TRTSS11: Legacy of a Hero! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, Marvel Comics, DC Comics and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 2: "Fractured Fairy Tales in the Land of the Norse Elves" (I)
Personal Log, Stardate: [-28] 01880.03. I will admit that I can be a bit of a womanizer at times. No, it wasn't the kind that simply goes around and has "relations" with any female that comes my way, though there have been exceptions like that. No, I do care about the women that I am with, nor am I fickle about other women I meet. I am certainly not like Tatewaki Kuno in that way. In fact, I wasn't really interested in girls until I completed my ten-year martial arts training journey, back when I was an actual teenager. I don't know at what point in my long life that I had decided that "sex" was a contact sport to be enjoyed with the ones you are close to. But I do know that when I became comfortable with my own sexuality, I got over my shyness towards women. Unfortunately, it wasn't until later that I learned that one of my aunts, Lady Seto of the House of Misaki, of the planet Jurai, had convinced my mother Nodoka to "enhance" my sex appeal long before my own birth. Now, that would have been fine, I suppose, had I not received a curse that allowed me to become female whenever I get doused by cold water. I'm just lucky that hot water undid the curses' effect, even if it was a temporary thing. Nevertheless, because my enhancement had also affected my female body, I have to deal with guys "in that way". Ugh. Making matters worse, my body, male and female, have been enhanced even more so: first by the Olympians, who felt that I could take the place of the Amazing Amazon princess known as "Wonder Woman" as her successor, and then, later, by a woman from a possible future, who mistakenly shot me, and my wife Usagi for that matter, with a retro-virus that enhanced my "sex-appeal" even further. It's only by the fact that I learned bio-transmutation from the insane Fleet Captain Garth of Izar, back in my early days in Starfleet, circa mid-2360s, that I was able to keep my "awesome-ness" under wraps…so to speak. Nevertheless, dealing with women is an adventure in and of itself, whether mortal or otherwise, which is wise to tread very lightly in the affairs of the heart…especially when you have a traveling companion who represents the complete opposite of what is considered to be a "hero".
New Asgard: Northhope, Minnesota.
A day ago…
WOBBLE!
Four gods slide into normal reality, and stepped onto the road that leads to New Asgard, the home of the Norse gods. The actual home was a mountain that floated in the middle of an artificial lake, and can only be accessed by way of a rainbow bridge. New Asgard was created when the last of the Norse gods, Thordis, the goddess of Thunder, decided to bring back her people, this time on planet Earth. She chose the American state of Minnesota due to its connection with the early Viking explorers. Since its arrival, New Asgard has been a bit of a 'tourist trap', a cover that the Norse gods do not mind using, especially since it gave the Norse gods a chance to have "tail-gating parties" with their neighbors during Football season.
Go 'Packards'!
"We're here," Agrippa said, as she surveyed the scene. She could see Lord Heimdall guarding the rainbow bridge.
"I STILL cannot believe that my own wife would do this to me!" said Young Zeus, as he, Agrippa, Achilles and Herakles step towards the gate that leads to the Rainbow Bridge. Earlier, the heroes were able to reclaim the Aegis from Pluto, after being reunited with his wife Persephone, he had it laced with the waters of the Styx, which, when Zeus had put it on, reduced him to that of a young boy. Making matters worse, Hera took the opportunity to declare that Zeus was not fit to lead the Olympians in his present state, and thus banished him from the Olympus Group. And so, after much begging and pleading, Agrippa relented by promising Zeus that she would help him restore himself back to normal. Herakles and Achilles chose to come along for the quest.
"Well, you DID have it coming, you know," Agrippa said.
"WHAT?" Young Zeus yelled. "How?"
"Should I run a list of grievances that are against you, like, I don't know…destroying Sparta because of your beef with Kratos?"
"That…was a long time ago," Young Zeus said. "In hindsight, that was wrong. But I've changed."
"I'm sure the Polynesian gods appreciate your 'change'," Achilles said.
"Um…"
"Oh, thanks for reminding me," Agrippa said. "Zeus, you better be glad that Kane forgave you for killing him, and that he was later reborn as a part of the Polynesian circle of life."
"Oh?" Zeus said. "And why is THAT?"
"Because if I didn't get to you, his daughter Pele, the goddess of violence and fire, would have."
"…"
"It would have been a glorious battle indeed," Herakles said forlornly.
"What do you suppose we can do here, Lady Agrippa?" Achilles asked.
"We'll need to contact a…friend of mine," Agrippa said. "Hopefully, she has a cure to what ails 'Young Zeus'."
"And I appreciate that, Agrippa," Zeus said. "I KNEW that you were my friend after all this time."
"Sometimes I wonder. Anyway, come on…"
Agrippa and company walks up the Rainbow Bridge, only to be stopped by Heimdall."
"Hold," Heimdall said, as he lowers his battle-axe. "Who trespasses the home of the Norse gods?"
"What seems to be a problem, friend?" Herakles asked.
"Heimdall, it's me," Agrippa said. "I am bringing friends over."
"No, you are a shadow of Prince Ran."
"…"
"But you know of ME, friend," Herakles said proudly.
"Yes, we do, Scion of Zeus," Heimdall said with menace. "STEP closer, if you dare!"
"What?" Herakles said. "Thors and I are like brothers…rivals-!"
"Um, Herakles," Agrippa said. "There has been a slight change in that regard."
"Oh?"
"Thor is a woman now."
"Huh."
Agrippa turns her attention back to Heimdall.
"So, you'll let me pass, if I am Prince Ran again.
"That is correct."
"Well, then, in that case…"
FLASH!
"Good to be back," Prince Ran said, as he checked himself out. Ran looked like a beefier, godly version of Ranma Saotome, and wore typical Norse garb.
"Aww!" Herakles said with disappointment. And then-
KICK!
"Ow!" Herakles yelped, as he held his ankle while hopping on one foot.
"Stop thinking with your pants, boy!" Young Zeus said.
Achilles laughs, but stops as he sees four people descending down the Rainbow Bridge.
"It appears that we have company," Achilles said.
Ran looks up to see a familiar face…
"Speak of the devil," Ran said.
"My Lord Ran, hello," Sifdis said with a slight bow.
"Sifdis, greetings," Ran said. He then motions towards his companions.
"I'm sure you are familiar with my companions," Ran said.
Sifdis turns to look at Ran's companions…
"I recognize them," Sifdis said. "Especially Herakles."
Sifdis frowns.
"Of course I do," Sifdis replied. "How can I forget the Hundred-Handed Technique of the Scion of Zeus?"
Sifdis was the amalgam of the Norse goddess Lady Sif and a Japanese "okonomiyaki" chef named Ukyo Kuonji…
"Well, I do have my ways with the ladies," Herakles said with a smile.
"I had your hand prints on my rear-end for days!"
Sifdis turns towards Ran, who was laughing.
"Aren't you going to defend my honor, my Lord?"
"Lady Sifdis, I need the Scion of Zeus for a special mission."
"Humph! Well, Lokidis and Amora the Enchantress is ready to receive you."
And with that, Sifdis turns around, and returned to New Asgard.
"You may pass, Prince Ran," Heimdall said, as he stepped aside.
"Gee, thanks," Ran said, as Heimdall allowed him and his companions to pass onto the Rainbow Bridge. Heimdall's men will escort them to New Asgard itself.
"That went well…"
"Of course, in spite of my bumbling son efforts," Young Zeus said sarcastically.
"And the day is still young," Achilles said.
"I am the hero of Olympus, you know," Herakles replied.
"Why couldn't you hang out with Cho or something?" Ran said.
"Because I am honor-bound to protect my child-father during his quest," Herakles said. "And Cho wished to spend time with his family for a while."
"I thought you're here because Cho didn't want to be embarrassed by your antics?" Ran asked.
"Minor details."
A short time later…
"Sorry, my lord," Lokidis said, as she closed her spell book. She and Amora the Enchantress were pouring over old tomes for a cure to Young Zeus' condition, in the main library.
"I don't think we can help Young Lord Zeus."
Lokidis was the amalgam of the Norse god Loki and Nabiki Tendo, a young Japanese woman.
"What do you mean you can't?" Ran asked, as he leans on a nearby table.
"It's just that the waters of the Styx have very potent properties," Amora said.
"The sorceress would be correct," Achilles said. "I would not have been legendary without it."
"Save for one of your heels," Herakles said, as he munched on a Golden Apple. "And that's why I am a TRUE hero amongst the Olympians."
"THAT remains to be seen," Young Zeus said.
"Is there ANYTHING you can do, Lokidis?" Ran asked.
"There might be a way," Amora said, as she takes out another book, before flipping the pages to a page. "Let's see…ah! Here we go. According to this, there is a rare herb that is a key ingredient to countering magical effects."
"Okay, where is it?" Ran asked.
"The realm of Svartalheim, the home of the Norse 'Dark Elves', I believe."
"Who is the ruler of this Svatalheim?" Achilles asked. "And will there be obstacles?"
"This is the present ruler of Svatalheim," Lokidis said, as she conjures a virtual image of the ruler of Svatalheim…
"Wow," Herakles said, as he sees a comely, blue-skinned elf with dark hair.
"Wow, indeed," Achilles said.
"She's…beautiful," Young Zeus said, as he blushed.
"That she is," Ran said. He then turns towards Lokidis.
"I thought Malekith the Deceiver was ruler of the land of the Dark Elves?"
"Well, remember, when Shampoo had merged with Kwan Ying?"
"Yes, so?"
"She also merged with this person: Queen Alflyse."
"Well, Shampoo wanted to be closer to you," Lokidis said. "Interestingly, when that happen, myself, the fiancées and other weirdoes merged with some of the Chinese gods."
"Why Chinese?"
"To maintain the balance, I guess, and because everyone knows that the Japanese gods are your descendants."
"Good point," Ran thought. The last thing he wants is to risk getting into a relationship with someone relating to him, even though, thanks to be part-Juraian, he could do so safely without complications…
Ran then returns his focus back to the image of Alfyse.
"And let me guess: she overthrew Malekith," Ran smirked, knowing that anyone who goes against someone with Shampoo's fighting skills would be hard-pressed to survive.
"That is correct. Since you and the Queen are not around on the daily basis, you don't know what tends to occur."
"Huh."
"So, when can we begin our quest?" Herakles asked.
"Only after I come along," said Sifdis, as she enters the Grand Library.
"Sifdis?" Ran asked.
"Yes. We never get a chance to spend ANY time together. Now, we WILL."
"Does that include me, fair maiden?" Herakles asked. "Huh?"
WHAM!
"Whoa," Young Zeus said, as he sees his son lying on the ground, after he was smacked in the head by the flat side of Sifdis' battleaxe.
"THAT is a first," Achilles replied.
"The only one who man touch my womanly bosom is my husband, Prince Ran," Sifdis said, as she slings her double-sided axe back unto her back. She then turns her attention back towards Ran.
"So I make myself clear?"
"Um, crystal," Ran said nervously.
Tbc.