you can deceive me? I, who watch all? I, who can sense the flapping of a butterfly's wings a thousands worlds away?" Aria knew that he would be a good ally if her uneasiness feelings where correct. Heimdall gives Fandral a knowing look before continuing.

" Or hear a cricket pass gas in Niflheim." Aria was slightly confused as to why Fandral looked so pale, until he spoke up.
" That was just a bit of a jest, really..." Before he could cause any more damage, Loki stepped in.
" You must be mistaken. We're not-" like before, he was interrupted.

" Enough." Thor said, stepping forward. "Heimdall, may we pass?" Heimdall starts the arrogant god down again.

" For ages have I guarded Asgard and kept it safe from those who would do it harm. In all that time, never has an enemy slipped by my watch; until this day. I wish to know how that happened." Aria could feel Loki tense up besides her.

" Then tell no one where we've gone until we've returned." Thor walked past Heimdall as the Gatekeeper lets the group pass.
Volstagg walks beside Loki, who was obviously frustrated. " What happened? Your silver tongue turn to lead?"

" Get me off this bridge before it cracks under your girth," he replied back, making Volstagg and Fandral share a laugh. " And that darling, is why I don't have friends." Loki said to Aria, returning back to her comment from earlier in the day, making her let out a chuckle.
" Whatever you need to tell yourself." She said, patting his back in fake comfort.

They entered the dome shaped building and stepped on the platform. If only we were going to Earth instead. Aria thought sadly. Heimdall climbed into the large control apparatus at the center of the room and readies the passageway.

" Be warned. I will honor my sworn oath to protect this Realm as its Gatekeeper. If your return threatens the safty of Asgard, Bifrost will remain closed to you. You'll be left to die in the col wastes of Jotunheim." Heimdall warned them warmly, making Aria wish that Thor would change his mind.

" I have no plans to die today." Nope.

" None do." Heimdall inserts his sword into the control panel, and the apparatus of the dome starts up. He turns the sword making now allowing them passage to Jotunheim. The Bifrost opens at the end of the platform upon which the seven stand. " All is ready, you may pass."

" Couldn't you just leave the bridge open for us?"

" That would allow the it to unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jotunheim with all of us in it," everyone looked at Aria confused to how she knows this. " What? I went down a rabbit hole researching and read up on Norse Mythology." This confused the others more, aside from Heimdall.

" She's right. Listen to her."

" Ah. Nevermind, then." Volstagg said, ditching his idea.
Thor starts towards the Bifrost, and turns back to everyone else with a grin. " Come on, don't be bashful."

They walked up to join him at his side, then step towards the Bifrost. Loki held on to Aria since it was the first time she'd been in it conscious. The snow flurries up when the Bifrost hits, and they all land on the new planet, leaving runes from the Bifrost imprinted on the ice around them.

" That is much worse than an elevator." Aria said closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.
" It'll wear off soon, Loki reassured her. Volstagg suddenly loses his footing, and began to fall backwards. Thor caught him by the belt before he could fall to his death due to the sheer cliff on the planets inner ring.

" Come on big fella. Up!" With and effort, Thor managed to pull him back onto the ice.
"This belt! This belt is now my lucky belt. I will never remove it, even when bathing!"

" You bathe?" Fandral retorted, while the others looked around their surroundings. Loki had been right, this planet is like none other that she had seen. She looked around her to see the horror and wonder of the alien planet before her. The whole thing was a massive flattened ring of jagged ice, that was slowly breaking apart. She could see chunks of ice away from the outer edges and float off into space.

Holy shit

The planet's icy surface cracks and melts for miles on end. She could see ruins of a Jotun city that laid ahead in the distance. Loki grabbed ahold of her hand to ensure she wouldn't wonder off.

" We shouldn't be here." Hogun finally mentioned the elephant in the room.
" Too late now." Thor said, dismissing his concerns.
" Actually, it's not. We could turn back," Aria said in a matter of factly tone.

" She's right! We could turn right around, hop back to Asgard, share a mug by the fire. Could be nice. Remember too, Heimdall said to listen to her. She's the boss." Thor ignored Fandral pleas, and heads off to the stranger planet. Before following with him, Loki looks around him anxiously, concerning Aria more than before.

" Perhaps we should wait." He cried out to his brother, Thor turned around and looked at Loki.
" For what?"

" Well, we could survey the enemy," Aria started off, hoping it would give Loki time to come up with a convincing excuse.
" Yes. To gauge their strengths and weaknesses from a distance."

" I'm liking that. Gaughing, surveying. Particularly the distance part."

" Listen to that Thor, Volstagg is agreeing with Loki. Maybe you should think a little more about this." Aria said trying to get him to rethink this whole disaterance plan.
" We know all we must. It's time to act." Thor stated, making his decision final, and heads on. Everyone else gave each other questioning looks, all thinking the same, this is a bad idea. Reluctantly, the slowly began to follow Thor.