Loki and I

Bang Bang [Into The Room] (S1 E48) **LAI SPECIAL**

I forget everything Loki just told me, skipping happily into the room.

Asgardians seem to love clearing pathways for people. This is a particularly long pathway, leading up to a silvery throne with a man sitting on it. He wears a gold eye patch, wearing (you guessed it) golden armour. The white beard makes him look really old.

I flap my arms as fast as I can, jumping into the air, trying to fly like I used to. But I fall flat on my face, a loud *BANG* echoing through the room. Loki hurriedly helps me stand up. "You can't fly, you fool," he whispers softly, like telling me I'll never walk again.

Once I recover from my fall, I leap out in front of Loki, continuing my cheerful skip. The room seems to be silent, except for me humming some sort of happy tune. Loki follows after me, his head lowered slightly under all the gazes and shocked faces. But I don't get it. Why would they be shocked?

I skip up to the man sitting regally on the throne, jumping into an abrupt stop. Loki walks up beside me. "Hiya!" I wave, giving the throne guy my happiest grin, "I'm Rosie. Are you Santa?"

"What?" The man asks, as if he's saying, 'Are you talking to me?'

"'Cuz you look like Santa," I nod to myself. Loki face palms behind me.

"Hello, Allfather," Loki decides to take over the conversation, though I thought it was going great. "I have been cordially ordered to attend, and I am here." He gestures his palms out, "Now are you proud of me?"

"Loki," this Allfather guy says almost softly, "It has been a long time since we last crossed paths-" Loki looks slightly agitated at this, but doesn't say anything- "Have you changed at all from when we last spoke?"

I raise my hand, "I think so! I mean... I wouldn't know, but when I met-"

"SILENCE." The Allfather orders sternly, the not-loud-enough-to-be-a shout echoing through the room. I plop my mouth closed, looking a little hurt and feeling it, too. "I was asking Loki," his voice is dangerously calm.

He's really putting Loki on the spot here. My gaze lands on Loki, who seems warily calm as well. He breaks into a malicious smile, followed with a chuckle. Then he takes a breath and speaks.
"We will just have to wait and see."

"I see," the Allfather states.
'No, you don't,' I think, 'Not with two eyes, at least.'
"Proceed."

Just like that, the tense mood seems to melt away, the guests beginning to continue their conversations from earlier. Everyone seems like they've been holding a breath, like they've just released one. A few people stay where they are to stare at me and Loki. I look around cautiously, then up to the guy on the throne, who stands up and starts taking defined steps towards us. Every inch he gets closer to us, the more and I more I feel unstable. Maybe it's the eye, and the fact that he's only got one of them. Or maybe it's the cape, and the fact that he looks giant to me.

"And who is this?" His voice seems louder over everyone else's, "Your 'fearsome warrior, who tamed the God of Lies'?"

"I can't tell if you're mocking me or not," I say coolly. Much smoother than I expected.

"Uh... no, Odin," Loki steps closer to me, linking arms, "But she is my jail keeper. She keeps me in line, stops me from doing..." He looks to me, running his tongue over his front teeth, "Bad things."

I look to Loki, trying not to look uncomfortable. I mean, now really isn't the time to be flirtatious, Rosie. Especially in front of an old man. Besides, you're representing all of Equestria. Make them proud.
"That's right," I puff out my chest, despite the fact that I'm a bit taller than this Odin guy. I have this nagging feeling to impress him or die trying. "And I am sworn to protect any and all the citizens of Asgard."
Okay, not true. At least not the ones that threw a rock at me.