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That night, Vidar was in his private chamber, gazing out the window at the stars above Asgard.
Something fundamental had changed today. In the canon he knew, Loki's discovery of his origin had broken him, sending him down a dark path that ended in invasion, attempted genocide, and near death.
But here, now, Vidar had intervened. He had given Loki something he never had in the canon: support. Understanding. And most importantly, a purpose.
The proposal to rule Jotunheim was not merely political strategy. It was giving Loki what he had always wanted—a throne of his own—but in a way that would benefit everyone.
Of course, everything depended on whether Loki would accept his Jotun heritage. Whether he could overcome centuries of anti-Jotun propaganda that Odin had instilled in all Asgardians.
It was a risk. But one worth taking.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come in."
Hela entered, still dressed in her training armor. She had been working with the guards all day.
"Heimdall told me there was… an incident in the vaults today," she said, closing the door behind her. "That Loki discovered something."
Vidar admitted it.
"His true origin. He is Jotun. Laufey's son."
Hela let out a low whistle.
"That explains a lot. His magic. His cunning. The Jotun aren't just brutes; the most intelligent among them are dangerously shrewd."
She walked over to the window, standing beside Vidar.
"How did he take it?"
"As expected. Shock. Pain. A sense of betrayal," Vidar replied. "But I offered him something that could help him heal."
"The throne of Jotunheim?"
Vidar looked at her, surprised.
"How did—?"
Hela smiled.
"Please. I've been ruling and conquering since before you were born. I recognize a brilliant political move when I see one."
She looked out at the stars.
"It's smart. Loki gets what he's always wanted—a realm of his own. Jotunheim gets a king who understands both its culture and Asgard's. And we gain an ally in a realm that might otherwise become hostile."
"Exactly," Vidar confirmed.
Hela glanced at him sideways.
"Moves like this… they're not just about balance, are they? You're… orchestrating something. Preparing for something."
Vidar did not answer immediately. Hela was perceptive—more than he sometimes gave her credit for.
"The universe is changing," he finally said. "Threats will come. Some I know. Others I don't. I need to make sure that when they arrive, we have allies. That we have options."
"Threats you know," Hela repeated. "Like this Thanos you mentioned."
"Among others."
She nodded slowly.
"So you're building… what? An empire? A web of alliances?"
"An equilibrium," Vidar corrected. "Not an empire where Asgard dominates, but a network where multiple realms can support one another when necessary."
Hela remained silent for a moment, considering this.
"It's ambitious," she said at last. "Changing the order of the Nine Realms entirely. Some would call it madness."
"And what do you say?" Vidar asked.
Hela smiled—her predatory grin, but with something else behind it. Respect.
"I say I'm glad to be on your side."
Three days later, Loki sought out Vidar in the vaults, where he had been working on strengthening the seals of the Tesseract.
"I've made a decision," Loki announced without preamble.
Vidar turned to look at him. Loki seemed different—more composed, though shadows still lingered in his eyes.
"I accept your proposal," Loki said. "When the time comes, when Laufey falls, I will take the throne of Jotunheim."
He paused.
"But on my own terms. I will rule as I choose, not as Asgard dictates."
Vidar accepted this.
"I would expect nothing less. A king must rule according to his own conscience."
Loki nodded, satisfied with the answer.
"And there's something else," he added, his tone growing more serious. "If I'm going to do this, if I'm going to rule Jotunheim, I need to understand who I truly am. Both my Asgardian side and my Jotun side."
He extended his hand, and before Vidar's eyes, his skin began to change. Deep blue spread from his arm, covering his body. His eyes turned red. Jotun markings appeared across his skin.
Loki looked at himself—at his true form—with a complex expression.
"I need to learn to live with both parts of me," he said, his voice slightly different in Jotun form—deeper, with a faint echo. "I cannot rule a people I deny."
Vidar felt something close to pride.
"That is the first step, brother. Acceptance."
Loki nodded, then his form shifted back to Asgardian—black hair, pale skin, green eyes.
"This is going to take time. I don't know how long. But when the moment comes…"
His eyes shone with determination—and with something of the ambition that had always defined Loki.
"When the moment comes, I will take that throne. And I will be the king Jotunheim needs. The king both worlds deserve."
Vidar smiled.
"Of that, I have no doubt."
END OF THE CHAPTER.