Ohmigod everyone! I am so sorry about this one! Work has been intense and I have been extremely rundown. I finally have some breathing room that I am able to get this chapter posted.
I know that battle sequences are not my strongest pieces, but I hope that it shows a great deal of what has been going on. Please enjoy and I will get more stuff up. I really do need summer break so I can concentrate more.
Music (This stuff really helped)
The approaching dawn / walls are breached - "Heart of Courage" by Two Steps from Hell
The battle is on / retreating to palace - "Protectors of the Earth" by Two Steps from Hell.
Inside the vault (both times)- "Dream of a normal death" by BBC orchestra on Doctor Who (Season Three) soundtrack
Chapter Nine - Come and get it!
The dark blanketed veil was chased away by the approaching dawn. It's coolness evaporated to give way to the heat that would be restored to the realm.
But as many believed, it was possibly the last sunrise they would see.
The defenses were mounted up. Asgardians and Elves in their full armaments stood stolid and rigid; ready for whatever would come from over the mountains.
Within the boulder maze before, Jotuns scattered as they encroached behind the rocks.
They were poised and ready to offer first blood to any of the Chitauri. Avenger warriors Hulk and Thing joined them as crushing was more their speed.
Closer toward the city behind the Asgardian front line, the Midgardian Avengers and Royal Infantry were beginning their line up of the wall that granted access to the kingdom.
Iron Man stood up tall, scanning the perimeter with his radar. Nothing was showing as he watched.
Thor, Captain America, the Human Torch, the Invisible Woman, and Mr. Fantastic all lined up on the wall.
They were ready for anything.
And then it happened.
A large blue and green energy struck down and spread like rippling water, coating the mountains in a temporary glow.
"Uh, guys," Tony said, "looks like the main event is about to start."
"Then lets give them a show they won't soon forget," a voice joined the entourage.
No one seemed to notice that Midgardian queen Jane had arrived to stand in the center of everyone who was present.
She had not been there previously, so how did they not notice her arrival.
"Uh, Jane..." Tony spoke.
"You forgot the 'Lady' part Tony," she corrected him with not so much as looking at him or diverting her gaze from the impending attack.
"My queen," Rogers came to stand at her side, "pardon our eyes, but you appear..."
"Different?" she answered his statement. "What? The outfit too much?"
Indeed Jane did appear different. The leather pants and boots curved to (and he hated to say it let alone think this of his queen) every single curve. The tunic was a vest that appeared black, but when his eyes moved it gave a shimmer of green. A large emerald orb rested across her chest where a cloak wrapped her shoulders and fell just a tad behind her.
His queen's hair was done in two braids that converged into one with her circlet around her head.
She was indeed ready for a fight or at least look good in one.
The sounds of the Chitauri battle call came and diverted Tony's attention.
Right, battle time, he reminded himself.
From the maze, blasts of icy blue energy followed by shattering rocks and dust started showing from the beginnings of the rock maze; moving slowly toward the second defensive line.
His queen turned and faced them.
"Everyone, this is it," Jane started to say. "This is what we have been waiting for. The chance to get even with those that tried to destroy our world. It is time to show them how weak and insignificant we are...because at last check, we're not!"
Tony noticed that everyone started to smile, just a bit. Head nods from Torch and Cap were instilling confidence in all present.
"Midgard is not weak and Asgard's halls are filled with some of the greatest warriors throughout time," she continued to speak. "It is time to show these monsters who rules the nine realms...and it certainly is not and will never be them!"
A growling sound came from the horizon.
The lizard snaking troop carriers that Tony remembered from Midgard were starting to come over the cliffs and make their presence known.
"Reinforcements on the way," Tony informed everyone.
"To your positions," Jane told them, "and I want to see you all in the hall of the Asgardian palace, not Valhalla when this fight is over."
The Queen ran down the steps to head back for her position in the palace.
Thor was not far behind.
Iron Man was to be the sniper outside the castle so he sprung from where he stood to fly nearby.
Captain America stood there with the Human Torch, Invisible Woman, and Mr. Fantastic at the top of the wall.
They were going to be the first line of defense in the city outside the palace. They would slowly update the progress of the Chitauri army and give the final line notice that they were about to be attacked.
Steve vowed to fight until the end and prevent them from getting that far in.
Suddenly, howling sounds and running came from Hulk, Thing, several Jotuns (including Battalak), and Light Elves were running out of the maze toward the main castle doors.
The first line was broken.
"Open the gates!" he shouted.
The castle gates were opened just enough to allow the men to answer.
"Johnny," his sister Susan said, "that is your cue."
"One non-digital firewall coming up," Torch replied. "Flame on!"
Storm went flying in a flaming trail into the clouds and swooped down powerfully, riding the perimeter of the wall.
"Eat this freaks," he said and put out his hands.
Johnny remembered that the Elves had created a potion or something of that sort and dumped it along the walls' edges.
With a small spark, it would shoot to life.
And with his flame-trail, the liquid ignited and created yet a second wall that the Chitauri were going to have to crawl over in order to reach them.
"Smokin," Johnny spoke, very proud of what he had done.
The Chitauri ran toward the Asgardian kingdom walls in pursuit of the ice warriors and
mortal heroes that attempted to decimate them.
But their chase ended when the fire demon hero sparked a flame trail that shot into the heavens.
The fire would prevent all of their kind from reaching the palace.
But there would be another way into the kingdom without using the wall or doors: go over it.
One of their carriers appeared and snaked its way over the rocks and would be able to scale the height of the palace.
Firing their cables, they latched onto the carrier and lifted into the skies to get over the walls.
Rogers looked up as the carrier made its way over the two walls and slowly dropped Chitauri into the city. Those that had just made into the walls had very little rest time and were forced back into the fray.
"Well, that was really pointless," he said. "Ready everyone?"
Everyone nodded.
"For Midgard!" he shouted and hurtled himself from the wall.
The Richardses joined him in leaping down to fight; to keep the demons from making it to the palace.
Lord Odin, Prince Thor, and Queen Jane were standing at the edge of the balcony that overlooked the main entrance to the palace.
They were not alone however.
Lady Frejya had come with her Valkeries from Valhalla to assist in defending the castle.
It was a battle that was damaging and / or destroying parts of the city, but that was why they herded the women and children into the treasure vault below the palace. They would be safest there.
While the fighting and dying would be done above ground.
Thor grasped Mjolnir tightly into his grip.
"We should meet them," he mentioned about wanting to go into battle. "Take the fight to them before they get to the palace."
"No my son," Odin spoke.
"Lord Odin is right," Jane agreed. "We need to keep our ground here. The women and children are counting on us to be the last line of defense."
"A wise queen you are Lady Jane Odinson," Frejya spoke of her. "Our time will come."
The man in iron flew overhead and hovered just before the balcony.
"Hey big guy," Howardson's voice spoke to them, "you might be needed soon. The firewall did nothing. Might need to shield the castle."
"We, the Royals of Asgard..."
A cough from Jane stopped him mid-speech.
"...and of Midgard, will defend this place with honor and our dying breaths," Thor spoke.
"Keep your men moving toward us and we shall be ready with a surge of power unlike the Chitauri have seen."
"Tony," Jane called to him, "how much juice do you have left?"
"JARVIS, enlighten the queen," Stark ordered.
"Power is at 75% capacity and slowly recharging," JARVIS's voice answered.
"These solar arrays we installed are helping with the power supply, but not by much. At this rate, if I get to the celebration or the annihilation parties, whichever happens, I will be sound as a pound."
A large house crumbled to bits, indicating the monsters were drawing closer.
Slowly, the Avengers and surviving Jotun were appearing in their sight.
"That's my cue," Stark said and flew away to begin blasting even more Chitauri.
Jane put her hand at her hilt and Thor looked down at her hand. It appeared to tremble lightly.
The leap of faith he took grasped her hand.
Her eyes looked at him, but he swore they appeared different. Almost a slight sparkle to them.
She squeezed his in return and turned back to look at the battle that was slowly make its way toward them.
Treasure Vault of Odin
It was the most fortified structure in the palace, Odin's treasure vault. Within this vault, it housed something more precious than the weapons and treasures of the Lord of Asgard.
The women and children along with those that were unable to fight were housed within the fortress deep under the castle.
It was the one place that would be the last to fall.
Queen Frigga was placed down there along with Stark's lady and the one called Black Widow to assist with taking care of the children of any of the soldiers, helping women in preparing food, and tending to those that were too weak to care of themselves.
The queen moved gracefully down the path in search of her blood. She finally located
Lukas who was entertaining some of the other kids by telling a story about his father; using magical illusions.
Torunn was doing what she always did...preparing her mighty sword for battle by sharpening.
And sweet Lynnea was brushing the fur of her bear in the deepest corner. So innocent and yet she had experienced violence and devastation in her short years.
It was a discussion that she should have with her daughter-in-law and when her son was located about purging young Linney's mind once the war was over.
"My lady," Abygail Stark spoke to her.
"Yes," she answered still staring at her granddaughter.
"Food has been prepared," the young wife informed her. "We wanted to..."
"No," she answered with a gesture of her hand. "Abygail, you have a great heart. Always thinking of others before yourself. Please, let everyone else have their share. I will nourish myself once everyone else has been taken their portion. I want to protect that which is most precious to me."
A sudden violent noise above along with a shaking of the castle floor above frightened the children.
The battle had reached the palace.
The fiery redhead in Black Widow came running to join them. "I think they have reached the castle," the Avenger spoke to her.
"I believe the battle has finally reached home," Frigga added, calm yet worried. "We must be ready...all of us."
And the two women looked upon her, worried but ready to face what could be their gravest hour.
Castle
The Chitauri had reached the confines of the Royal Palace of Asgard. Demonic warriors armed with energy weapons fired on the Asgardian soldiers who defended themselves with golden shields.
Jotun warriors created large barriers of ice and charged through them to attack without mercy.
Light elves used magic to sweep many of the invaders off their feet and from the palace.
Avengers Hulk and Thing were using their brute force to fight and crush as many of them as they could while using the protections of the other Nine Realms members.
Captain America used his shield both offensively and defensively to take down many more of the aliens.
Thor's hammer plunged out ahead of him as he charged toward many Chitauri sentries. He swept up five to ten of them at once and pushed them through a balcony opening to meet their doom below.
More of their soldiers were there to finish them off.
Lady Freyja and her valkeries attacked using their great talents to defeat the warriors who sought to destroy their home.
However, Lady Jane was having to result to more simple matters.
Using the metal heel on her boot, she spun and clocked a warrior square in the jaw.
She reached into her belt and pulled out a dagger that she would use as a weapon. Normally, Loki's scepter would have been her weapon of choice, but she did not want to exhaust all that magic now.
Save it for The Other...whenever he decided to grace her with his presence.
But where was he? She figured he wanted the Tesseract so badly that taking her on would be his first priority.
Yet, the leader was nowhere to be seen.
Time for a little interrogation, she thought and was going to use the minion on the ground as her supplicant.
Her dagger was poised to slice the minion's neck. She could not believe that she was in this moment. Was she about to stare into the soulless eyes of her enemy and take its life?
To have their blood upon her hands?
But judging by the stripes it wore, this minion was important.
"Where is your Master?" she demanded to know. "I have yet to see him."
It laughed at her.
Jane pushed the dagger, piercing slightly so it could feel its fluid drip slowly.
"Last chance."
"Protecting that which you care about most," it told her.
"Good answer," she said.
The demon took this moment of distraction to her advantage, wailing on her with his spiked fist.
She went tumbling to the side.
"Not that you will see him again," it told her and was prepared to stake her with the other weapon, a wrist mounted claw that could evicerate her.
Suddenly, a blast of powerful thunder struck the soldier. It was rendered to bone and collapsed where it stood.
She breathed a sigh and looked to see Thor's hand reaching down for her.
"Are we having a grand time resting?" her brother-in-law joked.
"Speak for yourself," she snickered. "The Other is on his ship...with Loki."
"Then how..."
"...will I get to him?" she finished his sentence and reached into her satchel. "Simple."
Her greatest weapon, the Tesseract was in hand.
A pillar was struck with a mighty force, causing it to crumble and plummet.
Jane and Thor were separated after she shoved him out of the way.
The dust and impact were still clouding her vision, but those were the least of her concerns.
Did Thor survive the impact?
"Jane," she heard a groggy voice call for her. "Jane!"
"I'm fine," she called.
A growl was coming through the cloud. Another warrior was coming for her, a blaster in his hand; charging and ready to fire.
She craned her neck and saw the Tesseract was not far from her reach. If only she could...reach it.
The Chitauri soldier's weapon hummed and nearly released when she whipped the glowing cube upward.
A large cosmic blast struck, vaporizing her attacker and several near him.
Now was the time. Her Avengers had everything well in hand.
She needed to get out of here and get her husband back.
Jane channeled her thoughts in her mind to push down towards her greatest weapon.
"Take me to Loki," she enchanted.
And she suddenly was lurched from where she squatted and hopefully would appear where Loki was being kept.
Treasure Vault of Odin
Lady Frigga could hear the blood curdling scream of precious little Lynnea. Her grandson was at her side in helping with moving supplies for the other children when they began to hear his sister.
Lynnea's hands were mashed against her temples as she screamed in unholy tones. Tears streamed down her red-beaten face.
"Lynnea," the queen knelt beside her granddaughter. "Lynnea darling, what is the problem?"
"Linney," Lukas spoke to his sister, "what happened? Did someone hurt you?"
"Momma," she spoke. "Momma is gone! Where did she go?"
And Lady Frigga was worried. Did this mean that Jane had vanished or was she no longer in this world?
First, she would render care to her granddaughter to calm her and then seek out the information herself.
I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. With a little time this week, I will finish up the next section and have it up probably late this week...if I am lucky! Please review
