Chapter 6 – Sons of Odin
Vanaheim, Asgard
It was a quiet day in Vanaheim, it had been hours since Thor's departure and the uneasiness of any attack plagued upon the warriors. As king, Beta Ray Bill stood on the gates of the city, guarded with the last remaining Valkyries. Sif was armoring the last of the Asgardian warriors. Everybody seemed to be getting ready for war…and death. Korra sat on a bench in the streets of the city, close to the main gates. She didn't know if Thor was ever coming back in time, the day began to die and the night was rising. The moon light gave her more power because of her Water Tribe origin, but even the moon's light did not seem to help her get over her worry.
If this was to be the end of the Asgardians and possibly the mortal realm, she had stand in with them. She represented Earth and all of its inhabitants, for she was the Earth Spirit reincarnated into a human, Korra was to protect all of the nine realms. But could she? Ragnarok was the destiny of the gods, the end of all. Could she stop fate? The end is nigh.
All-Father's Tower
Thor teleported back to the All-Father's Tower, he had used the Runes to bring him back to the Asgardian plane of existence.
"The All-Father's Tower, we have returned." Thor said as he looked at his surroundings, his glowing eyes brightening the air full of ashes. "My brother has been here."
The tower had been brought down, and Thor's goats had been eaten alive. "My goats…their bones have been broken in order for them not regenerate." Thor said.
"You could easily bring them back to life." The boy of light said.
"No, the end approaches, it would be cruelty to bring them back just for them to die again." Thor said as he moved over to the cliff. It was snowing, a blizzard had fallen over Asgard…the coldest day of all…Ragnarok is here. "I have loose ends to fix."
"What do you mean, Thor?" The boy of light asked, smiling because he already knew what Thor wanted.
"We are heading towards Valhalla and pay a visit to my brother." Thor said as he raised his right arm and was engulfed in rune magic and teleported away.
Valhalla, Asgard
Thor arrived on a modified Valhalla, modified in Loki's image. Gone were the statues of Odin, the Einherjar and the brave gods of Asgard, replaced with those of giants and monsters.
"Valhalla has been rebuilt in Loki's image. The fool thinks he is lord of the gods. My people still stand in Vanaheim . They await the final battle, they will not hold." Thor said.
"Yet, if this is a cycle, how could they ever have a final battle?" The boy of light asked.
"Hahahahahahahah!" The voice of Loki sounded across the empty streets of Valhalla. "Long have I been controlling your enemies, through sweet words or sharp spells, reviving them from oblivion or far-off worlds."
The mighty Mangog ripped through the streets; he had been released by Loki in order to kill the remaining Asgardians and Thor. The monster charged towards the Rune Lord, with its rage high.
"Well, I know a spell to catch a witch and turn her into the wind…and I know a spell to bottle this being and to empty this bottle as well." Thor said as he stopped Mangog on his tracks with one hand, he had placed his armored hand on Mangog's forehead. A rune symbol came out of it.
The beast began to glow through its armored skin; light of awesome power began to engulf its inner being. Mangog exploded into nothingness and became…air.
"Be at peace beast." Thor said as he blew the air away, ending Mangog's rage once and for all. "Brother! Loki, show yourself! We shall settle your grudge now!" Thor yelled.
"What spells does my strong armed brother speak of?" Loki said as he appeared. "What are these spells that I do not know? I who have raised Surtur from beyond, I who have commanded such beasts as Durok and syphoned the magics of Mangog, I who toppled the walls of Asgard and rebuilt them! What are these spells?"
"You know what they are." Thor responded.
"Runes! Where did you learn the magic of the runes? I'm shocked, Thunderhead, shocked…and proud. You'll be learning to read next?" Loki taunted.
"I know now your secrets and pity you for them. I pity the power that now compels you…" Thor said.
"Oh please!" Loki yelled, as he landed in-front of Thor, holding his replica of Mjolnir. It was full of powerful magics. "You come here to destroy what I have rebuilt! I never wanted to destroy Asgard, but to rule it! To unify it! When I vanquish those who still stand in Vanaheim, my rule will be complete and things will be set right!" Loki said with anger.
"You cannot stand against me." Loki said his words full of poison.
"I can, and will…against you and your army." Thor calmly said.
"My army? Oh, you think you know of my forces, don't you? You don't even have the slightest idea." Loki said.
The God of Mischief and Fire snapped his fingers; the statues on the wall began to move. The monsters carved of stone began to shake…they began to take life! The ogres jumped from the wall in order to attack the Rune Lord.
Thor made a force field around him, knocking the brutes back. The energy propelled by Thor made the ogres dizzy and scared.
"You're going to make this difficult aren't you?" Loki asked.
"Impossible." Thor said as he raised his hand, a rune symbol appeared out of it.
Then suddenly, Thor released an energy attack that leveled everything around. The statues and parts of the city of the slain were leveled by such ferocious attack, the power of the Odinforce and Runes was incredible. Loki had been protected from the blast thanks to Thor for he had created a force field around the God of Fire.
"H-how? The magic of the runes? The Odinforce?" Loki asked as he was on his knees.
"Only after you had lost everything…can you do anything." Thor responded.
"W..why? I rebuilt our father's home…Asgard. Valhalla is mine!" Loki yelled, his voice sounding less…commanding. "I never wanted it gone…I saw what it could be..MINE! Why!?"
"I have walked the same path as Odin." Thor began saying. "I have destroyed myself and been reborn. I know the unknowable, I see the unseen."
"I know why and how you've done these evils. And it matters not." Thor said, his voice rising. "What happens NEXT is all that matters."
"You must be punished. You have taken the lives of many brave men." Thor said, his eyes glowing ever more radiantly. "So your punishment shall be to become less than a man."
Thor extended his arm and grabbed Loki by the head. He began to scream, yelling for mercy, but Thor would have none of it. The Rune Lord began to pull Loki's head, he pulled it so high that it came out of he's body. But was being kept alive by Thor's power…the power of the Runes.
"You shall come with me, brother, for ye shall witness the end." Thor said as he held Loki's head.
"What do you mean?" Loki asked.
"Yeah, what do you mean Thor?" The boy of light asked, wondering what would be Thor's next move. Head onto battle like the Shadow Gods wanted or fine another way.
"Ragnarok will come…and it will come by my hand." Thor revealed.
