Disillusion: Pure Illusion Series of Shorts

Ascend

A/N: I'm finally back to writing. I've been writing a lot lately as I've been dealing with some healing of my own, and writing is the best way for me to do that. I won't get into things but the fact I've written so much tells me that I've been hurt deeply. 

This story takes place a few months after the short story It's In Their Nature. 

Song inspiring this story:

"Well look at me, 

I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love

in a simple way

...

And I'm still standing after all this time

I"m picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind"

I'm Still Standing - "Rocketman" (Taron Egerton version) 

❦

"Nar, Val, you don't need to pack your clothes, just a couple of things to wear until we see the seamstress on Asgard. Pack your belongings in the boxes for the storage locker. " 

Sigyn busied herself with packing Astrid's things, who had taken to avoiding her mother as much as possible. 

Ever since it had been revealed that Loki had changed part of his will, everything in their life had changed as well. At one time it had stated that when they came of age, they would duel for the right to be the Crowned Ruler of Asgard, but that should they refuse to, Narvi would be the Crowned Ruler of Asgard. While both would become kings, one of them would hold the right to have an heir to Asgard and rule the Ten Realms. The other would simply be an advisor and would rule over certain portions of the other Realms, seeing to dignitary matters. 

That was until Angela had informed Thor of what his brother had done. In the fine print of his will, it stated that should there be a third heir to the throne or should Thor desire the throne, that they would be the only one given the right to rule Asgard. It had been a safeguard - in Loki's mind- that only one needed to bear the weight of the crown. 

Revealing that to Astrid, on top of her parentage had been... taxing. She hadn't taken it well. It had been agreed that they all - Thor, Jane, Torrun, Sigyn, Narvi, Vali, and Astrid would return to Asgard. Should Astrid decide to take the crown, Torrun had been elected to be the dignitary for the Ten Realms. Should Astrid deny her right, the weight would fall to Narvi and Vali once more. 

While they had play fought as kids, between the two of them they had always decided that Narvi would hold the throne while Vali would become his advisor. Vali detested the spotlight and anything that had to do with holding the throne - he simply did not see himself fit as King, nor did he desire it. 

It was times like this that he missed his father, Loki. He could remember small memories and moments with him, such as him learning to use magic for the first time and eventually learning some skills that would take Narvi years to master. Returning to Asgard without him felt... obscure. It hadn't been until they were older that they had learned what had happened to their father - how Narvi had died and he had gone to take his place in Hel. However, the twins knew their mother wasn't telling them everything about that time on Asgard, that she was keeping some secrets to herself. There was something darker she wasn't telling them, a secret that Vali feared could divide the family further than it was already. 

"Vali, are you almost ready?" 

His mother's voice brought him out of his thoughts and he again busied himself with arranging his items for storage. It was weird to think that most of his belongings that he had here on Earth had no place on Asgard. However, their mother said they could take their phones, though they would need to be modified to allow Realm-to-Realm communication. Taping one of the last boxes shut, he half kicked it out of the way and grabbed the small backpack he had packed of clothes to sustain him for a couple of days until they had been dressed in Asgard's finest.