Althena was furious when I walked into the med bay, her glare constant as she moved to assess my injuries. "Look at your neck," she grumbled, her fingertips lightly brushing over the dark bruises that laid around my throat. "Why did you just run out there? With Vladís of all people?"
"I just wanted to help," I offered, wincing as my voice scraped against my throat. "I think I did that. Ow, ow ow!" I hissed and jerked backwards as Althena dabbed my arms with some disinfectant, which stung terribly.
"You triggered an explosion that sent you hurtling off the side of a mountain. It's a miracle you didn't die." She grabbed at some gauze close by her, sighing as she began to wrap it around my stinging wrists. "You can't just run into any situation because you want to help. You will kill yourself by doing that. And we'll be leaving soon, and we won't be watching over you constantly. You need to learn that for yourself."
I knew that. But I was desperate to prove myself, to Alpha, to Ælfswiþ. To me. I wanted to be strong enough, and worthy enough of this mission I had. "I know," I mumbled, wincing as Althena moved to prod my ribs, lifting my shirt slightly to examine them. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry to me. And even if I disagree with what you did, you did save Vladís's life." She narrowed her eyes at my ribs, the skin around them bruised and discolored. "They didn't break, which is good. Badly bruised. I'll wrap them, just in case." She continued to wrap the gauze, softly pressing the material firmly around my ribcage as I tried not to squirm or wince. "You did good. But that won't always happen." She shined a small light in my eyes, and I fought the urge to wince away from the sudden sharp light. "I don't think you did any lasting damage. Ice those bruises on your neck. Find me if anything else comes up."
"I will. Thank you," I smiled lightly, and Althena smiled back.
Almost as soon as I exited the small area, Alpha strode towards me with hints of exhaustion tugging at her movements, though the weariness that had previously rested on her features seemed far less prominent. "Asariel, I need to speak with you."
"Oh. Okay. Am I… in trouble?" I asked slowly, trying to stretch out the words. Alpha laughed lightly before shaking her head.
"No, nothing like that. Although there are definitely some people who wouldn't mind handing out some form of punishment. This is about your task on Earth."
She led me through several winding hallways, the light breaking through the trees throwing patterned shadows across the floor. She would stop and chat with a few passing Legends along the way, small talk that I couldn't force myself to focus on as exhaustion wormed its way into my head. Eventually, however, we came to a stop at one of the holotables we had been at before. I shuffled my feet, hands clasped together as I stared at the table.
"Asgard doesn't have anything like this. Or even lights for that matter," I blurted out, hardly containing the curiosity that had constantly been battering me since being on the Legend ship.
Alpha nodded, looking at the table appreciatively. "I suppose not. Earth doesn't either, if that's what you're thinking. I'd guess maybe a couple thousand years before they're anything close to this level of technology. Still, they'll learn."
I must have looked slightly disappointed, as she smiled warmly before continuing. "You know, you're going to be able to see them figure this out. See this species find their place in the universe."
"I don't know how I can do that," I muttered, staring at my shoes. "I'm just… me. I'm not like you or any of the other Legends. And I… I'm scared, Alpha. I'm really, really scared."
"Hey," Alpha spoke softly, stepping closer and putting both hands on my shoulders. "Being scared is okay. Being scared is what pushes you to do better. And, for the record, I think being 'just you' is more than enough. You risked your life to save Vladís, who, by the way, is incredibly grateful. And I'm not exactly sure what you did with the panthers, but you did that. And I'm not saying it won't be hard, because it will. But it will be alright. I swear to you."
I smiled weakly before nodding, still not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I fiddled with the edge of the holotable, hardly able to hold still. "I'm guessing you're going to leave soon?"
Alpha hesitated before nodding. "Tomorrow. At first light. I plan on visiting a nearby village, mostly to find a place for you to stay until you are comfortable enough to find your own home. But we are leaving."
I swallowed, nausea settling in my stomach, the feeling somehow familiar. "And what should I do? After you leave?"
"Watch over humanity. Make sure they grow and learn from their mistakes." I watched as Alpha's face slipped into a relaxed smile. "Although, I have heard of some conflict in Norway. You are strong enough to fight, and I spoke to Odin before our departure from Asgard about a possible aid in that endeavour. Meaning…"
I felt myself straighten, a wide grin splitting my face. "Thor and Loki can come?"
She laughed lightly, nodding. "Thor and Loki can come."
I felt the questions bubbling up, spilling out of my mouth before giving myself time to even contemplate them. "When will they come? Where even is Norway? How far away is it? How long will it take to travel? Where are we now? Will my father come? What if–"
"Asariel!" Alpha laughed openly, holding her hands up as I froze, my mouth still open. "Slow down! One question at a time, alright?"
I smiled bashfully, clasping my hands in front of me. "Where are we now?" I repeated after thinking for a moment.
A smile and a heartbeat later, Alpha gave her answer. "We're in a small country in Africa. Wakanda."
"We'll still talk?"
"Of course."
"And if anything goes wrong, you'll come?"
"As quickly as possible."
"Are you sure I can do this?"
"Absolutely."
I was wringing my hands, sheepishly standing near the Legend ship as Alpha continued to reassure me. She immediately reached out to grasp my shoulders, a continual sign of support in the few weeks I had known her. "You'll do great. And I am literally just a thought away. You remember the plan?"
I nodded stiffly. "I'm staying here for a few weeks, with a Wakanda villager–"
"Arika."
"Right. Arika. Sorry. I'll stay with her for a few days before reaching out to my father. He should be able to send me to Norway through the Bifrost, and he will send Thor and Loki and maybe a few more people to quiet a war with the invaders there."
"Good. You're going to be absolutely fine." She smiled at me, and I struggled to smile back before she pulled me into a hug. "I promise."
"Thank you," I whispered, trying to relax my stiffened shoulders. "For everything."
"You don't need to thank me. And either way, it was my pleasure." She pulled back, still smiling warmly. "Good luck, Asariel."
"You too," I replied, lacing my fingers together tightly and I stepped backwards a few paces. Alpha didn't waste much time, returning onto her ship with one last wave.
As the ship began to ascend, I found myself hesitant to return back to the village. Instead, I watched as it eventually grew into a small speck in the crystal blue sky, then nothing at all, and I felt a serene peace fall over me.
For the first time on my entire life, I was alone.
And yet, I suddenly had a purpose. One far greater than any I had growing up on Asgard.
A small smile slid onto my face, as I stared up into the sky I had never known before. I suddenly had an entire life ahead of me, one where I could do good for an entire planet. And suddenly, I wasn't alone. I took a breath before turning back to the Wakandan village, a determination set into my step and hope burning in my chest.
A few days became several years as civil war wrapped itself around the country of Wakanda. The explosion from the Survivors' base had thrown great rocks the size of full villages around the country. All of these mini-asteroids contained what the locals called Vibranium, and it's many special properties caused even more civil wars. I couldn't bring myself to leave them until I had helped sort it out. After all, it was partly my fault the metal existed in the first place. I had no way of telling but I had a feeling it was my own inexperienced magic that created the strange hybrid metal.
Arika had quickly carved out a place for me in Wakanda, offering me a permanent home and someone to talk to. She was quiet and strict, insisting I learned the language before anything else and teaching me about her country. But as the tensions rose over the vibranium, it quickly became apparent that simply watching and waiting want going to do anything, and I found myself calling for the same creatures who saved my life while fighting the Survivors.
The black panthers and I were a peace keeping force, preventing the Kings of Wakanda's several clans from destroying each other. It was a long, hard struggle, but when a warrior named Bashenga came to me with an herb to increase his strength and endurance, the other Kings pledged their loyalty to him.
The success was monumental to me, proof that I could fulfill the mission I was given. Wakanda was finally at peace, something that had almost seemed impossible years beforehand. I knew I was no longer needed, so for the first time since coming to Earth, I prepared myself to leave Wakanda.
I stood near the outskirts of the forest, my armor in a small sack slung over my back. Night had fallen, the cool air pleasantly blowing through my hair, which was braided over my shoulder. I could feel the presence of the panthers nearby me, though that had been a constant reassurance throughout the entirety of the wars, and it struck my how strange it was going to be to leave them.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "Father? If you can hear me, I need to speak with you."
The effect of that simple statement was immediate. I felt a deep warmth blossom in my chest, slowly spreading upwards until I felt my eyes burn a familiar gold. And when I opened my eyes once more, I wasn't surrounded by the cool tones of Wakanda. Instead, I found myself in the Bifrost, standing directly in front of my father.
Immediately, I felt my eyes well with tears, running forward to meet Heimdall in a warm embrace. He let out a laugh, his hand resting on the back of my head. "I missed you too," he chuckled, kissing the top of my head softly. I grinned pulling back quickly.
"How's Asgard?" I asked, excitement overwhelming me as I fought the urge to bounce on my toes. "And Thor? Loki? How are you?"
"All is well, my child. And I do know why you wanted to speak with me," he responded, taking a small step back.
"I thought you would," I admitted, still smiling widely. "But I still wanted to see you."
"And I'm glad you did. I will alert Odin about your conflict, and I am more than certain Thor and Loki will leap at the opportunity to visit you," Heimdall assured me. "As for you, I can use the Bifrost to transport you."
The Asgardian base was massive, far bigger than I had previously imagined. I had never actually seen Asgard go to war against another group, and even seeing Loki and Thor is battle gear was jarring. But even with our numbers, the Frost Giants still made me incredibly nervous; though their army wasn't as big, they were far more powerful than a single Asgardian, warrior or not.
I ducked into a small enclosure, where Odin was seated, hunched over some battle plans. Thor and Loki both stood to the left of him, and a handful of warriors to his right. I snuck a smile to Loki, who glanced towards me when I entered, before hurrying to tell Odin of my newest insight.
"Allfather," I began, bowing my head in recognition. "There's been some news concerning Tønsberg."
Odin straightened, his eyes narrowed at me as I fought the urge to look away. "Proceed."
"Laufey has… almost destroyed the entire village. He was holding back his full power until now." Odin swore, jerking his head towards his sons, both of them watching the exchange intently.
"What does he have?" He demanded, his words sharp and almost accusing.
I had a moment of hesitation, already suspecting the King's reaction. "I believe he has the Casket of Eternal Winters."
He cursed once more. There was a stretch of silence, during which I clasped my hands tightly behind my back, toying with a piece of fabric hanging off my armor. "Leave me. All of you." When we didn't immediately move, he began to shout. "Now!"
I bowed my head once more, hurriedly backing outside once more. The warriors were quick to disperse, but the princes came to talk with me almost immediately.
"I'm sure Father will find a way to beat them," Thor tried to sound confident, but it was clear he was worried. "They aren't invincible."
"I know," I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut. "I just didn't think it would be so complicated." Thor reached out, squeezing my hand reassuringly before letting go once more.
"I'll be back in a moment. I'm going to find some sort of weapon to use, because unlike certain people, I don't have a steady stream of magic," he stretched the last word out, wiggling his fingers slightly with a laugh. I cracked a smile, waving slightly at him as he turned away.
"You don't think Father can match their power," Loki said, not a hint of a question in his voice. I glanced at him, letting my shoulders fall.
"No," I admitted, rubbing my eyes. "Nothing he has is nearly powerful enough."
Loki drew his eyebrows together, squinting at me before his eyes went wide. "You think–"
"I know," I interrupted him, holding up a hand. "Alpha told me about the power those stones have. And I know she told you too."
"But…" he drifted off, clearly looking for the right words. "How do we even know it will work?"
"We don't. But it's better than nothing."
Loki stared at me, worry and doubt written clearly on his face. "Even if it does work, Odin will know about it. I've kept it safe for this long, I don't want it to just be stowed away like his other relics," he admitted, wringing his hands.
"Do you have it now?" I asked softly, my curiosity getting the better of me. Loki's eyes bore into mine sharply before he gave a nearly imperceptible nod. He glanced around briefly before holding out his hand, and I watched in awe as what looked like a glowing blue cube materialised in his grasp.
"Alpha said it worked like a doorway through space. I don't know everything about it, but I think I can get it to work," he admitted, now cupping the cube with both hands. I grinned, reaching out hesitantly to touch the smooth top, amazed at the energy that seemed to be buzzing from it.
"What did she say it was called?" I asked, voice hardly above a whisper. Loki's face scrunched up, his eyes closing for just a moment.
"I think she said it was the Space Stone. I've been calling it the Tesseract," he answered, smiling sheepishly. "She mentioned that it was a case for something inside." I nodded, pulling my hand back.
"We should tell Odin. We can't let the Frost Giants win."
Loki still looked hesitant, but he nodded as well, and I watched as the Tesseract faded out of existence once more. I grinned before grabbing his hand, pulling him back towards Odin.
"Allfather?" I asked softly, standing in the entrance of the enclosure as Loki seemed to shrink behind me. "Loki and I may have an idea."
Odin, who had been pacing behind a table, froze, turning towards me with a scowl. "And what," he snapped, "would that be?"
I felt a spark of irritation burst in my chest. Still, I stamped it down, tilting my chin up in some small act of defiance. "An Infinite Stone."
The effect was immediate, as Odin's glare melted off into a look of disbelief. "What did you say?" He demanded, striding towards me as Loki finally peeked out from behind me.
"I believe we have and Infinite Stone," I repeated, my voice growing weaker as Odin suddenly seemed to tower over me. He sighed heavily, closing his eye as his jaw clenched.
"It's an Infinity Stone, you daft child." he chided, his voice cold. "And I want to know exactly why you think you have one."
"She doesn't," Loki spoke up, staring up at his father with what almost looked like guilt. "I do."
Odin didn't respond immediately, staring at Loki, his expression unreadable. "Of course," he growled, eyes trained on the dark haired prince. "I knew I sensed a shift of power. I just didn't think that you would be so foolish to keep it from me."
"Father–" Loki tried, clearly scared, but Odin interrupted him.
"So you have it?" He demanded, his eyes still dark. Loki nodded, swallowing, and held out a shaking hand, once again making the Tesseract materialize in his hand.
Odin took the glowing cube from Loki's hand, holding it with the tips of his fingers, inspecting it carefully. He was quiet for a moment, before he spoke in a tone unusually casual, "When the Frost Giants came to this planet, they intended to make a statement. King Laufey wants his son back." Odin's eyes flicked to Loki and landed back on me, "who I took from him years ago. But now, with the Tesseract in my posession," Loki's head lifted slightly, "Laufey will know his place once more."
The irritation in my chest fizzled back out to fear, and hardened to doubt. If Laufey was only here to get his son back, and Odin was holding him kidnapped in some dark cell underneath Asgard. Was he screaming, crying for his family, or had he given up by now. Did he even remember them? I could envision him in a cell, similar to the ones I had seen in the Survivor's base what seemed like eons ago. I had not been in contact with Alpha for years, but somehow, I knew she would tear apart the palace brick by brick to find the boy.
My words caught in my throat and before I could force myself to speak I was interrupted by Loki. "What exactly are you planning to do with the Tesseract?"
Odin almost smiled. "Such a weapon is made to move the heavens and the planets, and it will do nothing less."
I straightened in alarm, and exchanged a glance with Loki, but once again I was interrupted, this time by a new visitor, who stormed into the tent, and bowed with a fist over his chest. "Allfather, General Hardstriker has assembled the men, Laufey is advancing over the ridge to the east."
Odin nodded. "Dismissed."
The man stood and left the tent, Odin moving quickly on his heels. I wasn't even aware of speaking until the words were vibrating out in the open. "Let all of this be avoided, we should give Laufey his son back."
Odin looked at me long and hard, with dark eyes towering several feel over Loki and I. "I will not bother to remind you, child, that it was you who asked for assistance. You asked me to save you, and you will be grateful for it."
"Your assistance will kill dozens of Asgardians and many more Midgardians. Alpha told me to-"
Odin wheeled around to face me and nearly spat in my face, "I will not give up my leverage for the instructions you are clearly not competent enough to be given!"
Cold fear washed over me. It was all I could do to nod as Odin stalked out of the tent.
"Where's Thor? I haven't seen him for a while."
Loki and I were sitting a ways from the collection of tents outside the small town of Tonsberg Norway. The sound of marching armor receding into the abnormally silent night.
Loki sighed, his breath puffing in the cold night air, adding to the thick fog hovering over everything. "The Allfather has sent him back to secure Asgard." Bitterness was heavily laced into his voice, and he refused to make eye contact as he tore out a handful of grass.
"But he allowed you to stay!" I argued, eyes narrowing slightly. I wasn't mad at Loki, but ever since leaving Odin, I felt a constant annoyance towards his actions. I couldn't fathom why he thought using the Tesseract as an act of war would be a better plan than simply returning the child to Laufey. Innocent lives would be spared, without the darkness of death clouding over any group of people.
"I believe that he didn't want his son to come so close to a battle, still so early in his youth." Another handful of grass, which tumbled out of his hand with a passing breeze.
I knew that I was older than the two princes, not by much, but by enough that there was a gap in our supposed capabilities. But as I opened my mouth to speak, Loki interrupted, changing the subject abruptly.
"Odin loves Thor more than myself."
The statement was rushed out, and as I looked at Loki in surprised, he only glared at the ground with a stiff anger. It was as if he had been bursting to say it, but kept it locked inside for so long it physically pained him to speak it out loud. "Why do you think so?" I asked softly, still studying him with concern.
Loki met my gaze with cold eyes. "He sent me to war, while Thor was to be kept safe behind the palace gates. I am younger than my brother, why else would I be told to come?"
I reached out and grabbed Loki's hand with both of my own from where they were sitting in his lap. "I asked my father explicitly to have you to come assist me. Besides myself, you also have Alpha's confidence. I wanted you on my side."
Loki broke eye contact with me, his posture sagging to the ground with a resolute sadness. "You do not see the things I do, Asariel. Thor is the favored son."
"Not to me, not to Alpha. Why else do you think she would give you something so precious as an Infinity Stone?" I tried to reassure him, still holding both of his hands. "And you have kept it safe for so long. She has every reason to trust you, and Odin should too. And if he doesn't, that just shows how his judgement can be terribly skewed."
Loki did not answer right away, simply staring into the mist before saying, "I do not wish for Odin to leave Midgard with the Stone."
I was still watching him intently, shifting slightly to face him more directly. "You want to have it yourself?"
Loki shook his head, avoiding my eyes. "I was told to keep it safe from anyone who would use it for anything but an emergency, and that includes the Allfather. If I take it back with me-"
"He will realize you have it," I realized, voice softening drastically.
"It has to stay here, with you." Loki spoke, with a soft conviction in his voice, finally looking back up at me.
"With me?!" My throat tightened, my voice lurching out in a shrill squeak. Loki smirked, finally lifting his eyes with a little more confidence.
"Yes. I cannot take it back with me, and I do not know of anyone else it would be safer with."
"I would be the next person Odin would check with. I can't just... carry it around with me."
"Then we leave it here. Hidden."
I chewed slightly on the inside of my cheek, "Maybe if I called Alpha, we could-"
Loki turned his body to face me, placing a hand on my shoulders. "Asariel, if Alpha could have kept it, she would have."
I looked down at my folded hands, barely moving. My chest was tight, each breath compressing the ribs in my chest.
"The night I was given this, I was sitting in my chambers in the palace. I had given Thor the slip, and I just sat there. You had been gone for It felt like my chest was vibrating, and I was overwhelmed by the miniscule sensations around me. I could not sleep, I just sat there, fully dressed, trying to handle the power magnification Alpha had given me. I more felt than heard Sariel enter, she was armed with a bow and quiver, dressed in complete black leather."
Images flashed in my mind, a woman standing down the hall, arrow drawn and aimed at my nightgown-clad form. Leaving the tactical room of the TMC in Alpha's wake, holding up a portion of a giant shield made of light bouncing away giant boulders from a crumbling mountain, yes, I knew Sariel.
"She introduced herself, and taught me how to control the heightened magic I had been given. She told me Alpha wanted to teach me herself, but if my father had known, he would have refused to send aid to her allies in the Nine Realms. So she had sent Sariel instead, but that was not the only reason she had come." Loki added his other had to my free shoulder. "Sariel only gave me a single charge - to never allow it to be in the possession of those who would try to abuse it. It is supposed to be in hiding here, and the Allfather parading around with in in war after war will attract enemies I fear Asgard and the Nine Realms are not prepared to combat with."
I broke eye contact and stared out into the mist, sending out tendrils of magic. I could feel the soft breaths of the almost ruined town Tonsberg in dormant sleep. The standing wooden homes packed with more people than practical radiated living strength, the entire planet hustling with vibrations. My charge was simple, watch and take care of this world. The same charge eight others had been given in eight other realms. If Odin posed a potential threat, it wouldn't be to just my mission, but to everyone else's, and countless other lives. The damage would be much greater than Tonsberg. It was crazy, almost stupidly impulsive.
I looked Loki straight in the face, squaring my shoulders, and nodded. Loki followed me down to the wrecked town, ripping our boots through the tall dry grasses.
"I'm going to talk to the Chief, you get as many craftsmen up as possible to help."
Loki nodded as the two of us came to a stop to climb through the tangle of wood debris that made a last-moment barricade to the city. I ran down the beaten earth path, my feet falling unevenly on the imperfections of the road, something I had long since become accustomed to after the pristine smooth terrain of Asgard.
Are you done?
Almost, I'm trying.
Try faster, Odin's almost done.
Getting the stone back was going to be the hard part, and we needed to be ready to hide it once we had it.
"Miss Asariel!" I opened my eyes to see one of the stone workers step out of the wood and stone church. "I expect only a moment or two left before construction will be complete."
I closed my eyes again, Just a moment Loki, we will be ready
The battle is ending, it will not be long.
Loki opened his eyes to be bitten by the cold snowy planet to which they had chased the Frost Giants. Taking a deep breath, Loki stepped into the cold front hall, footsteps echoing. General Hardstriker was holding the Tesseract in his hand, casting a bright blue to where Odin was looking at the small frost giant in his arms through his one remaining eye.
Lafuey was held back by a collection of Asgardian warriors, snapping and snarling to get to the baby. "That is my son!" He shrieked. "You have already taken one from me, what can you gain from the other?!"
Odin looked up at Loki with smile lines around his eyes. "My son. This is the last payment that must be made."
"Father, in the ending of this battle, I must regain the Infinity Stone entrusted to me."
Odin looked at him with cold eyes. "That Infinity Stone is not yours. It belongs-"
"To Alpha Legend."
Odin's look was hard and cold. "You want the Tesseract back? You will kill this child. For the glory of Asgard."
Loki's eyes met with the baby's, who was thoroughly calm and smiling. He did not work for the glory of Asgard, but swore what seemed like eons ago to work for Alpha, for she and Asariel loved him more than his father ever would. Staring into the baby's eyes, he knew Alpha and Asariel would both love this baby the same.
Loki eyed the Tesseract in General Hardstriker's grip, glowing a soft blue.
And painted the floor red.
