HFTS: I am so SO sorry about the wait, especially because this is probably a horrible chapter, but I've just hit a lot of walls with my writing lately. I can't seem to keep myself on track (this is probably why my 'Unfinished Works' folder has reached the double digits). I'm really sorry for making you all wait like this. That being said, I think this might be the second to last chapter. At least I hope so.

Anyway, thank you for reading and waiting so patiently. If you've been reading this since the beginning you are a saint. Thank you so much for giving me your time. And if you have any questions, or if I haven't explained anything clearly, feel free to ask! I promise I'll respond faster than I post chapters.

And once again, thank you for being so patient. I really appreciate it.

Loki awoke to the sound of outrageous laughter and barking and whinnying and splashing. He sat up, stifling an ungodly yawn, just in time to be splashed in the face. Spitting and coughing, Loki scowled. "Who did-" he began, stopping when he saw a sheepish Peter trying to hide behind Natasha.

"Morning, Loki," Clint greeted cheerfully. "Sleep well?"

"I slept fine. I must say, your wake up calls could use a little more… finesse," Loki replied.

"Sorry about that," Peter offered.

"It is fine." Loki got to his feet, brushing himself off. Looking around, he noticed Fenrir and Sleipnir prancing around one another, seemingly trying to goad one another into jumping into the pool. "How did you get them down here?" he asked Natasha.

"Spies don't reveal their secrets," Natasha answered cryptically.

Loki rolled his eyes, glancing to Jor. "I suppose they've got you in on it too?"

"My lips are sealed, father," Jor told him. "…But may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"

"Why are my siblings and I so different?" Jor inclined his head towards Fenrir and Sleipnir.

"You were cursed. You and your siblings were transformed into creatures so that no one would ever know the truth. If you want me to I'll find a way to break it. You only need to ask."

Fenrir and Sleipnir quieted, having heard the tail end of the conversation. Fenrir gave a concerned whimper, slinking back. "Fenrir says it will hurt," Jor said, slithering partially out of the water to nuzzle at his distressed sibling.

"I can't promise that it won't," Loki admitted. He gently rubbed Fenrir's ear, avoiding any of the still-visible sores. "Breaking curses, ending spells, they can be painful. But it is your choice how we proceed. I will not force you to do anything you do not want to."

Sleipnir whinnied, approaching Loki. He gently pawed the ground, looking shy. "I would love you as much as I love you now," Loki said. "You do not need to change yourself to secure my love. I will accept you however you choose to be."

"Do you truly mean that father?" Jor asked, pulling back into the water.

"I do. It is your choice whether the spell is broken or not; I cannot stress that enough," he stroked Sleipnir's ears softly, contemplating. "But… if you do choose to break this curse, I could always teach you to change your shape like I can. Then you could look however you like."

"You can change your shape?" Jor peeked out of the water looking interested. Loki nodded. He closed his eyes and suddenly he started to shrink. His skin turned to luminous green scales and his limbs merged with the rest of his body.

"Uh that was not what I needed to see on a Sunday morning," Peter said.

"Yeah… Pete, let's go, um, get some more food for the children," Clint suggested, sounding disturbed. The two quickly filed out, not sparing a backwards glance.

"Sss-scared of a little trans-sss-formation?" Loki the Serpent said. He wriggled his way into the pool, and swam laps around his son.

"How did you say that without moving your mouth?" Natasha asked curiously, leaning forwards.

"Father, you're like an infant!" Jor exclaimed.

Regular Loki reappeared in an instant, backstroking around the pool. "I can teach you other magic as well if you like."

Both Fenrir and Sleipnir made raucous noise of approval, leaping into the water. Natasha calmly leapt out of the way of the tidal wave they created, looking amused. Loki chuckled, swimming out of the way of his eldest son's many legs. They swam together for a little longer before Loki, spurred on by a gesture from Natasha, pulled himself out of the pool. Running his hands over himself, he forced the water from his clothes and back into the pool. Natasha rolled her eyes, wrapping a towel around her waist. "Show off," she murmured with a smirk.

"I'm sorry, who was it that took out a giant, mutated goldfish with a Civil War era cannon just because she could?" Loki asked innocently.

"Touché. So… now that your boys are all here, what's our plan for getting your girl?"

"In all honesty, I do not know. She is amongst the priestesses, in an area of Asgard largely forbidden to the common people. Thor and I visited it only once when we were young, when mother had us blessed for our name day. Retrieving Jormungandr and Fenrir was a matter of force. To get to Hela would take either finesse or magic, and I cannot leave this planet to go to her," Loki explained softly.

Natasha quirked her eyebrow at him. "You realise who you're talking to, don't you? I have contacts."

"Contacts who can breach the laws of the mortal plane and reach beyond time and space?"

"Easy peasy. Give me an hour after breakfast." Natasha stepped into the elevator, flashing Loki a thumbs up.

"I do not doubt you, Lady Natasha," Loki murmured to himself, turning away. "But one wonders how long this streak of luck can continue to run?"

Natasha was looking particularly smug as she showed Doctor Strange into the living room, where the Avengers were waiting. "And this is Loki, the person you're here to help. Loki, this is Doctor Stephen Strange. He's the one I told you about."

Doctor Strange nodded, offering a hand to Loki. "A pleasure, despite the circumstances. I would have spoken to you sooner, but SHIELD delights in placing obstructions in my way. It seems they're still bitter about a certain incident." He briefly glanced over to Clint and Natasha. "Oh well, no use dwelling on it. Now, what of my services do you require?"

"Natasha has told me you are well-versed in various magics?" Loki questioned, his face stony.

"Indeed. I am the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth," Strange answered.

"Do you have knowledge of the Priestesses of Hela?"

Dr Strange stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm, I take it you mean the Hela who resides over Hel, one of Asgard's realms of the dead? Yes, I have heard of them, but information is hard to come by on anything other than their base function. They send tributes to the Death Goddess, and are her link to the living world."

"An adequate understanding for one outside of Asgard," Loki said, inclining his head. "There is another duty that the Priestesses perform: it is their job to seek out Hela's future successors and raise them. They teach them the intricate magic of life and death to prepare them for the day when the current Queen resigns – or dies." Loki waved his hand and an illusion appeared; a woman with golden hair tucked beneath a black hood held a small, blue-skinned infant swathed in grey rags. The child isn't moving, it's eyes glassy. Loki eyes the baby sadly. "My daughter was identified as one of Her successors, so she was sent to them by Odin."

"The Priestesses do not allow anyone inside their temple. Unless they are looking to commit themselves to the Priesthood, or are young children seeking shelter," Thor said.

"They care about kids?" Tony queried.

"Of course. Death takes all, regardless of age, but Hela has a certain fondness for children."

"So, you wish to reach this temple and see your child?" Doctor Strange mused. "I suppose that is as noble a cause as any."

"I don't know about noble, but it is the right thing to do. This young girl was taken from her family, her siblings transformed, and her parents brutalised. It's our duty to bring her back," Steve said, his arms crossed over his chest. "The question is: who do we send on this mission?"

"There's no question. We're sending me," Natasha replied. "This is an undercover retrieval mission. It's what I do best."

Steve shook his head. "I can't send you without backup."

"Then don't. Hawkeye and I have run plenty of them with SHIELD."

Loki cleared his throat, a slightly guilty look in his eyes. "I'm afraid the Hawk may be ineligible for this quest. Trace amounts of the magic of the Infinity Stone used to enslave you would be picked up by the sorcerers. They would think he was there as my servant," he explained.

Clint sighed. "Of course."

"I could go," Steve offered.

"No, you already got to ride the rainbow road. I'll go," Tony said.

Natasha shook her head, looking over Tony's tense posture with a critical eye. He was only offering out of pride, hoping no one would guess that the thought of going through another wormhole filled him with icy, clawing anxiety. Even if he did force himself through it, he had only just started to sleep through the night – she wasn't going to let him undo that progress. "Your arc reactor is probably in the same boat as Clint," she reasoned. "It's based on the Tesseract, isn't it?"

Tony paused. "Oh. Yeah, I guess you're right."

Natasha rolled her eyes. 'If only it was always that easy.'

Clint clapped his hand onto Tony's shoulder. "Looks like we'll have to make our own fun, Stark."

Tony grinned at him. "I have a few ideas."

Natasha cleared her throat, glancing around. "Considering that this is a covert operation, I think there's only one Avenger I can take with me."

Steve narrowed his eyes and followed Natasha's gaze. "No. Absolutely not."

"He's perfectly unassuming. I mean, no one thinks he's-"

"No. We're not putting him in that situation."

"I volunteer!" Peter blurted. "I mean, you were talking about me, right?"

Natasha nodded. "You're better suited for this mission. Plus, you're young. People tend to overlook you," she said.

Steve looked unconvinced. "Peter, you don't have to do this. I can go. I would prefer to go."

"This is undercover right? So, it's not like we're expecting me to get shot," Peter argued. "C'mon, Captain, if I'm gonna be an Avenger, I've gotta pull my weight. I'm gonna be eighteen soon - old enough to be a full Avenger. I can't do that If I have no idea what I'm doing. And I'll be with Natasha. Who better to teach me the ropes of undercover operation?"

"He kinda has a point," Clint said.

Aunt May cleared her throat, looking pointedly to Natasha. "If I may? As much as I dislike the idea of Peter going into danger, I think he does deserve a chance to prove his skills. Peter will be an adult soon, and he's better off knowing how to handle things before he's in hot water. I don'tlike it, mind you, but I understand."

Steve considered her point before turning to Peter. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. Just tell me what to do," Peter said.

Natasha walked forwards, looking him in the eyes. "Peter, this is a stealth mission in hostile territory. There's a high chance we'll be separated. You'll need to be able to make decisions for yourself; and they'll have to be the right decisions. I'll do my best to keep you safe, but I can't make any promises. More to the point, we're rescuing a young girl. Depending on how she's been treated, she may not want to come with us at all. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I get it."

"Do you?"

"Yes, Black Widow. I understand. Just let me go get my costume on and I'll be ready." Peter turned to leave, only to be stopped by Loki.

"I would not suggest going in costume – at least not yours. You would stand out like a Bilgesnipe amongst in an orchard," Loki said. "Thor and Miss Lewis have gathered together some more appropriate clothing for you. I doubt it will be comfortable, but you'll blend in much better than you would otherwise."

"So, while they dress, you had best run me through the magic I am supposed to perform," Strange said. "Or am I meant to guess."

"That is the other thing. In order for them to return, someone needs to be on their side, ready to open a portal for them. I had hoped my mother could do it herself, but since she brought Sleipnir here, Odin has been keeping a close eye on her. And since I am not allowed on Asgard…"

"You want me to go." Strange looked thoughtful. "I suppose I must. But I will need to send word back to… my home to let them know I'll be away."

Loki looked relieved, tension falling away from his shoulders. "As you wish. I'll give you a moment to send your message, and then I will show you the ritual. When you're on the other side, you'll have to do it in reverse."

Peter and Natasha kept their heads down, trying not fidget under the heavy, itchy wool of their cloaks. They had arrived at a forest, not too far from the glittering lights of Asgard, where they had left Dr Strange to his own devices. He had assured them that he would be content to watch the world go by as he waited, and perhaps catch up on his reading for book club. The path to the Temple of Queen Hera was rough, winding between mountains and through tunnels dug millennia ago by creatures unknown. Neither person spoke; Peter was quiet for fear of awaking some wild animal that had a taste for Spider-Men, whereas Natasha was contemplating the plan and whether any modifications were necessary. So far, it had been as Loki told them. The map he had transcribed directly into their minds – not the most comfortable feeling in the world, though useful – had yet to lead them astray. Eventually, after two hours of walking, they came upon a gate. The stone guardians standing idle beside the entrance looked down on them, their eyes shining in the weak, grey sunlight.

"This is nice," Peter murmured. "I've always wanted to go to Silent Hill. Oh wait, no I didn't."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "It's a temple for the Queen of Death. Were you expecting rainbows and cuddly animals to greet you?"

"It might've been nice to see someone break the stereotype." Peter paused, looking around in suspicion. "Did you hear that?"

"No. Come on. The temple should be just over this hill," Natasha replied.

"I'm serious!"

"I know you are. But it's just a scouting party for the Priestesses, making sure we're not raiders or bandits," Natasha whispered. Louder, she added, "Hurry up, would you? If we want to have a chance to study under Priestess Bodil, we have to go quickly."

"Stop where you are," a voice commanded. A robed figure appeared on the path before them, their face unseen beneath the hood. "Identify yourselves."

"I am Natalia. This is my younger brother Piotr. We wish to learn," Natasha said.

The figure stared at her, unmoving, while others gathered around. Natasha kept her face passive, staring steadily back. Finally, the figure nodded and stepped aside. "Then I welcome you to the Temple of Queen Hela, keeper of the unworthy dead."

Natasha bowed shortly. "Thank you."

"Two of the disciples shall lead you inside, while the Priestesses and I return to our patrols. A warm meal will await you, and then you shall be taken to Priestess Bodil. I will warn you now, Bodil can see into the hearts of all beings, and should she find you possessing impure intentions, you will be cast out. Understood?"

Natasha nodded, grabbing Peter by the arm and hurrying him forwards. "Yes, thank you."

The two disciples led them into the temple and down a winding corridor to a small dining hall. No one else was about, and the disciples left them with instructions to wait for their meal and not to stray from the room. Natasha scouted the room, finding nothing of use. Peter picked nervously at a fruit bowl, devouring several apples and pears. "So… do you think they have bathrooms in this place?" Peter asked.

Natasha rolled her eyes, sneaking over to the door. "I thought I told you to go the bathroom before we left."

"I did!"

"You shouldn't have had all that soda," Natasha scolded. There was no one guarding the door, and the hallway was empty. She gestured for Peter to hurry over, checking that her guns were still well hidden and easy to reach. "Ready?"

"Sure. That shaking in my legs has nothing to do with my bladder," Peter replied.

Natasha allowed herself a small smirk before sinking back into herself. No time for jokes now. She pulled the door open and the two of them slunk out into the hall. Haunting, rising music echoed from one end of the hallway. They headed the other direction, straining their ears for any sign of life. Natasha was counting the seconds, expecting to hear an alarm or to see armed guards marching towards them. Instead, the hallway grew colder, the haunting music replaced with silence. It seemed, for now, that luck was on their side.

"D-do we h-have any idea wha-what we're do-doing?" Peter murmured. He rubbed his hands along his arms, wishing he had his insulated Spider-suit.

"We're looking for Hela," Natasha told him steadily. "When we find her, we're going to bring her to Strange, and then he'll take us back to Earth."

"Doesn't it concern you that our entire plan is pretty much 'wander around and hope we're not found'?"

"I've dealt with worse." Natasha glanced at Peter over her shoulder, noting his discomfort. "Try thinking of something warm."

"What do you think of?" Peter asked.

Natasha shrugged. "A desert."

"Oh… Okay."

"Why? What are you thinking of?"

"Just… well, you remember after our battle against that weather machine dude who wanted to freeze Manhattan? How we got back to the Tower and most of us were shivering and shaking but insisting we were fine?"

"And Aunt May insisted on giving us all blankets and hot chocolate, and we watched kids movies until we fell asleep." Natasha smiled at the thought. The cold did little to faze her, after all her years training in the Russian winter – running barefoot along miles and miles of frozen ground, swimming across a lake while dodging ice thickets, her lungs burning from the frigid air. Still, she couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed the drink and attention that Aunt May provided. Sometimes she wondered what it would have been like to be raised in Peter's place – maybe she would have been Spider-Woman, a carefree hero swinging through the sunlight rather than a predator stalking the night.

"Do you think Hela will listen to us?" Peter asked after a long silence.

Natasha sighed. "I honestly don't know. She has no reason to believe us-"

Natasha grabbed Peter, pulling him back round a corner. She tucked them into the space behind an ornate statue, her hand covering his mouth. Two modestly dressed women walked passed, oblivious to their presence. One carried a tray, the remains of a meal covered by a handkerchief. Natasha waited for their footsteps to fade before she crept out from the shadows. She led Peter forward with a wave of the hand, pointing to the door the servants had emerged from. It was plain, coloured the same as the stone walls. It was as though the Priestesses were hoping no one would notice it.

The door opened easily, without a sound, and the marching feet of steel boots echoed behind them. They slipped into the room, closing the door with a solid snap. The room wasn't large, containing a bed, a wardrobe, and a washbasin. A girl blinked wearily at them, propped up on ancient-looking pillows. She looked to be in her early teens, if a little thinner than most. Her hair was dark, cropped to her earlobes, and her eyes a glowing red. But her skin was the most eye-catching, the colour of a summer sky, crisscrossed with deep lines that meant something long forgotten. "Are you here to kill me?" she asked quietly.

"What? No! Why would we want to kill you?" Peter replied, moving forward.

Hela was silent. Natasha stepped forward, lowering her hood. "Hela? My name is Natasha. This is Peter. We're friends of your father, Loki."

Hela tilted her head and frowned. "I… But the Priestesses said…" Hela's frown turned vicious, glaring at the two of them. "You're trying to trick me! You want to hurt me- Or kidnap me!"

"Hela, I swear to you, we are not here to hurt you, and we're not trying to trick you. We only want to offer you a chance to go to your father."

"What proof do you have?!" Hela demanded.

Peter reached into his pocket and brought out a small hand mirror, holding it up to show Hela. The surface flickered, running like molten earth. Loki's face appeared, though it was his Jotun self rather than Odin's illusion. "Hela. I know I have much to explain, and I promise I will. But please believe me: I am your father. And Natasha and Peter are here to ask you something important. If- If you want to, they can bring you to Midgard. That's where I am. I… I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you. Please, give me a chance."

Hela took the mirror, running her fingers across Loki's image. After a minute of quiet contemplation, she nodded. "Okay. A chance. That sounds good." She looked to Natasha and Peter. "However you got in, they will have noticed that you are not where you are supposed to be. They will come to check on me, but I can protect you. You must hide though. My magic only goes so far."

"Thank you," Natasha said. She moved towards the wardrobe, while Peter sidled under the bed, complaining under his breath.

A harsh knock rattled the door, and a voice called, "Hela? May we come in?"

Hela lay back against her pillows, her face falling into a blank, withdrawn stare. "I allow you entrance."

A handful of guards shamble in, glancing around at the room. The lead guard stepped toward Hela, briefly placing her hand on her chest and bowing her head. "Hela, are you alright? We have reports that there are two imposters within the Temple. We fear they may be after you."

"I am unharmed. Am I allowed to stay within my room?"

"You may. I will leave two guards outside your room. You need only call them." The guard bowed again and led the others out.

Hela slowly sat up, reaching over to grab a crude pair of crutches leaning against the wall. She pulled herself out of the bed, while Natasha and Peter came out of hiding. Peter gestured towards the door, with a 'what do we do now?' look. Hela brought them over to a blank wall, and tapped it gently. Her hand glowed briefly, the colour seeping into the stone. It shifted, gliding silently away and leaving a smooth tunnel behind.

"How long have you had this?" Peter whispered.

"For as long as I've not been allowed to go outside." Hela lifted her hand towards her bed, and an illusion shimmered into being. Hela waved goodbye to the image, before leading Peter and Natasha into the tunnel. "The illusion will not last for long, but it will give us some time."

"Thanks for giving us a chance, Hela. Your dad's gonna be glad to see you," Peter said.

Hela nodded. "I would hope so, or else this would be pointless."

"You look a lot like him." Peter fidgeted, shivering again. "You also freeze a room like him."

"My apologies. It is an unfortunate side-effect of my heritage." Hera shifted, turning to study Peter. "You are a mortal?"

"Er, yes. I'm a human, from Earth," Peter said.

"Strange. You seem different to other mortal souls I have seen," Hela said. "How did you come to meet my father?"

"Well, I'm, like, a Junior Avenger, and Loki is one of the actual Avengers so… We go on patrol together from time to time."

"Avengers? Is that some sort of army?"

"No. We're superheroes. It's – I'll explain when we get to Earth. It'll be easier there."

After nearly two hours, they came to a rough circle cut into the stone, just large enough to squeeze out. They emerged at the base of the mountain, their exit hidden by an outcropping of rock. The forest where Doctor Strange waited could be seen in the far distance. Beyond them, the weak light of sunset streamed over the mountains. Hela sighed, looking over her shoulder. "I feel… saddened. As much as I disliked being separated for the world, this was my home. Am I wrong to abandon it?"

Natasha placed a gentle hand on Hela's shoulder. "You aren't being ungrateful. It isn't wrong to want to see your father, or to have a life beyond what you've been told to do. You deserve to have a choice. We won't force you to come with us, but you don't have to stay either."

Hela considered Natasha for a moment, before nodding. "I want to go to Midgard. I want to see my father – to find out what kind of person he is."

"Then we will make sure of it," Natasha promised. In the distance, bells rang wildly. "I think we need to get moving. Hela, would you be against letting Peter carry you?"

"I will allow it," Hela said and dropped her crutches. With Natasha's help, Hela climbed onto Peter's back. Natasha led the way down the path.

"How do we know they won't spot us?" Peter asked.

"I can provide some cover, but it won't fool them for long. Nightfall isn't far away. We'll have better cover then," Hela said.

Quietly, they slipped away, the world around them growing darker with each step. When they reached the forest, a moon – golden and large and very much unlike their own – was hanging high in the sky and the stars shone without restraint. Doctor Strange was waiting for them, sitting beside a hillock, having summoned a small fire to keep himself warm. "Welcome back, adventurers. How did it go?" he asked, getting to his feet.

Peter turned so that Hela could be seen, peering at Strange with curiosity. "You have magic," she stated. "Are you a sorcerer?"

Doctor Strange bowed in a smooth, sweeping motion. "Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, at your service. Your father enlisted my help to transport you back to Earth."

Hela nodded, frowning. "Is it all right if I rest a moment? The illusions have left me tired."

Strange traded looks with Natasha, before nodding. "Take your time. I shall prepare the spell."

Peter and Natasha lowered Hera to the ground, where she sat looking contemplative. Peter sat beside her, offering her his fur overcoat. Natasha leant against a tree, allowing herself to breathe. She noticed Hela's troubled expression. "Something wrong?"

"My father… Loki. They say he- he tried to kill the Jotuns."

"He did."

"So… Why would he want me? Surely he must know what I am?"

Natasha sighed. "It's… complicated. Loki is a Jotun, but he didn't know until very recently. Ever since he was a kid, he was taught that Jotuns are monsters. Bad things that are to be hated and hunted. He spent his childhood believing it, and listening to how they were defeated by the bright and glorious Asgard. When he found out he was one of them, he couldn't handle it. He thought that by killing them all, he could prove something to Asgard – to his father."

"What Loki did was wrong, and he's starting to realise it. But it's hard to unlearn those kinds of things," Peter explained. "But he's getting there. I'm sure meeting you will help."

"What if he hates me?" Hela asked quietly.

"He won't. He loves your brothers, no matter what, and he'll love you just the same."

Hela's mouth fell open, her eyes wide. "Brothers?"

"Oh, yeah. You have two brothers and one half-brother. Sleipnir is the oldest, then Jormungandr, and then Fenrir. I can introduce you when we get to the Tower," Peter said.

Hela smiled. "That sounds nice. But… cursed?"

"You'll see when we get there." Natasha stood up, looking to Strange. "Ready?"

Strange nodded and stood straight, his hands aloft. He chanted softly, his eyes focused on empty air. Light appeared, spiralling into existence, bringing with it a warm wind. The portal opened like a window, the rooftop of Avengers Tower clearly visible. Peter picked up Hela and stepped forward, waiting for the signal. Strange brought his hands together, delivering the last line as a shout. The portal stabilised, taking root in the world. Peter was first through with Hela, followed by Natasha. Doctor Strange made a complex motion before stepping through, the portal collapsing behind him.

HFTS: Thank you again for reading, and I hope you enjoyed (though I understand if you don't). If you spotted any typos or errors, feel free to put a correction in the comments. I tend to miss things in my own works. Thanks again!