I let out a gasp as we landed back in the Observatory, Heimdall's impassive eyes turning towards me.

Odin pulled Heimdall's sword from the control panel and threw it to him, glaring as Heimdall moved back to his post. Thor growled angrily, his eyes taking on that storm look that was never good.

"Why did you bring us back," he asked spitefully, his father turning to face him.

"Why, Thor," Odin-King retorted just as menacingly. "Do you realize what you have done? What you have started?" Thor hit his chest once and glared at his father, "I was protecting my home!" The All Father looked around at us and scoffed, removing his helmet. "How can you hope to protect a kingdom Thor when you cannot even protect your friends," he bellowed before turning to me. "Halea, get him to the healing room!"

I gave Fandral to the others, Sif and the Warriors Three quickly exiting the Observatory.

"Whatever the cost, the worlds must know that the new King of Asgard will not ever be held in contempt," my betrothed said, looking at his father with malice in his eyes. I stepped forward to try and control the situation before Odin-King responded with, "That is pride and vanity that talks, not leadership! Have you forgotten everything I have taught you Thor Odin-son? What of a warrior's patience, cunning?"

Thor chuckled humorlessly, "And while you wait and be patient, the Ten Realms laugh at us! The old ways are done- you would stand giving speeches while Asgard falls!"

"You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy," Odin-King snapped harshly, Loki and I both flinching as we looked at Thor.

"And you are an old man and a fool!"

I gasped at Thor's words, the All Father going silent almost immediately. I reached out and touched Thor's arm, literally feeling the rage radiate off of my betrothed, "Thor, calm yourself."

"A fool, yes," Odin whispered, something terrifying even beneath the composure in his voice. "I was a fool to think you were ready for my throne."

"Father, please," Loki said, taking a step towards him. Odin-King then looked at his youngest son and Loki stopped in his tracks, looking at me helplessly.

I already knew what was to happen- there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Odin-King seemed to stand up straighter, fixing his one eye upon his son, "Thor, you have disobeyed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful Realms and hundreds upon thousands of innocent lives to the horrors of war." I watched as he plunged Gungnir into the control panel, a portal opening behind Thor.

"No- father, do not do this."

"You are unworthy of this realm Thor Odin-son," the king said, ripping one of the metal patches off of Thor's chest. He then tore his son's cloak from his very shoulders, Thor gasping in shock, "And unworthy of your title. Unworthy of the loved ones you have betrayed-" Thor attempted to hold onto Mjolnir as Odin-King extended his hand, the All Father taking it from him even as I pleaded with him not to. "I hereby take from you your powers Thor Odin-son, in the name of my father," he said, the power of Mjolnir hitting Thor in a way that disintegrated half of his armor from his very body. "And his father before him!"

I watched as Thor's armor was completely destroyed, Odinleveling the hammer at him once more.

"And I, Odin-All Father, cast you out!"

"No," I screamed as Thor was hurled backwards into the open Bifrost, disappearing to wherever Odin-King had banished him to. I turned to the All Father, seeing him stare at Mjolnir bitterly before he closed his eyes. "Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor," he murmured as runes etched themselves into the side of Thor's hammer. I looked at him tearfully before clutching at my heart, feeling a raw sort of loneliness that threatened to tear me apart. "Give me to him. He will never make it alone- send me to Thor!"

Odin-King looked at me once before throwing the hammer at me, the force stripping me of my powers and armor as well before it knocked me back into the vortex roaring behind me.

I gasped before I was surrounded by darkness, unconsciousness enveloping me.


"No!"

I woke up to Thor's voice, grasping my middle section painfully as I rolled onto my back. He knelt down beside me and I looked up at him, his fingers caressing my cheek tearfully. "What did you do Halea," he asked, helping me up off of the ground. "I could not let you go alone," I replied faintly, Thor wrapping his arms around me and nestling his hair in my face. I looked over Thor's shoulder through the wind and dust to see blindingly bright light, my eyes growing wide.

Thor was knocked from me as I hit the ground, scrambling to get to him. Whatever had hit him came to a stop and three voices called out, tiny lights dancing through the dust cloud around me.

"Thor, get up," I said as he groaned, my hands cupping his face. He finally focused on me and I smiled as his eyes met mine, the people rushing over to us. "Come on, big guy. Do me a favor and don't be dead, okay? I am so sorry I hit you," a small woman said, coming to my side. I looked up at her and her eyes grew wide, her fingers reaching out to my forehead. "Darcy, run and get the first-aid kit!"

The one I expected was Darcy, rushed over to where we were before stopping as she looked down at Thor. "Whoa. Does he need CPR, because I know CPR Jane," the young girl said, looking at Thor like she had never seen a man before. Another person joined us as well and I stood, knowing that being as weak as I was, I could not get Thor up by myself. "We need your help," I said wearily, the first woman looking at us. "Where did you come from," she asked, looking up at the storm glowing above. I was about to answer before Thor staggered to his feet, the expression on his face one of confusion.

"My hammer," he muttered, looking around.

I winced as I thought of the blow I was dealt, Darcy looking to me, "Yeah, you're out in the middle of the desert- you must both be pretty hammered..."

I watched as the people began to look at the runes underfoot, exchanging an excited look. The woman who had first come to help Thor took out some small device and pointed it towards the ground, talking excitedly. "We need soil samples, light readings, everything-"

"Jane, we need to take these people to a hospital," the man said, looking at Thor as he stared up into the stars.

"Father! Heimdall- I know you can hear me! Open the bridge-"

I grabbed Thor's arm and yanked him around to me, "Thor, we have been banished; you know as well as I do that Heimdall will not open the gates for us. There is no use in yelling- save your breath." He looked at me hopelessly before he turned to the man watching us, pointing at him. "You there, what world is this? Answer me!"

"Just calm down," the man said, holding his hands out towards us. "You're in the desert outside the town of Puente Antiguo."

"But in what realm," Thor roared, unsatisfied by the confusing answer. "Alfheim? Nornheim?"

I looked around at the creatures smaller than I had ever seen- other than myself, of course- and sighed, biting my bottom lip. "Thor, I believe this is Midgard. It has changed much from the cold and primitive society I remember… but this is Midgard the same," I murmured, his eyes suddenly enraged. He began ranting and raving, the tiny one named Darcy pulling out some sort of weapon and leveling it at Thor.

He only turned and laughed at her, holding his arms wide as if to challenge.

"You dare threaten Thor with so puny a-"

I watched as small wires came out of the weapon, hitting Thor in the chest and knocking him unconscious within an instant. I stared at her, angered as I reached for my sword, which was as a result of Odin-King's strike, was gone.

"What? He was freaking me out," she said, everyone turning to look at me.

"Take him to a healer," I said demandingly. "Now."