TRTSS13: The Blackest Reign and a Dark Night!
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC/Marvel Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 21
Meanwhile…
"It appears that you have quite the catch," Lokidis said to Thordis, as the healers tended to the still unconscious Clor.
Lokidis then turns towards her step-sister and co-wife.
"I'm surprised that you allowed this mockery to live, sister."
"I have my reasons," Thordis said, as she looks on. "One of them is the fact that this world will need a new Thunder God."
"You're not retiring, are you?"
"No. As the Lord of Asgard, I am the All-Mother. Although my domain is that of a sky goddess, thanks to Kelda's gift, that doesn't mean that I can't have a champion."
"And you think you can get 'Clor' this champion of yours?"
"That will depend on what happens in the next twenty-four hours, when Osborn and his forces arrives…"
Pause.
"So, how are our defenses?" Thordis asked. "Are the people prepared for battle?"
"They are," Lokidis said, as she snaps her fingers.
POOF!
A scroll appears in front of the goddesses, and unrolls.
"These are the battle plans that Osborn had drawn up," Lokidis said, as the images on the scroll began to move about as moving pictures depicting who's who. "They plan on using Sentry as part of a first wave strike."
"Or as a surprise attack," Thordis said with a nod. "Where is Ran now?"
"He is rallying the Beserkers, the Valkyrie, the Elves, the Dwarves, the Frost Giants and any other Norse who seek to defend the Norse."
"Humph," Thordis said. "No doubt Alflyse has favors for my husband, in exchange for help of the Night Elves…"
"These sorts of things DO take time, after all…"
Meanwhile, at a private room at the Northope Medical Center, Tony Stark was going over some documents with Antonia and Maria Hill, when the Black Widow enters the room.
"Hey, Tony," the Black Widow said, as she carried what appeared to be a large, red suitcase with silver trim.
"Hey," Toy Stark said, as he sets his papers down. "Visiting your old boyfriend?"
"If I were, it would be Ranma, whom I would visit," the Black Widow said with a smirk.
"Very funny! But your 'boyfriend' is only outside of town. I hear he's in 'god-mode' there."
"Eh, that's okay," the Black Widow said, as she sets the briefcase on the table. "I'm a former Soviet spy. I'm not supposed to believe in 'gods'."
Tony gives his ex-girlfriend "The Look".
"Okay, okay," the Black Widow said exasperatedly. "Maybe I drop by and play 'fair maiden' to Ranma's Viking goodness, when it's all said and done…"
"So, what's that?" Maria asked.
"Well, this is actually a gift from Usagi," Black Widow said, as she sets the brief case onto the table.
"From my mother?" Antonia asked.
"Apparently so…"
""For moi?" Tony grins.
"I seriously doubt that after all this time, she would forgive you for your actions of late," the Black Widow said, as she hands over a fancy envelope.
"What's this?" Tony asked, as he takes the note.
"From her," the Black Widow said. "You should read it…"
The red-haired Russian turns towards Maria.
"Alone."
"I'll go get us coffee, Dad," Antonia said.
"I'll come with you," Maria replied, as she gets up from her seat.
"You don't have to go, Maria," Tony replied.
"Naw, I rather have you deal with Usagi," Maria said.
"Thanks a lot, Maria," Tony said, as he feigns outraged, which caused Maria, Antonia and the Black Widow to laugh, while they leave Tony's private room. "Humph. Now, let's see what the Bunny has to say…"
Dear Tony,
Still haven't forgotten the fact that you tricked your way into my bed, nor have I forgotten your recent actions since that day. However, considering my own history, and considering the fact that you've paid for your mistakes, I am more than willing to forgive you for your transgressions, especially where our daughter Antonia is concerned. So, for the sake of the future of us all, I want us to have a fresh start, starting with this new "Iron Man" armor had made from you. Get well soon.
Hugs and kisses,
"Bunny"
"Humph," Tony said, as takes a look at the brief-case. "I knew she liked me-"
FWOOOOOOM-!
"What the hell was that?" Tony said, as he sits up.
Just then, Maria come running back into Tony's room
"Tony!" Maria said. "HAMMER agents just entered the building. We have to get you out of here."
"That means that an attack on New Asgard is imminent," Tony said seriously. "Where are Natasha and Antonia?"
"Natasha is fending off the agents while Antonia is getting Pepper out to safety of the 'Infinite Avengers Mansion'."
The Infinite Avengers Mansion was a secret citadel where the real Avengers, not the Dark Avengers, were holed up in the age of the "Dark Reign". It was created by Henry Pym (i.e. Giant Man, Ant-Man, Scientist Supreme), and is located in a pocket dimension. It features millions of floors, each with an infinite amount of doors leading to private quarters and different locations on Earth. Jocasta, android superhero, serves as the mainframe and guide of the base, with multiple bodies throughout the mansion to assist any who need it. The mansion is also adorned with portraits of past and current Avengers. Incidentally, the original Avengers Mansion still exists, but as a museum, while the Dark Avengers are headquartered at Stark Tower. Osborn tried to take over the property, since Tony Stark had rebuilt using SHIELD funds. However, Ranma and Usagi bought controlling interests of Stark Enterprises, through the Rantsu Foundation, in an effort to shield Antonia from Osborn. Adding insult to injury, they jacked up the rent on the Dark Avengers, knowing that Osborn would pay it just to not give either Ranma or Usagi the satisfaction of not being forced out of the building…
"Right," Tony said, as he sets the suit down on to the floor. "Now, to see what this baby can do…"
He presses a button on the case, allowing the suitcase to unfold.
CLICK-KLAK!
Although it appeared to be a mess of gears, wire and metal, Tony saw the slots where the feet and hands were to be inserted.
"Hopefully, Usagi knows my size," Tony said, as he inserts his hands and feet into the slots.
CHUNK-KLAK!
He then pulls the gauntlets to his chest, causing the case to expand.
"So far, so good," Tony said, as he extends his arms to unfold the brief case.
CLICK-KLAK!
Automatically, the rest of the suit extends and wraps around Tony (first the endoskeleton sets, and then the armor plating).
CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CHUNK!
Hummm…
"Looking good, Tony," Maria said, as she examines the armor. Although the armor did not have solid pieces in place, the design was reminiscent of scales, allowing greater flexibility…
"Don't I know it," Iron Man replied. "Let's see what this baby can do. Computer!"
A virtual image of Usagi appears. She was dressed in a sexy office worker outfit while wearing glasses.
"Welcome to 'Usa-Star', your onboard personal computer," said Usagi's avatar. "How may I serve you?"
"Thanks a lot, 'Bunny'," Iron Man said, as he shook his head. "You can be SUCH a tease, you know…"
Meanwhile…
"It appears that the hero 'Sentry' is on his way here," said Heimdall, as he scanned the horizons.
"Are you sure, brother?" said Ran with a smirk. "I don't want your eyes wander like you movements."
"Damn you, Ran!" Heimdall yelled. "Is that why you recommended me for sentry duty, because of my lousy sense of direction?"
"Among other things…"
"If we manage to survive this day, we will battle for that slight!"
"Whatever, son of boars," Ran said, as he turns to address his warriors. "Listen up. We face a powerful enemy. And because we are here on Midgard, there is always a possibility that we can die. And while it is true that we will reincarnate, I, for one, do not want to leave this mortal coil anytime SOON."
"And Ran owes Alflyse date," said Alflyse, the Queen of the Dark Elves.
"Alflyse!" said Malekith the Half-Blind, as he speaks to a troll. Malekith was a power Night Elf skilled in the Dark Arts. Normally, he would see New Asgard fall. However, he changed his mind, if only to prove his worthiness to the object of his affection. However, the affection was not necessarily returned.
WHACK!
"Ow!"
"Alflyse is HERE, blind one!" Alflyse yelled. She was annoyed by Malekith's disregard for her person, by him assuming that she looked like a troll.
"Ran, beloved, are you SURE it was wise to allow those two to participate in this battle?" Brunhilde said, as she steady her winged horse (ironically called 'P-chan').
"We need all the help we can get, Brunhilde," Ran said. "You might fail on your end or something."
"Ran?"
"Yes?"
POW!
"You jerk!"
All the assembled warriors laughed at this, until Brunhilde turned her gaze towards them.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Frandal said, as he and his fellow "Warriors Three" tried to not to look towards her way.
"Humph!"
"Honestly, I wonder if we'll even survive each other, let alone against our enemies, sugar," Sifdis said, as she helps Ran to his feet.
"We gotta," Ran said. "Otherwise, I get to spend some time in the arms of Hild."
"No way THAT is going to happen. Humph!"
Just then, Thordis, dressed in full regalia, rides up to her people. She was riding her nephew Sleipner, the fabled eight-legged horse. On her left side was Lokidis, who was on the back of her son Fenir (the Wolf-God), while Baldur the Brave was on goat-drawn chariot, being pulled by the goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. Normally, the goats were in the service of Thordis, but Sleipner was the stead of the ruler of Norse gods.
"Listen up, citizens," Baldur said to the assembled warriors. He then turns towards his sisters.
"Sister?"
"Thank you, brother," Thorsdis said. "As you all know, we face an enemy that is determined to kill us all. And we knew that this day was coming. But I have faith in all of you, so make me proud."
"And if you don't do well, you get to eat Brunhilde's cooking," Ran said jokingly.
"RAN-!"
"I thought Brunhilde was a Valkyrie, not a Berserker?" The Enchantress said. The Enchantress was the Norse guise of Sailor Venus…
"I wonder about that myself," said Karnilla the Queen Norn. She was the Norse guise of Sailor Mars.
"Beserker or Valkyrie, fair Brunhilde is worthy," said Freyr.
"Must you ALWAYS think about your libido?" Lokidis asked.
"Look at the skies!" Freyja said, as she looks on. Freyja, the goddess of life and death, was the Norse guise of Sailor Saturn.
"They come, like locust!"
All eyes turn to see the approaching storm. Instead of darkened skies, they all say hundreds, if not thousands of aircraft on fast approach.
"Oh, my," said Idunn, the guardian of the Golden Apple Tree. She was the Norse guise of Kasumi Tendo…
"Well, then I say it's time to show these invaders that we won't go down without a fight!" Thordis said. "Are you with me?"
The Norse—god, elf and other—roared their approval.
"Then, without further ado: CHARGE-!"
But just as Thordis gives the charge, something fast and swift tackles Ran.
BAMF!
Unfortunately for Ran, he is pushed into the Great Hall at a tremendous rate.
"Ran?" Thordis said.
And then, Iron Patriot (aka Norman Osborn) and his Dark Avengers appear in front of Thordis and her fellow Norse.
"THAT was Sentry dealing with your precious Prince Ran," Iron Patriot said with a smirk, as he hovers in front of Thordis, although from a safe distance. "Thordis, Queen of New Asgard," said Iron Patriot, "By the order of the President of the United States, and sanctioned by the Congress, I have been invested to serve you a warrant for your arrest. Should you resist, I have been authorized to use any and every means at my disposal."
Pause.
"And do hope you resist arrest."
Tbc.