Story of My Life

"Mommy! Mommy!" A high-pitch voice neighed, as Loki climbed off his black steed, glancing at his companions, albeit with embarrassment. Thor and Sif stifled a laugh as an awkward, eight-legged horse bounded into view, dark hairs on his tail swishing in the wind.

"Hello, Sleipnir." The two greeted when the young stallion crashed into the God of Mischief, nuzzling his mother enthusiastically.

"Hi, Uncle Thor and Lady Sif!" Sleipnir brayed. "How was your adventure? Was Mommy the hero? Did you win?"

Loki face-palmed, wondering where his son got all the energy from. It certainly wasn't his mother or father, the latter being incredibly strong-willed and forceful, but not a happy horse.

"Yes, it went well, and we all vanquished the evil monsters." Sif purred, enjoying how sweet the child was in comparison to the one who had carried him. She looked at Loki, who knelt down beside the gray horse and whispered in his ear. Slepnir nodded at whatever he had said, and started prancing towards where Loki's quarters were located. She knew that Loki let him sleep in his room, and heard rumours that he even allowed the stallion to rest with him on his bed.

"Goodbye, little nephew!" Thor called loudly towards his brother's son. Slepnir shouted farewell in return, but continued on his merry way.

"I should go after him, I suppose." Loki sighed, throwing his riding horse's reigns at the golden-haired warrior, who took them, and along with Sif, started to walk to the stables. "Slepnir, slow down!" He yelled as he jogged after his son. He finally caught up, panting slightly. "You mustn't run off so quickly!" He scolded. Slepnir bowed his head apologetically.

"Sorry, Mom. I just couldn't wait!" His sorry tone changed to a bright, cheerful one. "We're gonna have so much fun!"

"Don't say 'gonna', it's 'going to', alright, Slepnir?" He corrected his son, wanting to make sure he didn't talk like those stupid Midgardians.

"Okay!"

When they got to Loki's large, green and gold room, Slepnir hopped onto his mother's bed, his eight legs all tangled up underneath him. Loki grabbed two green apples off one of the mahogany shelves, and climbed onto his mattress as well. He handed a fruit to Slepnir, who munched on it happily.

"So, Sleppy, I'm going to tell a story, and it'd make Mommy very pleased if there weren't too many interruptions. Okay, dear?" Out of the company of other people, he decided it was alright to be more affectionate towards his son.

"I won't interrupt, Mommy." He promised, his huge, black eyes wide.

"Once upon a time, there was a little horse." Loki started. "He wasn't too much younger than you, Slepnir, but he was a bad little horsey."

You see, this little horse liked to pull pranks on everyone, and a lot of times, his tricks would hurt people's feelings, even if he just meant it as a joke. He really didn't care, because he knew it was his purpose to do it."

"To hurt people's feelings?" An astonished Slepnir asked, wondering how on Asgard someone would think that to be right.

"No, to cause mischief and chaos. It just so happened, no one understood why he did it. The horse's mommy didn't always pay much attention to his son, but would to the horse's older brother, a big, magnificent stallion whom everyone loved. So the little horse did these things to try and please his mommy, to make her proud. But no matter how hard he tried, his mommy just scolded him and just would not appreciate her son's cleverness!"

Loki stopped, silent for a moment, as Slepnir waited for him to continue. When he did, however, his voice was more weary and sad.

"One day, the horse's mommy got mad at something the older brother had done, so she sent him away to become a better horse. Then the little horse discovered the mommy he had tried to please his whole life, wasn't even his real mommy! He had been taken from his true parents, and raised by the fake mother. The little horse was very mad, and confronted his mommy about it. His mommy got so stressed that she fell ill, and the little horse had to take over all his mommy's responsibilities, which there were many of. So he tried very, very hard, but sometimes things got rough, and he could not take it anymore. He tried to go on a dangerous conquest that went poorly, and somehow, somehow the little horse found himself accidentally falling off a cliff."

Slepnir looked terrified for the little horse, but relaxed when Loki spoke again.

"But luckily, his brother had returned and was holding onto him, so the little horse wouldn't fall. But the little horse was so sad, that he let go and fell into the abyss. Everyone thought he had died, but the truth was, the river below had saved him and he floated to a new place, where people were very evil and made him try and take over an entire realm! Luckily, a bunch of warriors on that realm defeated him, and the little horse returned to his home, and almost everyone forgave him, showering him in kindness."

"Yay!" Slepnir hooted, throwing two hooves in the air.

"Yes." Loki smiled at his son. "And eventually, the little horse had a baby horse, who he loved very, very much, and they lived happily ever after!"

The gray horse rested his head on his mother's knee and flicked his ears and tail. His mommy stroked his velvety head, and asked him, "What did you think of that story, little one?"

Slepnir blinked slowly. "It was good, but sad a lot. I felt really bad for the little horse. I wish his mommy had loved him as much as you love me."

Loki felt his heart swell with pride for his young child. "But do you think the little horse was foolish, at times?"

"Yes, because he shouldn't have let go, no matter how sad he was. He could have died!"

"Well, darling, that little horse wasn't like my little horse. He didn't always make the best decisions."

The mother and son snuggled together. "I love you so much, Slepnir."

He felt Slepnir shake his head. "I love you more, Mommy."

"Noooo, Mommy loves his little horse more than anything else in the Nine Realms!"

The gray horse got up and pushed Loki's chest with his hooves, pushing him against the pillows. "No! I love you the most!"

He sighed. "Fine. You win." His son collapsed onto his torso, and almost instantly fell asleep. "Good night, my angel." He cooed. "Momma loves you."

Shhhh, my sweet, rest now. Momma loves you. He felt a pang as he heard her words so clearly in his head.Iit made him almost look around for her.

He could never imagine coping with Slepnir dying. He had judged his wife too soon, and it was time to make amends.

It was time to find Sigyn.