Chapter 12: The Warrior of Asgard vs The Hybrid Assassin
Later on after breakfast Maria headed to the training grounds at noon. She wore her usual attire of black it was comfortable for her as she walked out onto the field her jacket she wore usually when going into a fight. Sif was on the other side of the field standing there tensed as she entered. "Sheesh don't look so tense Sif." she said casually standing there without a weapon.
Sif chuckled noticing the girl's lack of weaponry "Where is your weapon Maria?" she said noticing a smirk on the girl's lips.
Maria smirked "just come at me bitch." she said and noticed Sif get angry at the comment.
Sif glared at the girl as she dashed forward her blade striking for the girls chest.
Maria dodged the attack at a fast speed easily smirking. "Poor stance." she said before frost covered the ground freezing Sif in place. "Beginning with offense instead of neutral. Shame on you Sif." she said smirking. This was one of her tactics to make her opponents lose focus. She knew that Loki would not have fallen for it but was curious if Sif would. As she waited for her to get out of the ice Maria walked passed Sif purposefully keeping her back to the warrior.
Fandral looked to Loki confused as to what the girl was doing "What is she thinking keeping her back turned like that Loki? That is an easy way to get backstabbed?"
"Just keep watching, Fandral, and you will find out." Loki watched Maria's movements with interest. He chuckled he knew full well she was toying with Sif and it amused him that she was holding back with such control.
Sif managed to break the ice on her legs with her sword as she noticed the girl walking away with her back turned. "Heh the fool left her guard down." she assumed as she rushed at the girl her sword once again this time aimed for her right shoulder.
Maria smirked and out of the corner of her eye saw Sif's attack. Making one of her two pitch black obsidian long swords appear out of nowhere in her hands she blocked the swing easily as the two weapons clashed and she turned around quickly.
Sif showed no shock as Maria blocked her attack but her confusion ran through her mind. "She had no weapons on her how did she manage to block the attack." Sif blocked a second attack that was suddenly coming from the left as a second sword appeared. "What in Valhalla?" she thought. The girl was duel wielding?! Sif's mind screamed. As she began to dodge the attacks. That technique was one were few could master. Just how skilled is she? Sif thought.
Maria smirked she knew panic when she sensed it and Sif was on the verge of panicking. What a shame she thought I would have thought Sif would last longer than this.
Fandral watched as the girl suddenly blocked the attack that Sif had attempted to do. "Does she seem to be holding back to you Loki?" he asked his friend.
"She is definitely holding back." Loki smiled knowing that Maria could easily take down Sif.
Fandral gapped "Mind telling me what else your lovely guard can do?" he said watching the fight. The girls style seemed odd she was using two swords. He himself used a sword but these swords were pitch black as night and by type they were longswords. "She seems to be toying with Sif from what I see." he said looking to Loki who was grinning.
"Lovely? I hope you are not gaining affections for my guard." Loki said as a veiled threat. "She is definitely toying with Sif. Though I wander when Sif will realize this as well as the fact that she is being toyed with and never getting her knife back." Loki chuckled slightly.
Fandral smirked "It seems she is being a fool" he looked to Loki. "I cannot help but envy you at this moment." he said looking at the girl she was a feisty woman that much was certain not to mention beautiful.
"Why do you envy me, Fandral?" Loki pretended as if he did not know Fandral's desires.
"You landed yourself what Midgardians call a 'badass' woman." Fandral chuckled "Thor revealed you were courting her." he said nodding his head over towards the Thunder god. "However, if she was not being courted by you I would have tried to court her myself." When he noticed Loki chuckling he arched his eyebrow confused "Whatever is so funny Loki?"
"Maria would bitch slap you if tried to court her and that is if she was nice. Most likely she would punch you square in the jaw." Loki laughed, "She is one woman that I doubt you could seduce."
Fandral looked at Loki. "How did you manage her then?" he said chuckling now curious, before looking to the girl down in the training area. "She is much like Sif but at the same time she is not personality wise."
Loki chuckled. "She is a wild creature and does what she wants on her own." A small smile formed on his lips. "It is only if you are patient with her that she will yield. Otherwise if you are too forward you may face her wrath." he said as he gazed at Maria who seemed so free down in the battle field she had that wonderful smirk on her face as she toyed with Sif. "Not to mention she is a spitfire Fandral." he watched his beautiful guard with a smile "Meaning you cannot tame her."
Fandral looked to Loki who was smiling before nudging him. "It seems you have a smile of love Loki" he chuckled then noticed Maria had flipped out of Sif's range of attack and whistled "whew.. quite glad I am not in Sifs shoes."
While the two individuals talked Maria flipped herself over Sifs head amused.
Sif growled frustrated thus far she had not been able to land a hit on the girl it was slowly causing her to lose focus that is when she noticed the girl grinning. "Wait, was she toying with her?" she thought.
Maria noticed Sif's realization. "Well it is about time you realized that I was toying with you." she smirked.
Sif glared "So you are not even going full out yet are you?"
Maria grinned "Nope you haven't pushed me to that point Sif." she said as she watched the female warrior glare at her and crossed her arms casually standing a few feet from the female warrior leaning on one leg amused.
Sif had never met such an infuriating woman before she had been toying with her all this time. Knowing that, she glared at the girl. "What will it take to get you to go full out?"
Maria smirked "Oh lady Sif you do not want to see me full out." she said turning her back to her opponent again. "Be able to land a hit on me without me knowing. Then I will go a bit further in my abilities" she replied.
Sif noticed the girl was once again turning her back to her before laughing "Ha, You are a coward girl."
Maria kept calm to insults even if it irritated her a bit "No, I am not a coward Sif." she said her voice changed to a dark menacing being that emitted a wave of fear. "However, if you do piss me off be ready to meet a devil." she said her warning evident but she smirked a bit. For once in several days she was allowed to be free and go full out. This was going to be fun.
Sif chuckled and eyed the girl noticing a change in the air. A sense of fear washed over her as her hands shook as she attempted to steady her hand with her sword. "Why am I afraid?" she thought. She looked to the girl in front of her and noticed a dark aura around her almost black but in it was mixed a light blue hue.
Fandral watched as Maria suddenly stopped toying with Sif and noticed she was glowing in colors. "What in the name of Valhalla?" he sucked in a breath and heard Loki chuckle.
"It seems that Maria has decided enough playing around. Watch closely Fandral, you will discover why she would be very difficult to seduce." Loki replied as he sat back amused. "Oh poor Sif angered you darling did she?" he thought a small smirk appearing on his lips.
Fandral only nodded before looking back to Maria's standing position. The darkness surrounding the girl seemed to seep into the stadium itself as he watched he could almost feel a wave of fear knock him backwards as he leaned his arms against the stadium.
Sif noticed the girl turn around and what she saw nearly made her stumble backwards. The young woman glared back at the warrior with pitch black eyes and a smirk on her face. Dragon like fangs graced that smirk as the girl turned around.
"Well you wanted me to go full out Sif." the girl's voice was dark and demonic as she chuckled. "This is phase one." she smirked sending a shiver down the warriors spine.
Fandral heard the voice of the sweet girl and shuddered she did not sound as the girl that he had seen in the dining hall sweet and innocent. When he looked to Loki he saw the god grinning. "What is so amusing she sounds horrifying…"
Loki chuckled "That is what happens when any being angers Maria. She can be calm and cool on the outside." he noticed Fandral's eyes widen. "From what I have seen thus far. She is calm about her rage. At this moment I believe Sif hit a nerve somewhere in her." he said crossing his legs in the seat. "Sit back and watch the fireworks" he said. "This fight is finally becoming interesting."
Fandral sat back in his seat as he watched the girl. So this is what Loki had meant about Maria. Unless he had seen it with his own eyes, he would have assumed Maria to be an innocent angel. But it was quite apparent now that the angel was indeed a devil quite literally.
Sif watched as the girl stepped forwards towards her calmly walked towards her. As she steadied her sword she noticed that the girl hid under her hood. "Why do you hide girl?" she yelled trying to distract the woman somehow.
Maria smirked and said nothing before dashing forward disappearing into the shadow plane laughing "Try to catch a demon Sif. Whoever said I was going to make this easy." she said then appeared again behind the warrior as one of her blades sliced upwards. This time it was a curved short blade pitch black and made for speed.
Sif barely had the time to catch the attack as Maria suddenly appeared out of nowhere and sliced upwards. She took notice that the girls long swords had changed into short curved deadly sabers. Slowly the warrior was being pushed backwards as she noticed that Maria's attacks where the same but in random but precise precision. She stood in the center of the training area now as she tried to anticipate the girls next attack.
Maria laughed a bit amused making her voice seem to surround the entire area of the training ground. "Heh, you have lasted longer than most of my opponents Sif I will give you that much credit." she said as she made several of herself suddenly appear in a circle surrounding the warrior and all of the clones stepped out from beneath the shadows.
Loki chuckled as he watched the shadows suddenly being used to her advantage realizing her plan for choosing the time of dueling. "Ah. Very clever darling." he smirked. "Very clever indeed."
Fandral looked down at the stadium as several dark figures of the same girl appeared encircling Sif all of them smirking an almost evil chuckling reverberating from the stadium. "Oh. Gods." he said taking note of Maria's abilities. "What is she?" he said looking to Loki who seemed to be smirking.
Loki replied a very shocked and scared Fandral. "Maria, unknown to most is a hybrid you could say." As he watched the clones encircle Sif, he could see that Maria was once again toying with the warrior but this time she gradually began to release her more chaotic nature. The shadows allowing her to use her darker abilities to those of her frost giant nature.
"A hybrid?" Fandral asked as he let his eyes once again try and follow. "She keeps disappearing though, how is that?"
Loki sighed "She has many learned abilities." he replied "Some I wish to ask her how she knows. Though just from observation it seems that she is using the shadows to her advantage." he said.
Fandral looked confused as he took note of the shadows that were being caused by the light. "How can she possibly use the shadows?" he asked
Loki chuckled "Watch my friend." he said motioning to where Maria was, at least the real one without Sif noticing. "You see the one over there under the shade?" he asked.
Fandral looked to where Maria was and nodded. "Yes?" he still did not comprehend
"She uses the shadows like mirrors from what I can tell to project several shadow images of herself." he smirked "A tactic that can most likely scare and overwhelm an opponent." he said. "But unlike ice, shadows are everywhere as well as illusive. That is why I believe she wore black." he smirked "I use a similar ability but never thought to use shadows." he said as he leaned back in his seat.
Fandral suddenly understood "To blend in with the shadows" he said in awe. "Clever woman."
Loki smirked "indeed." he thought. "Clever and bewitchingly beautiful woman"
Thor had watched silently as Loki's guard battle Sif. He took notice that she was unpredictable in her attacks switching from one tactic to another to keep her opponent guessing and on their toes. "She does not stick to one tactic. Interesting." Thor thought as he watched though he still felt uneasy about Maria's heritage, he watched her movements.
Maria smirked as Sif was surrounded by the incoming shadows as they walked slowly towards her. "Are you ready to yield Sif?" all of her clones responded in perfect unison.
Sif growled "No matter how many of you are. I will never yield." she said.
Maria circled her hand above her head as the shadows came alive and circled into a giant forcefield of black barricading Sif inside the dome creating even more darkness.
"Phase two" she said smirking as she dashed quickly across the field slashing her blade as it scraped Sif's cheek drawing blood. She rarely showed her shadow wings, but in this was one fight where she wanted to best Sif in. It was obvious that the female warrior was not going to go down until Maria went full out "If me going full out is what she wants then it is what she will get". Maria thought as she dashed past the warrior, her hood fell off of her head to reveal to the audience and her opponent what she had been hiding. Under the hood Maria's dark elf ears were evident as well as her pitch black eyes but the new change that she had hid under the hood where the dragon fangs and the horns on her head which encircled her ears. "Oh dear it seems that I have semi revealed myself." she chuckled as she threw the jacket onto the floor revealing two pairs of pitch black dragon like wings.
Sif stepped backwards from recoil as she felt the hit that Maria had landed as she turned around her face paled as she saw the girls true form. "You're a dark elf?!" she growled. That was when she noticed the girl had wings.
Maria just stood there in her demon form the shadows aiding this ability as she smirked looking at Sif the fangs revealed her smirk as she stood there casually. "I am only half dark elf Sif" she said her voice had a high and low pitch to it, before she dashed forward once again.
Sif kept her guard up as she pulled out two swords now one to protect her back and her chest.
Loki chuckled "So. This is what you look like when angered." he smirked then noticed that Fandral had paled and laughed "What is wrong Fandral? I thought you thought Maria was charming?"
Fandral looked to Loki. "She's a demon? How is that charming?"
Loki smirked "She is half dark elf half frost giant Fandral." he chuckled. "She is just using her abilities to her benefit"
Fandral looked at the girl who had transformed into almost a dragon look. "Well...this is an interesting development." he sighed "Does she always become such when angered?"
Loki sighed as he watched Maria with a smile "I believe she controls that form to avoid being hurt emotionally.. Her father abused her much….so I can only assume ….that may be one of the many reasons.
Fandral noticed the girl glowing."Heh, it's amusing she glows."
Loki chuckled "Just watch my friend. Just watch." mentally he thought. "Let it go my darling. Release the energy." he knew that Maria still held some unvented frustrations about who she was he was actually quite pleased that she was freed for a moment.
Maria grinned at Sif as she rushed forwards and she dodged the swift attacks the warrior attempted to try and stab her. "Come now Sif. I have not caused any lethal damage to you no need for stabbing me." she smirked as she dodged.
Sif glared at the girl. "I will make you bleed demon" she was terrified at this different Maria. However, she was not going to quit.
Maria smirked "You don't want to do that do you?" she said before levitating Sif into the air with her telepathy. "I barely made a scratch to you Sif." she said smirking as the warrior threw a throwing knife into Maria's two wings. She winced. "Ow" she said pulling out one knife before throwing it into Sif's right shoulder pinning the warrior to the other side of the arena. Blue and black flames surrounded Maria as she phased out of her demon form the force field disappeared as the shadows traveled into her sword and removed the other knife before pocketing it.
"I win" she said calmly walking out of the arena this time her back turned to the audience and to the warrior who glared at her as she groaned in pain. "Removia dagis" she said the knife in Sif's shoulder flew out of the warrior's shoulder swiftly flying towards Maria, who caught it between her fingers drawing blood but not caring as she pocketed the weapon and picked her jacket up throwing it over her shoulder as she walked out of the arena.
Sif groaned as she slid to the ground and held the gashing wound in her shoulder. "Damn." she leaned her hand against the wall. "She was good. For a demon." she chuckled.
Maria had gone to get a cloth to wrap Sif's wound. She shadow traveled through the shadow plane before appearing next to the warrior and helping her up. "Heh, sorry if I over did it." she said. "Tends to happen when I go full out."
Loki walked down to the arena to congratulate Maria for her victory. His smile clearly showed how proud he was of her. "You did wonderful darling." He affectionately squeezed her shoulder.
Maria startled jumped a bit when Loki squeezed her shoulders blushing. "Th.. Thank you.." she struggled to get the words out. Looking to Sif she gave her an apologetic but kind smile holding her hand out to help the warrior up from the ground.
Sif took the girl's hand and smirked "You are an assassin are you not?" she smiled happy to have another female warrior in arms. "Your technique is to skilled for a mage."
Maria smirked "heh, I could be." she said before healing the warrior's wound with her magic. "That's my little secret no one will ever know. Looking to Loki she smirked "I hope I did not frighten Fandral."
Loki chuckled. "Fandral will recover, eventually. At least he won't be flirting with you anytime soon."
A sudden spark of irritation appeared on Maria's face. "He was flirting behind my back?"
Fandral walked down from the stands to notice Loki was with Maria. "Ah. Maria. Good show I have never seen Sif being bested before."
Maria slowly turned around glaring at Fandral. "Indeed. Tell me Fandral, why were you flirting about me behind my back?"
The flirtatious fighter suddenly stepped back a bit not wishing to receive the same fate as Sif.
"He wasn't exactly flirting, rather he saw the beauty in you that I did and became envious." Loki not wanting Fandral to feel Maria's wrath either and tried to direct her attention elsewhere, preferably back onto himself.
Maria breathed out an almost controlled growl as she rubbed her temples "This is why I wear a hood in public." she said. Then she nodded to Loki "I only like one man courting me." she said hinting to Loki of himself.
Loki smiled, "Fandral knows of our courting. It seems Thor has told a few people."
Maria chuckled "Typical."
Thor walked into the arena. "Should it have been kept a secret? I am happy for my brother. He has finally opened his heart to someone."
Maria sighed facepalming "I think your brother wanted to tell others potentially himself eventually."
"Loki, did you really want to keep it a secret?" Thor looked at Loki confused.
"I am glad you told everyone brother. Now, I don't have to hide my affection for Maria." Loki said with genuine happiness bringing back Thor's smile.
Maria smirked "Though just for fun now I may need to hide a bit." she chuckled "To make sure Loki is still a gentleman at least." she said being a bit sarcastic about the mischief maker she loved so dearly. "I fear that if I am in his presence to often he may cause more chaos. Not that I mind." she said shrugging.
"We could cause chaos together." Loki looked at Thor, his eyes betraying his intent.
"Loki, no. No. I'm serious." Thor tried to deter Loki. He knew that grin all too well.
"Since when have those words stopped me?" Loki smirked. "Maria, would you like to declare war on Thor?"
Maria bit back a slight grin "Before that occurs what would the conflict be about? War is such a dastardly thing of death and bloodshed." she smirked "Tell me your plan of attack later good sir."
She chuckled.
Fandral let out a laugh as he watched Loki and Maria. Sif cracked a grin trying not to laugh as well. "Well now we know how they get along so well." Fandral said as he leaned against the arena.
Thor mentally was thinking. "Oh dear." as if he was debating as to what he had gotten himself into.
"This is a different type of war, one based on tricks and tactical intellect. Thor knows what I'm talking about." Loki smiled mischievously at his brother.
"It seems you wish to give him a prank war." she smirked a bit amused. "Well this should be amusing to say the least." Maria said as she leaned against the wall of the arena with one leg crossed over the other her arms folded over her chest as she smirked. "I shall join in this war than, sounds amusing."
"Loki, it's nice to see you back as you once were but must we do this?" Thor almost sounded desperate.
"Yes we must. It is too much fun seeing you squirm. I shall give you a head start of a day to prepare yourself." Loki eyes glinted with mischief.
Fandral joined into the game. "Quite unfair as it is two against one. I shall aid your brother in this war." he chuckled. "Sif may act as referee."
Maria almost doubled over with laughter but held it in. "Indeed." she said as she thought of some ways to prank the thunder god a few ideas ran through her head.
Fandral noticed Maria had a similar face of mischief to Loki's than gulped. "I believe we should take the time they gave us to prepare." he said as he chuckled and walked off the field.
Maria looked to Loki. "So what are you scheming Loki?" she said taking note of the mischievous spark in his eyes.
"I am thinking that we do not do anything for a couple of days and let their minds do a bit of the work for us. Then little things start happening which makes them even more cautious and then that's when the real pranks start. What do you think?" Loki explained his plan.
Maria smirked "I agree. Though, I believe Fandral may be first on my prank list as punishment for even thinking about flirting." she chuckled "Fresh snow in their clothes what do you think?" she said looking to Loki.
"Sounds good to me." Loki laughed as he imagined their reactions.
Maria chuckled "Let the prank war begin" she grinned.
Authors note:
Hi guys. I hope you liked Chapter 12 of the light in my darkness. I finally finished editing this chapter. Also I have a wonderful tribute song for Maria fighting and the Loki and Maria fighting together as a ship team.
Maria fights: /ikKUceLXdt8?list=PLqKMg90eLTWTvB4ueOVZMMbP-lC-sCOYr Eminem- Till I collapse.
Loki and Maria fight Theme song : /jP_uUkBfCM4?list=PLqKMg90eLTWTvB4ueOVZMMbP-lC-sCOYr
Skillet- The Resistance
Anyway hope you all have an amazing day expect more to come in chapter 13 and 14. If any of you have any ideas please comment in the reviews. Love hearing what all of you think. Until then CalmChaosangel and Hannah Bryant out. :3
PS. Fandral is my least favorite character next to Thor in the movies XD lol So if i poke fun of him later in stories its friendly hate. XD Later people.