Good Parenting
Chapter 9: Side by Side
"Children need models more than they need critics."
~ Joseph Joubert
~O~O~O~O~O~
((Centuries ago))
"Come on, Fenrir! Jormungand! Hela!"
The children laughed, reaching forward to run alongside their Father, who held Sleipnir in his arms.
Loki looked down at his children, but seeing one absent, he glanced around, green eyes losing a bit of their usual luster.
"Where's Jormungand?" he asked.
The young wolf pup looked up, ears pulling tight against his head. He never liked seeing his Father upset; none of the children did.
"He's in the library again. He told me that he didn't want to go outside, because if you get too much sun, Midgardians will fly to Asgard and take you away!" the Wolf answered, changing into the form of a boy to tug at his Father's cloak.
Loki looked at his son, hearing the tale and, unable to help himself, he gave a laugh.
"Of course it's not true, child." He answered fondly, "Don't always believe what you're told, for stories are powerful things. That goes for all of you."
Fenrir and Hela looked up, as the wolf changed back into his usual form.
"Okay!" he replied happily, his tail wagging.
Sleipnir, too young to understand the advice, only gave a yawn, nuzzling his velvet snout under the Trickster's chin.
Loki chuckled, running a hand along the top of the colt's head.
"Finally awake, dearest?" he murmured fondly, watching as his youngest child's ears twitched, black tail swaying behind him.
"Mommy?" the colt whimpered, blinking wearily up at him.
Hela smiled.
"Hi Sleippy! Did you want to play with us?" she asked, stepping on her toes to try to pet the colt.
It had been such a wonderful thing after their Father took that long, nine-month trip to visit the stork's nest (or so they had been told). He seemed much happier when he came back with the grey colt in his arms. It didn't take long for the little family to grow closer as they all played their parts in taking care of the newest addition.
Hela was the biggest help. The girl knew responsibility from an early age as the All-Father began giving her lessons on ruling a realm and controlling the dead. Like death itself, she could be determined and forceful, taking what she wanted and using it to her own advantage, but she could also be compassionate and empathetic; caring for those in pain and taking them to a better place without suffering where they'd be happy. This compassion was what Loki relied on the most to raise Sleipnir. Fenrir taught the colt to run and play, while Jormungand (when he wasn't teaching himself) would help the boy with his homework after Loki gave him a lesson.
He smiled, despite regretting the means of their creation, loved his children more than he ever thought he would.
It was after the children tired themselves out playing, that he made his way towards the forbidden library.
With boots tapping down the stairs, he pushed through the already open doors, peering in warily.
"Jormungand?" Loki called, searching the dark room.
"I'm over here, Father!" answered a young voice out of the darkness.
Just as his eyes adjusted, all the candles instantly lit themselves and he found himself once again, blinking back spots.
However, through the haze, he spotted his son, curled up on one of the tables, tongue flickering with interest at the reading material in front of him.
The book was propped up as the boy read. Concealment Spells was what the title said.
"That's powerful magic, child." The Trickster pointed out.
The Serpent gave a nod.
"I know, Father." He replied, looking up.
The pair sat in silence for a moment, a mutual understanding settling in the air between them.
He understood his son; that studious look in his eyes as he took in every word of the spell book. His heart swelled with so much pride that he couldn't help but laugh at the similarities between them.
Puzzled by the Trickster's laughter, Jormungand looked up from his reading to eye his Father.
"Hast thou gone mad?" he asked, horrified by the thought, "Don't worry, Father! I-I know there's a spell in here somewhere!"
The boy changed into his teenage form to begin digging through the papers that lay strewn about the table.
Loki shook his head, simply reaching over to steady the boy's frantic hand.
"I'm fine, my son." He assured, as his son's blue eyes finally met his green, "Though, I feel that you're working much too hard. You should've joined us outside. The others definitely missed you… Especially Sleipnir."
Jorry just gave a nonchalant shrug.
"How am I supposed to live up to your skill level if I go outside?" the boy asked, "It all seems pointless, honestly."
The Trickster raised an eyebrow.
"Having fun is pointless?" he asked, "Now, that's where your wrong, son."
Jorry rolled his eyes with a groan.
"Father, I understand your love for mischief, but truthfully, I have the most fun here." He replied, "Besides, Uncle Thor used to tell me that you spent a lot of time in the library! That's why you're such a talented sorcerer! I want to be just like you!"
The older man gave a chuckle, pulling his son close.
"True as that may be… Uncle Thor probably left out all the hours I'd spent pranking him and his friends." He replied proudly, "There were several occasions where I got him good. You ought to ask him about the time I lured him into his own fox trap and he was hanging upside down for an hour."
He laughed at the memory as Jorry broke into his own, Cheshire-cat grin.
"You really did that?" the boy asked, fully facing his Father, completely enraptured by what he was being told.
Loki nodded.
"Of course I did! Would you doubt the God of Mischief?"
Jormungand shook his head fervently.
"O-of course not!" the boy answered, wrapping his arms around his Father, hugging him tight.
Loki smiled.
"Good lad… now let's go and eat dinner. You're not supposed to be in here." The god answered.
Jorry sighed.
"That never stopped me." He answered, beginning to put the papers and books away.
Loki chuckled.
"I know, my boy… I know."
~O~O~O~O~O~
((Present Day))
Sleipnir and Hela stared at the television. Pepper had joined them; all of them watching with their own concerns.
Seeing Fenrir take another blow, Hela shot up.
"I can't take it anymore. I'm going down there." She answered firmly, "I'm sick of seeing Fenny get hurt."
Sleippy looked up, instantly following his sister's example.
"I-I wanna go too!" he yelped, standing up.
Hela shook her head.
"No, Sleippy. I won't have you get hurt." She answered, "You're going to stay here with Ms. Potts!"
Sleipnir looked up at her, tears welling in his big, green eyes.
"What if you get hurt, Hela?" the boy whimpered.
Hela gave a laugh.
"Sleippy, you forget that I am the Goddess of Death. The worst that can happen is that I'm sent back to my realms." She answered, patting the boy on the head, "But then I just wait for you all to return."
Sleippy wiped his eyes, though, as Hela was about to pass through the door, Pepper's voice stopped her.
"You're not going out there, Hela."
The teenager frowned.
"I have to go! My brother is out there and he's getting hurt! Honestly, you can't expect me to just sit here and watch it on the enchanted box!" she argued.
"Of course I can! Just let Tony and the others handle it! I'm sure they won't hurt your brother!" Pepper pleaded, "Just come and sit down. If it upsets you, we can watch something else."
Hela shook her head stubbornly.
"I said no!" she shouted, her eyes now glowing a flaring red.
Pepper took a step back with a gasp.
The lights then began to flicker and as the redhead tried to reach for the girl, the odor of rotting flesh suddenly hit her senses.
"Hela, Sleipnir… what's going on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Hela glanced back as several, rotting hands came through the walls to grab her.
Pepper screamed, struggling against the zombie hands, but they held her fast to her place on the floor.
Sleipnir trembled, running to his Sister for comfort.
Hela only sighed.
"Come on, Sleipnir. Let's go get our big brother back." She whispered, as she urged her brother into the elevator.
~O~O~O~O~O~
By the time they reached the beach, Fenrir lay on the ground, looking too weary to get up. The heroes lay on another part of the beach, exhausted from the battle. Hela gasped, unable to take in what she saw. Her brother really did this?
Seeing Fenrir, she ran forward, going to comfort him, when she felt strong arms wrap around her, pulling her away from his side.
Hela gave a scream, struggling in the grasp that held her.
"Hela, there's no need to struggle! Hast thou forgotten thy Uncle already?"
In an instant, she stopped her struggle and sighed.
"Uncle Thor, you startled me!" she admitted, "But let me go! I have to see Fenrir!"
Thor shook his head.
"Nay, child. A madness has taken thy brother." The Thunderer explained.
Sleipnir joined them, trying to understand what was going on.
Hela frowned.
"Madness?"
She glanced back at her older brother.
"Please, call off your friends, Uncle Thor! I'm sure I can handle my brother." She begged.
Thor shook his head.
"I don't want you getting hurt." He answered.
Hela sighed.
"I don't wish to be treated like a mortal, Uncle Thor. Allow me to try with my army." She replied, "You wouldn't have to worry about any loss of life!"
She tried to give an innocent smile, but her Uncle didn't budge.
"Absolutely not." He answered, "I'll take no further risks of my kin getting hurt." –
"Well, then you wouldn't mind if I just killed the others?"
Thor and the others looked up to see Jormungand towering over them.
Instantly, Sleipnir lit up, galloping towards his brother.
"Jorry! Where have you been? We've missed you!" the boy exclaimed.
Hela looked up at her brother with a smile, almost missing his words.
"Jorry! I'm so glad you're here!" she sighed, "We have to take Fenny back to Asgard! Uncle Thor talks of a madness that has hi-… What do you mean kill them?"
She suddenly turned to face her brother complete.
Jormungand only smirked.
"Surely I need not to spell it out for you, Sister." He answered calmly, "You understand death much better than I will."
Hela pushed herself between her two brothers, her eyes casting a fleeting glance to the heroes.
Seeing her beloved Captain America being tired and worn from the battle drove her nerves to a fray.
"Jorry, I don't know what you're doing, but call it off!" She shouted, her eyes dissolving into orbs of red, "It's not their time, let them go!"
Jorry ignored her, only gathering his claws together, an orb of light forging between them as he then shot the beam of light to surround the rest of the Avengers.
The Serpent laughed, bringing his clawed hands together, sounds of discomfort filling the air as he slowly focused on crushing them with his power.
He toyed with them for a bit, watching them in pain under his grasp. Hela looked up at her brother.
"Jorry, stop it!" she pleaded, "Don't hurt them!"
Thor looked up, and grabbing Mjölnir, he swung the hammer over his head and launched himself into the air. He went to the light surrounding his allies, but nothing he did had any effect.
The Asgardian looked to the Serpent; his nephew, trying not to believe that this was of his own doing. Some outside force took hold of the children, making them do these things. Yes, that must've been it! He refused to believe otherwise.
Hela's gaze went to Captain America, the man writhing in pain under her Brother's magical grip.
"Stop it, Jorry! You're hurting him!" she begged, "It's not his time to die! Release him!"
The Serpent's gaze drifted downwards, and then to rest on the captured heroes. A smirk crawled upon his snout, fangs gleaming in the sunlight.
"Hela… you have feelings for this mortal, don't you?"
Watching his sister go bright red, he laughed.
"You're just as foolish as Uncle Thor." He pointed out, glancing back at the Thunder god.
Thor grumbled, tightening his grip on Mjölnir's leather handle.
"I wish not to hurt you, Jormungand… but you're leaving me no choice!" he shouted.
The sorcerer laughed.
"Well, what's keeping you then?" he asked, "I doubt you'll have much luck bringing me down. You have no idea what you're up against, Uncle."
Jormungand readied another spell for his Uncle, his eyes just daring him to make another move, but Hela stopped the warrior from taking any steps forward.
"He's right, Uncle Thor…" she replied, defeated, as she reached to grab her Uncle's crimson cape.
She knew of his ignorance towards magic, and she wasn't going to take any chances.
"I'll try to hold him off here! Only Father can counter Jormungand's magic. It's very powerful, very evil magic."
Thor's frown deepened, watching the Serpent crush them further within his magic.
Seeing her Uncle's hesitation, Hela's eyes widened, begging him to retrieve her Father.
In her times of trouble, it was all Hela ever thought of doing. Having him in prison was hard for all of the siblings, and perhaps her compassion just wasn't enough this time.
"Please, Uncle Thor?" she whimpered, "Sleipnir can take you there."
Thor sighed as he glanced back at the colt.
Sleipnir trotted over to him, lowering his head and compressing his ears as he gave a snort.
The Thunder god allowed himself the briefest of smiles as he pet the colt's head.
"Alright, Sleipnir. Take me back to Asgard."
With a whinny, Sleipnir changed into a massive steed; the ride of his Father.
Sleipnir was the one steed who could travel across the shards of the broken rainbow bridge, to different realms. He is the only one able to visit Hel as well. He was the finest of horses, and Thor felt proud to call him his nephew.
"Let's go retrieve my Brother."
Throwing himself onto the horse's back, Sleipnir reared back onto his hind legs and, sensing the broken shards of the Bifröst, he disappeared on his trip to the other realm.
~O~O~O~O~O~
Hela sighed with relief as her Uncle and her younger brother vanished.
She then turned her attention to her serpentine brother.
"Jormungand, I've tried to be kind, but I know you and Fenrir. Just stop this." She asked, trying to be rational, "You have more sense than this."
Jormungand gave an annoyed groan, finally releasing the heroes. They collapsed, broken to the ground, much to the sorcerer's amusement.
"Perhaps I do… but there are many things you don't know." He answered, "But, as I said to our dearest Fenrir… All will be revealed. Just wait until Father gets here."
"What about Father?"
Hela narrowed her eyes, suddenly fearing for her Father's safety.
Jormungand only chuckled, leaning his head down and taking another, large gulp of the briny water, still not realizing the presence of the mortal blood that seeped through it; the metallic taste concealed by the salt.
"All in time, Sister." He answered, making his way up the beach, one thumping step at a time.
Hela shook her head, casting one more glance at the fallen Captain.
"I can't let you do that, Brother." She answered, "Kind as Uncle Thor is, I have no problems with killing you."
Eyes glowing red, the ground began to shake and cracks began forming.
Hela lifted her arms, bringing forth her legion of the undead as they pulled themselves from the cracks. All of them were different, armed with swords, axes, and shields. Proudly, Hela stood as the ruler of her two realms; a ruler who was done trying to plead and ask forgiveness. She knew full well, the dangers of summoning the damned souls, but this was important. She could only hope that the All-Father would understand her desperation.
"I doubt that your feeble magic can break the spirits of the dead." She taunted.
"You underestimate me, Hela." He replied, taking another gulp of water.
She looked up, staring into her brother's eyes, as she sent the animated corpses into their own battle.
In his blue eyes, she saw streaks of red… and she gasped.
Already, she knew that she was in way over her head and it was about to get much worse.
Please be back soon, Uncle Thor.
It was all she could manage, as she fully turned to gaze upon her legion, watching them slash away at her brother's iron-like scales.
Mortals screamed behind her, but she ignored it; her heart pulsing in her ears.
She had never before experienced battle, but now she found herself in the middle. She only wished that it wasn't against her own flesh and blood… but she supposed that in the heat of battle, you don't have the luxury of choosing your enemies.
~O~O~O~O~O~
((A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated! The USB ports on my computer broke, and I had to send it in for repairs! I hope you enjoy the chapter though!))