p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;"Prologue/span/p
hr style="background-color: darkgray; color: darkgray; cursor: default; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 1px; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; border-style: none;" /
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"You call this a challenge?" the young Asgardian shouted while swinging his hammer at another Imperial soldier who went flying. Another came at him with a steel battle-axe. As he swung down, Thor grabbed the handle just below the blade with a single hand and pulled the weapon away. He then pulled him in and head-butted the soldier, causing the helmet to shatter before throwing him away by the force of his hammer, Mjolnir./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He was then greeted by a large group of Imperials running at him. With all of his strength, he hurled Mjolnir towards the group. The force of the heavy object was enough to incapacitate the entire group. Thor then held out his hand and the weapon started to fly back towards him. Noticing another soldier behind him however, he pulled his hand away just before the hammer reached it and it flew past him and hit the incoming soldier. The hammer then flew back into the Asgardian's hand. He chuckled./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"These fools never learn."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Thor, I could use your assistance here!" a man shouted off in the distance./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He looked in the direction of the call, and his eyes crossed with a man in traditional, though slightly modified, Stormcloak garb. He was surrounded by several Imperial soldiers, bracing against their attacks with a large steel shield. Thor started running before flinging his hammer towards the assailants. It hit one soldier dead-on before flying back towards its owner. He leapt into the air and grabbed hold of his weapon./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Captain!" Thor shouted as he began falling back to the ground./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"The shield-wielder pushed away his nearest opponent and adjusted his shield towards Thor, who proceeded to strike it. The resulting impact sent a shockwave that knocked down all nearby Imperials, forcing them into unconsciousness. Thor took a step back and eyed the captain, whose breathing was heavy./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Captain Rogers, are you hurt?" Thor asked./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Nothing I can't walk off, you?" Rogers returned./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Never better," Thor said with a grin./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Good, we need to regroup with Stark and Banner."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Agreed," he said while swinging his hammer and getting ready to fly./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Thor wait! We need to stick—" Rogers began just before Thor took off into the sky, "together…"/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"In the air, Thor had a birds-eye-view of the wooded area their battle took place in. The snowfall was relatively light and did little beside provide a slight breeze to the hardened warrior. In the distance, he saw a fireball thrown into the sky and smiled./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"There you are," he said to himself before flying in that direction. His hammer led the charge and his long blonde hair flew violently. Seconds later, he hit the ground with a thundering crash. Several heavy Imperial soldiers stood around and staggered as the Asgardian landed. Once they regained their composure, they ran at Thor with swords drawn. One soldier came from behind and Thor tossed him aside with Mjolnir. Two more came up, one on either side, and Thor smashed in the helmet of the soldier on his right while grabbing the shoulder of the Imperial on his left and pulling him to the ground before caving in his chest. He then tossed Mjolnir into another soldier before having it return to him just in time to smack another into the ground. It was then that Thor found himself a lack of soldiers to pummel./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"By the Nine, Thor! Save some for the rest of us," spoke a man in a light suit of dwarven armor./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Apologies Stark, but I wouldn't have to help if you clearly didn't need it," Thor mocked with a smile./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"The man named Stark raised his hand towards Thor and a firebolt left his palm. It flew directly by Thor and he turned in time to see the spell hit a soldier square in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground dead./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Who said I needed help?" Stark teased back./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Where's Banner?" Thor asked./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Suddenly, a loud growl could be heard off in the distance. The two stared at each other and Stark removed his helmet./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He's taking care of Imperial deserters."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Ha! Those dogs don't stand a chance!"/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"I just hope this little diversion is enough," Stark added./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"If you ask me, I say we don't need a diversion. We should just march into their camp and snatch those papers!"/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Easy there point-blank. We need those papers intact. We can't risk destroying them. This requires a certain... finesse."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;"Meanwhile/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"I see the legate's tent just up ahead," spoke a woman with dark red hair donning pitch-black leather armor./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Alright, we have to be careful. They'll burn those papers before letting us take them," reminded a man with similar leather armor wielding a modified hunting bow./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"At least the others were able to draw away the majority of the camp."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"The marksman looked ahead at the legate. She was a tall Imperial woman dressed fully in heavy legion armor. Not a spot of skin showed./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Think your arrows can go through that?" she asked./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"There's no way," he replied, "But I have something else that just might work."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He reached into his quiver and pulled out two arrows enchanted with frost magic./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Don't miss," she said with a smirk./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He chuckled infinitesimally as he eyed up his target. She put her hands on the table in her tent, no doubt looking at the documents they had to take. He nocked both arrows onto the string and rotated the bow so that it was horizontal. He pulled the string back and the two arrows formed an angle with each other. With a quick inhale, he released the string and both arrows flew forward and hit both of the legate's gloved hands. Though they failed to pierce the armor, their enchantment created a layer of frost that trapped her hands to the table they rested on./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"The two special agents then rushed in, alerting the small group of men that remained in the camp. One came for the marksman with his sword, slashing downwards. He stepped to the side and slashed upwards with the knife that was attached to his bow. His light Imperial armor wasn't enough to stop the blade's advance and he slumped to the ground. On the other side, the woman was fending off two attackers with dual daggers. He looked at her and then the papers./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Go!" she shouted, "I can handle this!" she called to him./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He nodded and ran towards the main tent. The two soldiers she was tangling with attempted to abandon the fray to stop him. She quickly disarmed and subdued them both and went after her partner. Before she could join him though, she saw a heavy soldier with the same idea. She ran to him and put her arms around his neck, pulling him to the ground. There was a loud clank of metal as he hit the hard ground beneath the small layer of snow./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"I don't think so," she said, with her head just above his./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"He responded by headbutting her, throwing her off balance. He then took the opportunity to get up. She shook off the hit and readied her weapons./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"This should be interesting."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Meanwhile, the marksman ran into the tent behind the table and pocketed the papers just as the legate broke free of her icy bonds./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"So… this is Ulfric Stormcloak's elite men?" she mocked from the other side of the table, "Pathetic!"/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"You're one to talk," he retaliated./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"She responded by kicking the table, pushing it into the marksman. The resulting force ripped open the tent and he was forced outside. While he steadied himself, she fetched her sword and shield and walked out after him./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"I'm going to enjoy this."/span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Me too," he replied while grabbing another arrow from his quiver and shooting it into the ground. The frost-enchanted arrow reacted with the snow and created a concentrated miniature snowstorm that blinded his opponent. He rushed in with his blade-mounted bow and threw the sword out of her hand. He then quickly took a step back and drew another arrow. He released just as the legate held up her wooden and steel shield. The flame-enchanted tip burned right through the wooden section and bounced off her helmet. The sudden impact made her stagger backwards and drop her shield./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Who's pathetic now?" he taunted./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"She rushed towards him and he grabbed another frost arrow from his quiver. Before he could notch it though, she grappled him and pinned him against a tree, attempting to use her momentum to crush him. Firmly grasping the arrow in his hand, he desperately looked for a way to escape his current situation. That's when he noticed an opening between the armor and the helmet of the legate where her shoulders met her neck. He instantly jabbed the arrow into the open slot and straight into the flesh that lied beneath./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"She howled in pain and staggered backwards, gripping the arrow. Her blood started freezing solid as the enchantment worked its magic. She eventually pulled it out but it was too late. Seconds later, she froze solid, her final pose being her reaching out towards the archer. She then fell forward and shattered inside her armor./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Well… never done that before," he said looking down at the corpse while panting./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Barton!" his partner shouted from the camp. His attention was quickly drawn towards the tent. He ran as fast as he could and quickly drew his bow when he saw a figure in front of him. However, he lowered it when he saw the figure was his partner./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Are you alright Nat?" Barton asked./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Yeah, you?" /span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Got the papers," he replied while patting his pockets./span/span/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;"span style="background: transparent;" "/spanspan style="font-style: normal;"span style="font-weight: normal;"span style="background: transparent;"Good, let's get out of here," Nat suggested./span/span/span/p
hr style="background-color: darkgray; color: darkgray; cursor: default; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 1px; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; border-style: none;" /
p style="color: #000000; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"A/N - I'm not dead! Yay! I know it's been a while since I posted anything and I'm sorry for that. I scored an awesome internship a few weeks ago and that's been taking the majority of my time. As for this story, yes, it is a request. We actually worked out an overall plot of the story quite some time ago but I've never gotten around to writing anything. As of now, with three stories in the works, I'm not quite sure what the schedule will be like. More than likely this will take priority since FeralG3 has been so incredibly patient. In the meantime, I can no longer promise a new chapter every week. It'll be more like whenever I can get to it. Hang in there though, I do plan on finishing all three... eventually.u/uspan style="text-decoration: line-through;"/span/p