Chapter 45

The Heart of a Hero

"Get up."

Pete groaned. It had to still be too early. Only crazy people got up at this hour. "Five hundred more minutes mom."

"Get up."

"I swear it's the weekend though..."

"Get up you imbecile!"

Wait… Pete recognized that voice. It sounded familiar. Then, realization struck him, penetrating the mists of confusion. He opened his eyes to see the bottom of a familiar looking robe. He then looked up, to see Maleficent's very displeased face gazing down at him.

Pete gave a shocked squeal and jumped to his feet, stumbling slightly from sudden dizziness.

"M-Maleficent! What are you d-doing here?" He stuttered.

"I'm here to retrieve what I sent you to this World to obtain."

"Wha-?" Pete scratched his head in confusion, before recollection washed over him like a bucket of water. He cracked his knuckles. "Oh right, I'm gonna get that pipsqueak Madoka, find that Black Box, and engulf this here World in darkness."

"And where are they?"

"Um… What?" Recollection then washed over Pete like a jump into a swimming pool. "Oh right! I couldn't find the Box, but I did nab that pink-haired pipsqueak!"

He gestured to the prison cell behind him.

"Is this meant to be your idea of a joke?" Maleficent snarled.

"Huh?" Pete turned around, and then turned back to Maleficent, and then back to the empty cell, and then back to Maleficent.

Recollection washed over him like a tidal wave. "AAAAHHHHH! She got out!"

"Evidently." Maleficent said dryly. "So am I to understand your mission was a complete failure?"

"N-n-n-n-no!" Pete stammered, backing away. "Those Dark Elf fellers still have that Aether thingy! We can still fill this World with darkness!"

"Hmmph. We shall see." Maleficent said, sounding calm on the surface, but there was an undercurrent of irritation. "Take me to them."

At her orders, Pete rushed through the ship towards the room where Malekith and his followers had gathered.

"Um… guys. If your done with your ritual thing can-." Pete opened the door, went pale, and then immediately stepped away. Nope nope nope!

Okay, this was bad. The Black Box was nowhere to be seen, the pink pipsqueak had escaped, and Malekith was… was… that. What now?

"Ugh. Typical." Maleficent snarled, upon looking into the room. She then turned accusingly to Pete.

"Hey, don't look at me!" He desperately defended. "Maybe it was Madoka!"

"I highly doubt that." Maleficent said. "Those goody-two-shoes lack the conviction."

"Well, then what do we-" Pete was cut off by the sound of the ship moving. "Someone's on the bridge."

"So it would seem. Shall we greet them?" The pair of villains made their way towards the bridge of the ship, just in time to see a cloaked figure entering ahead of them. At first, Pete thought it was one of those Organization posers, but the cloak was different.

A refined sounding voice came from within the bridge. "Well, this is awkward."

"You. I thought you had left the ship." Sounded a gravely voice.

"I was about to say the same thing. Great minds think alike, it would seem."

"You are not great." There was the sound of a weapon being drawn.

"Whoa, there's no need for that! I bear you no ill will. That whole fight was just for appearances."

"It matters not, Aesir."

"Well, I'm Jotunn, not Aesir."

"It matters not."

"Hello?" Pete stepped into the room, to see both occupants turn towards him.

"'T'would seem the ship has no end of stowaways." Said the human looking one. The other however, snarled, and immediately dashed towards him. Before Pete could react, a shadowy blade was held to his throat.

"W-whoa th-there! L-let's not be hasty!" Pete stammered.

The creature then snorted, and the blade retracted into his cloak. "No… you don't bear the stench."

The immediate threat to his life ended, Pete rubbed his neck and indignantly replied. "I should hope not. I bathe once a fortnight I'll have you know!"

"That's certainly evident." The Human looking one said with a smirk.

"Why thank you." Pete said. Finally, some respect. "So where are ya' takin' this ship anyhows?"

"Well I am planning to head to Knowhere."

"That makes no sense. You've gotta be headin' somewhere. Everywhere's somewhere."

The Human looking one rolled his eyes. "Let's not start this."

"Start what?"

"Look rabbit, I-"

"Rabbit?!" Pete shouted, outraged. "Not you too?"

"Enough of this nonsense!" the cloaked one shouted. Blades once more spouted from his body, causing Pete to flinch and back away.

"S-sorry!" He flinched. That one was scary, like that Homura girl. Why did he always have to get the tough jobs?

Maleficent however, was unperturbed, calmly stepping forwards. The cloaked one turned towards her, and his eyes blazed upon finally noticing her.

"You… it hungers for you." He said.

"As it should, but it will not have me." Maleficent said calmly.

"You arrogance blinds you." The cloaked one hissed, pouncing upon Maleficent. Or rather, he would have, had thorns not sprung up, intercepting his attack. He bounced back and unleashed a barrage of spikes, only for the thorns to twist and writhe, blocking each of the projectiles.

Then, the cloaked creature unleashed a wave of red energy, only for the thorns to ignite with Maleficent's emerald flames, forming a blazing barrier that intercepted the attack.

"I have little patience for this." Maleficent said. "Restrain him."

The attacker tried to dash towards Maleficent once more, only for his own garment to betray him. It twisted, binding his arms and legs, and sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Well that was unexpected." The 'Jotunn' said.

"How did you do that?" Pete asked Maleficent. His boss ignored him, instead staying focused on her would-be assailant.

"That is a most curious Heartless you have there." Maleficent said.

"Wait, that cloaks a Heartless?" Pete asked. He couldn't believe that, but it wasn't the strangest thing he had seen.

"So it would seem." Maleficent said, pondering it, while her the alien writhed, trying futilely to break free.

"How? How are you doing this?!" He roared. "Why does it betray me?"

"It was never yours to begin with." Maleficent said.

"What?! I am Gorr, Butcher of Gods!"

"The Heartless belong to me. I alone am worthy of them."

"Worthy." Gorr spat. His eyes glowed red, only for the garment to suddenly writhe again, breaking his focus.

"And it would seem we have found our missing Aether as well. You are a most interesting specimen, Gorr. I should like to hear the story of how you came into contact with a Heartless that preys on the Hearts of gods."

"That's quite the lengthy tale." The other one spoke up.

"And who are you?" Maleficent said, finally acknowledging the other occupant of the room.

"Loki Laufeyson. Prince of Asgard. Rightful king of Jotunnheim. God of Mischief. And let me tell you a story..."

Pete listened in transfixed awe as Loki spun a tale of sorrow, hopelessness, and despair. While Pete again recoiled in horror, Maleficent grinned. "Impressive."

"All of you will perish. You cannot stop me." Gorr spat, still struggling.

"You misunderstand me, Gorr." Maleficent said. "I have no intention of stopping you. In fact, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors."

"Wait what?!" Pete asked. "After all that, were just going to let him run off with that Aether thingy?"

"Indeed." Maleficent said, grinning. "The power to reshape reality mixed with the power of a being of pure darkness. The results will be… destructive."

"Um… What?" Pete paused, trying to understand what she was talking about. Thinking was not his strong suit.

Maleficent ignored him, and turned back to Gorr. "God-Butcher. Let none stand in the way of your righteous crusade. Bring down your wrath and fury upon those who would oppose you!"

She gestured with her staff, and Gorr was freed from his bonds. At the same time, Pete heard the telltale sounds of Heartless emerging, and indeed, a veritable horde of Heartless began to fill the ship.

Gorr stood up, looking confused, before his expression hardened. He stepped towards he console of the ship, and began entering in coordinates, before then departing into the depths of the ship, the Heartless horde following behind him.

"So, what is to become of me?" Loki asked. "I had intended to fly this ship to Knowhere, where I am acquainted with a certain… Collector."

"Would you truly be satisfied with that?"

"What is your meaning?" Loki asked.

"You also intrigue me." Maleficent said. "I have an offer to make you..."

Unfortuntaely, Thor had to admit, beyond the initial shock, this turn of events hadn't surprised him. He knew Loki would try something to escape. While he wasn't sure exactly when his brother had replaced himself with an illusionary duplicate, it also didn't matter all that much.

What mattered right now was getting out of the duststorm that had sprung up. While he considered using Mjolnir to alter the weather, on such an alien environment as this, it would take precious, precious time to figure out just how the atomsphere worked here, which would leave his comrades vulnerable.

Instead, he quickly found a nearby cave, and directed them to take shelter within. Once everyone was settled in, they breathed a sigh of relief, and sat down.

"So what now?" Sakura asked. "Your asshole brother was our ticket out of here."

Indeed, that was a biting question. Svartalfheim was one of the Nine Realms, thus the Bifrost would have no issue reaching this location. However, Heimdall was no doubt imprisoned for his role in Thor's plan, meaning someone else would have to man the Bifrost in the meantime until that could .

While they could hear his call, it was unlikely they would answer until after Odin had his battle, which would needlessly put countless lives in danger. Even worse now that the Aether was no longer in the hands of the Dark Elves, but in the possession of a complete madman. Odin's forces would be completely unprepared for Gorr.

Thor sighed, and turned to his comrades. Miki and Tomoe were discussing things, while Sakura had turned towards the cave entrance. Momoe was resting against a wall while Kaname was sitting on the ground hands around her knees.

"How are you holding up?" Thor asked her.

Kaname looked up at him. "I… I don't know what to feel. Am I… am I…"

He had overheard parts of her conversation with Gorr on his approach, enough to make him think twice. Thor scratched his head. He wasn't very good at this sort of thing. Loki had the silver tongue, and his mother was by far the most understanding and empathetic of his family. But what he did know was that there was no doubt as to the virtue of Madoka and her companions. They reminded him of the Avengers back on Midgard. These girls too would make fine heroes one day, and he couldn't let that amazing potential go to waste. They deserved far better.

"I heard part of what Gorr said, and indeed, it's given me plenty to think about."

"I..."

"I am 1500 years old and I have killed twice that many enemies. In the end, this Gorr is just the next in a long line of villains I've faced. And many of them will try to…. to strike at you, in ways more than just the body, but the Heart. To make you doubt. There's much about my home that I have perhaps been blind, willfully even, towards. But I know now that I can't let those doubts hold me back. Gorr has killed countless innocents before, and if he gets his way, countless more will die. He needs to be stopped. And I will depend on your aid to do it."

"But I'm not actually a god." Kaname said. "I'm just a girl."

"You're godhood may be the nought but the delusions of Gorr's vengeance obsessed mind, but regardless, you are a hero. Not all come from lofty or noble origins. Rogers was weak and sickly, yet his Heart was righteous. Stark was selfish and egocentric, but his harsh experiences humbled him. I myself was once a spoiled child, who's arrogance nearly started a war." Thor chuckled awkwardly at that shameful memory. But, he was starting to get off track. How did they make this look so easy? "Regardless of what others might think, you have the Heart of a hero. You are an Avenger."

"I…" Kaname paused, and then turned towards the wall of the cave. "I… feel a breeze."

"A what?" Thor then felt it too. Emerging from the wall of the cave?

He stepped forwards, pressing his hand against the wall. Where he expected solid rock, he found nothing but air, and a strange sensation, not unlike the Bifrost. He recalled his lessons on the Convergance, and how with the alignment of the realms, such portals would be formed between them.

"Is this…?"

"A portal!" Miki shouted, as she rushed over.

"Do we know where it leads?" Sakura asked.

"Dunno, but anywhere has to be better than this." Miki said, before leaping through, much to Tomoe's protests.

She then sighed, and followed after her. Well, Miki was right, whatever it was, it beat languishing in Svartalfheim. Thor stepped through the portal.

Thanks to The Name Of Love for beta-reading and idea sounding!

~Dragonexx