Chapter 28 – Old Gods

D175/10 ABY

Ezra and Ava had just awakened. During their recovery, Ava had a recurring nightmare – where she was held prisoner on Palpatine's ship, but this time no one came to rescue her. She had woken up with a scream, and quickly looked around to see Gabriel sitting in front of her bed. "You are alright now. This is a safe place.", she heard Fenrir's voice, who was standing behind her. Fenrir, she noticed looked like an old man.

Ezra too had his share of nightmares, but he also had a vision of a sort. He saw a man covered in green and an Ice wolf of immense stature. The wolf looked like a lot like Sira but was much bigger than her. In fact, it was the biggest wolf he had ever seen. Sira hadn't been seen ever since the time when Skoll showed up on their home asking for help. But there was no need for worry, as Sira had reached a Beast people stronghold in the outer reaches of Midgard – a planet named Eurazania, courtesy of Loki giving her the ability to use hyperspace travel. As to why she had gone there, remains to be seen.

When Ezra awoke, he found himself in a small room, with Sabine and Mira sitting near his bed. Both were sleeping, with Mira in Sabine's lap. Ezra sat up, his body aching and protesting movement. He was stiff all over and deduced that he must have been asleep a long time. He was also unbelievably hungry, with his stomach growling slightly. This caused Sabine to wake up. She looked at Ezra with her eyes growing in surprise, and a smile forming. She gently placed the sleeping Mira on Ezra's bed as the latter attempted to get up.

"How do you feel?", Sabine asked.

"Tired, hungry and confused.", Ezra answered, "What happened?"

Sabine then proceeded to tell him all that she knew about the events, how they found Ezra and Ava trapped inside a dark god, how Tarre was taken, then bringing them to Gabriel. She concluded by saying that five days ago Asgardia's siege ended.

"Wait siege? An entire galaxy!", Ezra whispered.

"Yeah. Hera told me about how terrifying it was, and all caused by those hunters that disappeared after Tarre was taken. I mean the effects of that siege could be felt all the way, at one point the heat was unbearable. Even the snows on Krownest have started melting."

"So… all planets in our galaxy were affected by battles that weren't even happening here?"

"Yep."

"How is everyone?"

"They are doing okay; Hera and the others are in Asgardia helping with restoration."

"I'm still confused about a few things, namely Tarre's sister."

"Trust me, everyone is confused about that. She herself was confused. Right now, she is in Asgardia, helping."

At that point Ezra's stomach growled again, this time waking up Mira who opened her eyes, rubbing them and looked at Ezra. A moment passed, and she jumped at Ezra throwing both on the ground. Sabine laughed, while Ezra tightly hugged his daughter.

D177/10 ABY

On Asgard, there was an emergency. Allfather Thor now had to undertake the sleep of life, a ritual in which the energy of Asgard was replenished. This was the official statement. The truth was that during the sleep of life, Odin and now Thor would battle a malevolent Vanir deity who had once usurped Asgard's throne and keep this being at bay. If the Allfather failed, then all Asgardia would be in danger.

Due to this, the security of Asgard was immense. Until Thor awoke, Prince Issho would rule Asgard, but he had yet to return from Vanaheim as Queen Ygritte was still away on her mission. So, it was decided that Hera would rule in her father's stead. During this time, she even had access to the 'Thorforce'. This was the first time Hera experienced the phenomenon – 'Sleep of life', and that to so soon after Surtur's attack. To say that she was feeling uneasy was an understatement. But her concerns would be tabled for later, as there was another matter – the punishment of the hunters who opened the realm of Muspelheim. During the Apocalypse, King Thor (back then Prince Thor) had managed to seal Muspelheim while escaping the realm. This seal was undone by the arrogant and callous huntresses who were pursuing Amora.

"What do you think I should do?", Hera asked Kanan. The two were standing near the throne, they were the only two in the throne room, waiting for the accused to be brought.

"I think you should be lenient in your judgement.", Kanan said.

"Do you think that's what my father would do?"

"I don't know. But it doesn't matter. Right now, your judgement is all that matters."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door and the guard announced that Tarre was here with the prisoners. Hera sat at the throne, while Kanan stood below the steps.

"Enter", Hera spoke in a clear commanding voice.

The doors opened, with Tarre Vizsla escorting the five huntresses who were in chains and were surrounded by guards. Tarre bowed while four of the five huntresses looked in open defiance. One of them, a red-haired humanoid woman, with long ears and a petite appearance bowed. She had pale blue features. 'A Dark Elf.', Hera thought.

"My lady, here are the ones responsible for Surtur's release.", Tarre spoke and rose.

"This child will pass judgement on us.", one the hunters who didn't bow sneered. Her name was Zoe, the leader of these hunters. A guard used her sword's blunt side and struck Zoe on the head.

Hera ignored that remark, but Tarre and Kanan did not. They said nothing not wanting to infringe upon Hera's rule.

"My lady.", the dark elf spoke, "May I speak?"

"Rise.", Hera spoke. Her voice was enough to break the arrogance of the other four. The dark elf rose.

"What is your name?"

"Alflyse, my lady."

"State your case Alflyse. You are allowed to represent your friends."

"Thank you, my lady.", Alflyse took a deep breath, ignoring the ugly look Zoe was giving her. "It is true, we entered Muspelheim, even though that act was banned by the Allfather. At that moment we did not know the consequences of our actions."

"You admit to breaking our laws?", Hera asked in an even voice.

"I do my lady. In fact, I was the one who suggested it, and as such I request you to let my sisters go and that I be punished for all our crimes."

Zoe and the other three remained silent at this. Alflyse was the one who protested their entry of Muspelheim. Here she was shouldering the entire blame. Since Alflyse was a dark elf, the four remained quiet.

"Your sisters do not protest this.", Hera made the observation, "Do you truly wish to shoulder their blame?"

"Not blame my lady, but my responsibility."

"I do not know why you think you can lie to me Alflyse. My father himself does not appreciate being lied to, neither do I."

"This is my truth, my lady.", Alflyse looked Hera in the eyes and spoke with conviction.

"Very well, here is my judgement. Your sisters will be stripped of their titles and banished from both Asgardia and Vanaheim.", Hera spoke. Zoe and the other three began to protest, but were silenced by Hera's look, which clearly said 'I know that entering Muspelheim was your idea and not hers.' The four then cowered in fear and stepped back, the aura around Hera was that chilling. To be clear, this wasn't the Allfather's power but Hera's mannerism.

"Take these four away and let everyone in both realms know.", Hera said to the guards. After the guards dragged them out of the room, Hera looked at Alflyse. She stood straight and awaited her judgement with bated breath. "People like you are rare, considering that your sisters were willing to cast you away like this."

"I am a dark elf, my lady. My people caused great grief to the realms."

"If I may interrupt my lady?", Tarre asked Hera who gave her assent. "Malekith was responsible for all that grief. I remember that you were part of the faction against him that only wanted peace."

"We failed.", Alflyse spoke.

"Alflyse, for your courage and your attempts to save your compatriots from my judgement, I would award you the highest honour. But you did confess to entering Muspelheim. Therefore, my judgement is that you now serve me, until such time that you feel that you have paid for this crime.", Hera spoke.

"Thank you, my lady. I will forever remember your kindness, and I now pledge to serve you for the remainder of my life.", Alflyse got one knee, bowed her head and made her oath.

One week had passed since the siege of Asgardia and the theft of Jotunheim's capital – the planet of Thrym was stolen by Utgard-Loki. The two Odinsons – Kuzan and Loki scoured the realm searching for the frozen realm to recover the lost planet. Utgard-Loki observed their progress using a ball of air and laughed, while playing Hnefatafl (Viking Chess) with a bald man having red irises. As the two played, they both laughed at the absurdity of it all and of how Kuzan and Loki roamed around. Utgard-Loki took a certain pleasure at this considering how Loki had tricked him in the past and gotten Thor to almost destroy his home world.

For you see, the planet of Thrym was the ball of air, the two players were using to keep an eye on the Odinsons.

"This is great.", said Utgard.

"I agree, my friend. Watching the two sons of Odin waddle about gives an almost orgasmic pleasure. You will be well compensated when our time comes.", spoke the stranger.

D185/10 ABY

Queen Ygritte had returned to the realms, but instead of going to Vanaheim she went to Midgard, looking for Gabriel the first. She needed his help to hide the Ophiotaurus from the dark gods and learn about all that had transpired in her absence. During this time the Allfather was still in the sleep of life. When Ygritte reached Gabriel's location his advice was, "Let the Allfather decide what to do with this creature."

"Our enemies are closing in. We have no time to wait."

"The enemies you speak of are already here. Their plots already hatched, and five of your hunters have unwittingly aided them."

"What are you talking about?"

Gabriel then proceeded to tell her about everything that had happened.

D186/10 ABY

The Allfather was awake and was alerted to Ygritte's return by Heimdall. He instructed the Ophiotaurus to be brought to Asgard, where its fate would be decided. Upon reaching Asgard, Ygritte first relayed the celestial queens' message to her son – Tarre Viszla in the presence of Thor, and no one else. Troubled by this news, Tarre sought permission to visit Rayleigh and Gabriel on Shili, which he received from Thor.

D187/10 ABY

In the far reaches of space, within the once great realm of Narcisson, where Dark Gods rule with an Iron Fist. After the last war with the Aesir and the imprisonment of Perrikus, the realm's glory had begun to diminish. But now he had returned.

"D'Chel's scheme has succeeded.", spoke Majeston Zelia to herself, sitting in the throne room of Narcisson as its Queen. Ever since Odin was put under Baldur's spell, the enchantment across her kingdom placed by Odin had begun to weaken allowing for some of the Dark gods to escape. It took many years and a lot of power to ensure Perrikus's freedom.

He crashed upon the realm and flinched in disgust. His home, the beautiful Narcisson was reduced to this. It was the city that the dark to Asgard's light but now it was nothing more than a shadow, a footnote in their great history. But Perrikus swore that the Aesir and all their allies would pay in kind, especially Thor. He remembered Thor as the foolish brat who led the rebellion against them after all the Aesir, and Jotunn gods were captured (Odin, Freya, Rayleigh, Frey, Etri the third, the gods of Midgard, and Aegir). He will bring Thor down and show him what a true king is.

Entering the throne room, he spoke "I have returned mother" to Majeston Zelia and got one knee, while bowing his head.

"Welcome back my son. With you here we can prepare for our war with the Aesir again."

As the two spoke to each other, another dark god appeared behind them – Adva, Goddess of Portals and Knowledge. "I have secured an old goddess whose power will restore Perrikus to his former glory."

"Who is this goddess?", Zelia asked.

"Hera – the Celestial Queen"

"Where is she imprisoned?"

"In a remote world far from here. Since Heimdall's gaze is fixed on Narcisson, I have hidden her on another world under the rule of the Celestial who shares our hatred of the Aesir."

"Very well. Perrikus go with her and be restored, my son."

"As you command mother."