Of Thunder, Lightning, and Fire
They were further south that evening, slipping through and behind a cover of darkening clouds. Mortals had long since displaced them for a single god, their cherished fires with gleaming electric lights. It was unusual for Aesir to traverse into Midgard anymore, finding it better to enjoy themselves in the golden beauty that was Asgard.
But not for the Odinsons.
Gliding through the cool night air, Balder raised his sword just as Thor twirled his hammer overhead, gathering the power of the night sky. Loki floated above them, blowing a chill down into the darkening clouds, thickening them and bestowing upon them an unusual solidity.
Balder flashed a grin at his brothers as he brought his sword down upon the grey clouds and Thor returned the grin, striking down upon the same clouds with Mjolnir simultaneously.
A blinding flash of light engulfed their immediate surroundings as a rumble of thunder followed.
Loki appeared behind Balder, leaning over to grasp Balder's hands. Thor raised his eyebrows as he struck once more, this time with Balder and Loki swinging the broad sword together.
The sky shuddered as thunder rumbled through. A streak of white-hot light ripped through the clouds, descending upon the unsuspecting earth in a deafening crack. Loki chuckled as he watched a small flame dance and land upon a thin tree.
"Brother, we are not here to burn and raze," Thor chided playfully.
Loki rolled his eyes, pressing closer to Balder as they swung the sword once more. This time the light struck a blue metallic box in one of the mortals' concrete jungles. Even from the distance, the gods could hear the box squeal in pain.
Balder winced and craned his head to try to look at Loki with a disapproving frown.
"We should not hurt the mortals or their creatures, Loki."
"Oh, you fool, that was no creature. It was one of their foul-smelling metal carts."
"Then we should not damage their property so—" Balder didn't get to finish as Loki forced their arms to move once more, drawing a jagged line across the sky. Thor laughed in delight as he smashed his hammer upon the wayward bolt.
"Do not worry so, brother! Loki speaks the truth and what is one mortal cart when they have a line of them? Come! Let us continue before the rain abates."
That evening, New York City watched in terror as lightning crashed repeatedly down onto their cars and parks. Not even the news crews were brave enough to drive out to get better footage as fires sprang up across Manhattan.
On the radio, presenters remarked with wonder on this unprecedented storm while fire engines wailed to and fro, trying their best to reach all the fires that lit up in the city that even heavy rain could not quench. On one evangelist television station, a preacher declared that the Second Coming was imminent.