Authors' Note: Yes indeed, as some of you observant readers have pointed out, the eight legged horse is a child of Loki's, but that's according to Norse mythology. Odin had the horse in Thor, and Loki didn't say anything about it being his child then, so...we're just going with the version where it's Odin's horse and not a distant relation :)
-DeadMan'sHand702 & J3ntheninja
War Part 2: Girl Power
The only thought going through my mind as I look out over the armies of Asgard is whoa. They're huge. Yep, help has definitely showed up. Odin the All-Father looks down at his sons with pride.
"The time has come," he proclaims, "To finish our enemies together, my sons!"
Thor and Loki look like they could burst with happiness. Everyone is silent for a moment; the calm before a storm. Then,
"CHAAARGE!"
The golden army surges forward at the All-Father's command, washing through the zombies like a tidal wave. Our ragged band raises a tired cheer and we charge forward as well. I find myself running to conserve energy, and two of the Warriors Three flank me. The big one on my left looks like a demented teddy bear (with an impressive beard, might I add) and wields a huge battle-axe. Jackie Chan is on my right, already pulling out a pair of vicious-looking knives. I find myself yelling out an Un-Tony-Stark-Like battle cry as we meet the front line of the enemy. They scatter like grass clippings in front of us, and I start to feel like the Lawn Mower of Death. It's awesome.
"Milady, I had no idea the archer survived!" Thanos says, putting up his hands defensively. "I thought her dead as well!"
"You thought wrong!" Death hisses venomously. "Your army is weak!"
"Milady, I assure you-"
"Your assurance means nothing to me! It appears that I must supplement my armies. Titan, if this last attack fails, any and all blame shall fall squarely on your shoulders."
"Yes, milady. As you wish," The Destroyer wisely deferrs to the Lady.
The Lady stands well back from the portal, working her fingers in the gestures of magic, calling to an unseen force. When her eyes focus again, she glances at the portal. A mighty roar can he heard through it. She smiles mirthlessly.
"Let the war begin."
We're very nearly finished with the armies who had previously swamped us, the armies of Asgard turning the tide quickly in our favor. Well, that's until the animalistic growl echoes from the towers around us, magnifying itself and then dying away. It sparks a memory in my head...from so long ago...back when Thor and I were small... I turn to my father.
"Is that...?" His terse nod scares me more then the roar did. Beside me, Thor starts twirling his hammer. Ace glances over at me.
"What the heck is that?" I follow her finger and see the hulking form through the buildings. No. It can't be.
"To me!" Odin calls, and the Asgardians whirl to face the new threat, forming themselves quickly into a phalanx. I find myself at its tip, along with Ace and Alex, who's just come down to run beside us. We sprint forward, the war cries ripping unbidden from our throats as we charge the cave troll that has just arrived on the scene. The apparition is huge, a fourth of the size of Stark Tower at least. Its skin is ragged and black, its fangs crooked and yellow. Every single huge muscle stands out on its body, curving sinisterly in the early afternoon light. The club it carries is rotten but still the size of a California redwood. It opens its mouth and roars. The sound is nearly deafening, and clearly conveys its intention of killing us all. The army bravely runs forward, though, but one person outdistances us all. Doctor Banner takes leaping strides towards the monster, catching it in a flying tackle. The two beasts roll backwards, tearing up the earth in their fierce struggle. Alex and her dad take to the sky, circling the monster and pelting it with energy blasts.
It swings its club low, taking out a few Asgardians who got too close. The rest of our lines seem a little nervous now, their footsteps slowing even more. Something must be done. Without thinking, I run forward, clapping my hands together to summon a huge spell I know will at least wound the beast. I put a huge portion of my energy into it, murmuring the incantation carefully. I plant my feet firmly in the ground and release the spell, watching in satisfaction as it carves a huge hole through the chest of the monster. I stand back as it falls forward limply, and Odin comes forward, resting his hand on my shoulder.
"Well done, Loki." I smile.
"Thank you, Father."
He nods his head once and spurs his steed onward, leading the forces of Asgard into another horde of the dead.
"Wow," Ace says. I see her standing about five feet away from the beast, poking its head with her bow. "That was awesome."
I grin back at her, catching my breath for a second. "That's got to count for at least a hundred," I say. She frowns.
"Fifty."
"Seventy-five."
"Fine." we shake hands and sprint off in the direction that sounds like it has the most skeletal clacking.
"A hundred and seventy-five, a hundred and seventy-six..." Ace counts under her breath as we battle the horde of zombies. A flash of bright pink comes by the corner of my eye and Alex touches down next to me.
"What you at, babe?"
I grin. "Two hundred and three."
"Liar."
"He got the troll," Ace explains ruefully.
"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. You did good, but I've seen better." I arch an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Ace cuts in. "Like my poker skills?"
"Burn. Whatever. You two are so petty. Why do I even hang out with you?" I laugh and take out a zombie that had been about to hit her in the back of the head.
"You were saying?"
"Back off, Lover Boy. That should have been my kill."
She's about to blast a soldier, but Ace's arrow beats her to it. She whirls on the archer.
"Come ON! Really?"
I laugh and kick another soldier in the chin. "Now, now, ladies."
Something hits me hard in the back and I find a dead zombie sprawled all over me, spilling God-Knows-What all over my jacket. I shake him off and glare at my two companions, who just laugh. Alex holds up her hand for a high-five and they slap hands.
"Girl power!" Alex taunts. Ace just grins.
Death whirls to face Thanos again.
"Titan! You have failed-" she stops as he holds up a massive hand.
"Pardon me, milady, but I have one card yet left to play." He snaps his fingers and a cage comes up from beneath the floor, with a mortal ensconced inside. Death recognizes him and her expression lessens in its ferocity.
"Very well, Titan. You should hope that this card serves you well."
Colors flash before my eyes and I am transported back to a place I know a little too well. New York. On the top of a ten story apartment building. Looking down, I see something that makes me proud. The team is all fighting just as I expected-like a proper team. Maybe the pictures were indeed fake. A rather large blue Frost Giant stalks over and twists my arm behind my back. He holds me in place, hissing words into my ear.
"Call to them," he says.
"Wh-" With one look at Blue Guy, I change my mind. No need to fight a battle I can't win. "When you all get a chance!" I yell down to the team. They look up, and I can see the surprise on their faces. "I could use some help!"
"Just stay there!" Stark yells back. I roll my good eye at him.
"Like I have a choice?"
The other suit in pink and silver- Alex I'm guessing- nods at the others. She takes off, her flight track heading right for me. At least someone is going to help. The giant smiles.
"Excellent."
The thrusters propel me forward, Jarvis screaming at me about the power. Fury needs help, and I am going to help him. The apartment building to my left comes a little too close to me.
"Jarvis, keep-"
I'm plucked out of the sky like a leaf and hurled to the ground. I look up to see the big bad blue Laufey staring down at me. Again?
"Bro, seriously. I thought we've been through this," I say standing up. This bull was getting old.
"We are not done," he replies.
"I think we are," I say. Quicker than me at a sale, his fist comes into contact with my stomach. The suit takes most of the damage, but there is still pain. Fine, I think. You want a fight? You've got one!
I retaliate with a couple quick jabs to his torso. We both go into fight mode only running on instincts. I bet we look like we are performing some twisted dance. We both get in several hits, none of which are effective.
"1%." Jarvis' voice rings through the helmet. Laufey takes the advantage of my momentary distraction. His blue hand wraps around my neck as my suit completely dies on me.
"Now..." Before he can finish I kick him in the kneecaps (perfect way to take down bigger opponents) and break away from him. I rip the useless helmet off. Now it's on! "Why are you protecting him?" I stop at the blunt question.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"My son. Why do you protect him? I have no issue with you, Iron Maiden. I only wish to see my son."
I roll my eyes. "It's something called love, Boy Blue. Not that you'd know."
The cold grin that spreads across his face unnerves me a little. "I know enough about love," he says slowly, "to know how powerful of a motivator it can be." He moves faster than lightning, grabbing my arm and holding me on the very edge of the building. "Now, scream for your lover."
"Never!" I bark. He allows me to fall back, catching my hand right before I go completely off.
"I said, scream! Or you die."
I stare back at him silently. My eyes say it all. I'll not bow to you. Do what you like but I. Will. Not. Scream.
A sibilant hiss escapes his teeth and with one last evil grin he drops me. I close my eyes and let my suit drag me downward. It's over, then. As I fall I can hear a scream.
"Alex! NO!"
It's Loki.
"I love you..." I whisper.
My Asgardian hero's voice is the last thing I hear before the world explodes into many colors and finally goes black.
"Alex! NO!" I scream the words as Laufey drops her over the ledge. He whirls around and before he can even smirk about his handiwork, an arrow, a bolt of magic, and a blast of energy hit him in the heart simultaneously. He crumples to the floor, a light frost spreading out from where his body lies. I turn to my right and see Ace's stormy face. I turn to my left and see Mr. Stark already rushing forward to the rooftop's edge.
"Alex! Baby!" He's screaming for her. I come over slowly, afraid of what I'll see. Alex is ten stories down, lying in a heap on top of a pile of rubble. Mr. Stark's visor flips up and he smashes his gloved fist down on the edge, a silent tear coming down from his eye. I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Why wouldn't she just scream?" Ace asks quietly. Mr. Stark laughs painfully.
"That was my Alex," he says. "She never could obey an order."
I feel the tears starting to burn, and I don't bother holding them back. The three of us stand there, softly shaking in our grief. Nick Fury comes over to us.
"I suppose I should thank you," he says. "But I think the one I should thank is down there."
His words ring hollowly for a moment, but they accomplish their purpose. I can tell Ace feels it first; her gloved hand tightens on her bow and she yanks her arrow from Laufey's body. Only when she nocks it on her bowstring, still dripping the blue blood, do I begin to feel it too. A cold rage, icier than my late father's dagger, begins in my heart and boils its way through my veins. I glance over at Ace and she nods tersely.
"They will pay," I vow.
"With interest," she adds grimly. She jerks her head and I come over to her, holding on as she throws us off the roof. Halfway down she twists in midair and fires an arrow attached to a zipline. It embeds itself in the wall and our descent slows to a crawl. We alight on the sidewalk and she disconnects her arrow, leaving the line attached to the building. I look up to see Mr. Stark jump off as well, his thrusters kicking in. They die when he's about five feet from the pavement, and he lands roughly, tearing off his mask and running over to his daughter. He'd saved the last bit of power he had to see her. My heart would have twisted painfully had it not been frozen over in rage. Ace unclips her medical belt and tosses it to him. He catches it and bends over his daughter.
We hear yelling around the corner, and a new troop of the undead comes running around it, bent on destruction. I hear the distinctive sound of my partner whipping out an arrow, and I ready my knives, not having the energy left to conjure a destructive spell. We stand like two sentinels, placing ourselves between the army and their prey. Not if we have anything to say about it, I think.
The next few minutes are all a blur. I don't remember much except the world going red and the familiar feel of fighting with Ace, and the next thing I know she and I are standing in a ring of dead zombies. I'm not even breathing hard. Thor touches down next to us, coming over to where we stand in awe.
"Brother, Lady Ace, that was a truly impressive display of skill. Even the berserkers of Asgard could not match the rage I just saw." I glance back at Ace, and see her hands shaking as mine are. So she'd been raging as well.
"Laufey hurt Alex," I reply in a short explanation of our actions. Thor nods, taken aback.
"How much of their army is left?" Ace asks, still trying to get a hold on herself.
"Not many, lady. Perhaps a horde?"
"Take us there." I don't even recognize my voice anymore. Thor silently nods, understanding our need for revenge, and holds out his hand. Ace and I take it. The last thing I hear before we take off is Mr. Stark talking to his daughter.
"Alex, do me a favor and don't be dead. Please. I can't tell your mother that I just let you die. Please, baby. Wake up. Please..." Then Thor whirls Mjolnir above his head and we are flying high above the carnage.
He sets us down in front of a group of about thirty soldiers, calling the team off and telling them to stand back. I don't register the words anymore, just hurl myself at the skeletal warriors.
I stand back at Thor's command, watching the two teenagers who were normally so calm work themselves into a frenzy and attack the skeletons like twin whirlwinds. They move with a deadly accuracy and a driving purpose, and within five minutes all thirty of the warriors are dispatched. I see them walk out from the rings of dead, torn and bleeding, but still in battle mode. They look desperately around for something else to stab, but since nothing is forthcoming they finally fall to their knees, completely exhausted. I run over to Loki and look him in the eyes. A film seems to come down from them and he blinks once.
"What the...where..."
"Sh. You're fine now, Loki," I say. I hear a heavy step behind me and turn around to see an old man with an eyepatch. I nod once and step back, allowing a worried father access to his son.
"Loki..." he begins, but cuts himself off and just wraps his arms around his beloved son. I can see Loki's shoulders shake with the emotion of the reunion. But when Odin pulls away, Loki is still crying and the tears are not tears of joy. I step back forward.
"What's wrong, Loki?"
"A-Alex..." he manages. "She's...Laufey...he..." I bow my head, not making him continue.
"Ohh, kiddo." There's nothing else to say. So we sit there in the aftermath of a battle that has just destroyed a whole city, grieving for a comrade.
I walk at the head of the silent procession, hardly managing to keep my head upright. My little girl is slumped in my arms, wrapped in the damaged suit of armor that I made for her. Steve holds the door for me, and I walk in on autopilot, careful not to bump her head on the doorframe. Loki, Ace, and Steve are the only ones who ride the elevator with me, and the sacred silence is held until the doors open. Only then is it broken by a select few phrases so that we're able to understand how to best help her. When we have her safely out of the suit and resting on the couch, I leave Ace and Loki to keep watch over her and finally take myself out of my dead suit, stripping it away like a cocoon. I trudge over to the phone, dreading the call I have to make. Pepper picks up on the first ring.
"Tony! Thank God you're alright! I've been worried sick-"
I cut her off, willing my voice to keep steady although it's shaking with emotion.
"Pepper, we need to talk..."