Chapter 13: Seasons Don't Fear the Reaper
Odin had made many mistakes during his long life; it was that much that he had come to be able to admit over his handful of years living in exile. He'd often spend his days wondering about what would have happened if he didn't choose the actions he did, or let life run its course without him interfering. He'd always done everything with a purpose or so he thought. He'd never much questioned it until now as he could feel death reaching out to him and as he could feel his children approaching. He had many things he'd wanted to say to his children for years now and now that he finally had them all together for the first time in decades, he found himself speechless and in awe at the view before him.
His eldest son was the first to reach him, not much to Odin's surprise. He didn't have to even bother to look to see his other two children, his youngest son and youngest daughter, to know that they were lagging behind. Thor had always been the leader of his siblings, always being the one to head into everything headfirst regardless if that was a good or bad thing. Just like when they were children and he'd call them into his throne room to either scold or simply speak with them, Thor reached him first, followed by Loki, who Skadi would be trailing behind slowly.
Odin felt at peace finally seeing them all together after everything that had happened to his family. During his exile, he had almost felt broken as he contemplated over his life. Odin had always been a stern and stoic man, to which, his wife, Frigga, had always made sure to remind him of such. She'd often have to remind him that he couldn't always be like the King of Asgard with them, that he'd also have to be a father. And once he figured out how to balance his duties as King and being there for his children, the children of Odin couldn't deny that their father had been the best.
It all didn't start going wrong until he has so foolishly agreed to marry his daughter off too some fake King. Odin had known that the man claiming to be J'son of Spartax wasn't who he had claimed to be from the start. Odin was the All-father, he had made foolish decisions but he was not a fool himself. He had no intent on actually sending his daughter off but he kept that to himself. His own ego had gotten to him, wanting to taunt the man, leading him on before revealing that he knew about the rouse and teach him what happens when you try to make a fool out of the King of Asgard.
He'd also wanted to teach his growing daughter a lesson. She had grown spoiled with the thanks of her brother, Loki and her mother bending over backwards and constantly giving her everything she wanted. She felt that she was too good for her duties; that she didn't have to sit through her lessons or be polite and respect her elders. The girl, who'd just began to enter her teens, wanted nothing but to be like her brothers. She demanded that she learned how to fight and practiced the craft of magic, regardless of Odin saying no. Odin eventually let Frigga cave and allowed the Lady Sif to begin her training while Frigga started formal magic lessons, not whatever Loki had been teaching her at the late hours of the night. Odin was hesitant to allow this after learning the hard way as to what could happen; he was afraid of the past repeating itself and had tried for years to keep her away from the training fields.
His fears were what drove her away in the end. He'd never expected her to run off after announcing that she would be married to the King of Spartax, he thought she'd just throw one of her tantrums. He never expected Loki to help her escape either, enlisting the help of that witch who ended up taking her away from them for good. It was that simply mistake, that fear that caused everything to spiral into what it was. He'd been so furious at his son for helping her, that he blamed him for her being lost to them, instead of blaming who was really at fault; himself. His sudden new treatment towards his son was what made that anger grow inside him, that resentment, and turned him to darkness.
"Father," Thor's voice finally appeared, snapping his father out of the daze that he had been.
"Isn't this place beautiful? Just look at it." Odin said, continuing to stare out into the sky, letting the sound of the waves crashing down on the rocks below ease him.
"Father, it's us," Thor spoke again, clearly unsettled by his father's demeanor.
He looked up at Loki and Skadi as they finally stood next to them, Loki being brave and standing directly on the side of Odin, while Skadi stood next to Loki. She wasn't ready to face her father again. She thought she'd already done so days ago and the thought of having to explain herself and have him explain himself properly intimidated her. She'd been surprised by her father's lax reaction to her coming home and did indeed think it to be strange, only to have then learn why. It hadn't been him before, it'd been Loki. Now she'd have to actually sit and listen to what her father really had to say to her after all of these years.
"My children," Odin nodded, moving his head towards Loki and Skadi but not fully looking at them still. "I've been waiting to see you together again."
"I know, and we've come to take you home." Thor said, trying to smile and lift the awkward tension in the air.
"Home, yes," Odin smirked, chuckling a bit before looking back out, "Your mother, she calls for me. Do you hear her?"
Odin turned, finally facing his youngest children. He looked at them, admiring how much they'd grown over the years. Loki, somewhat looked like his old self again regardless of the years spent charading as Odin while his daughter looked just as beautiful as her mother did. He finished looking them over before again looking out to the sky, letting his love's voice fill his ears again.
"Loki, lift your magic!" Thor ordered, his face contorting as he angrily looked at his brother. He was in no mood for his tricks to test him.
"Oh yes," Odin said before Loki could speak, turning to look from Thor to Loki, as his youngest boy shook his head in defense. Odin laughed, sounding proud, to Loki and Thor's surprise. "It took me quite a while to break free of your spell. Your mother would've been proud. Now, come sit with me, I don't have much time."
Odin looked at his son in earnest, before turning around to head towards a larger rock behind them all. As he turned he reached his hand out towards his daughter, remembering the days when she was just a small girl and always begging to be carried by him. He reached his hand out to her, not expecting her to hold it but hoped that she would. Her face looked like she was contemplating it, looking up to her brother's as if they'd tell her what to do. She knew she should take her anger at him and put it aside but it was too hard too; regardless something told her to grab his hand.
She let him led her to the rock, being an anchor and keeping him steady as he knelt down. Once he was sat, she joined him, not letting go of his hand as she did. She felt him squeeze it tightly and she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat as her heart started thumping in her chest. She felt more relaxed when her brothers joined them, Loki now sitting next to her.
"I know we've all failed you, but we can make this right." Thor started, looking at his father with concern.
"I've failed you," Odin said painfully, knowing he hadn't the time to say everything he wanted to say to his children. "There is much I wish to apologize for, but we haven't the time for it is upon us; Ragnarok."
"No, no," Thor shook his head, confused and still unsettled. "I've put an end to Suter, I've stopped Ragnarok."
"No you haven't. Ragnarok has already begun," Odin insisted, leaning back in his spot. "She's coming, my life was all that held her back but now my time has come. I cannot keep her away any longer,"
"Who are you talking about?" Skadi finally spoke up, seeing Thor slowly breaking at the sight of their father in this state.
"The goddess of Death, Hela," Odin frowned, looking away from their faces. "My firstborn, your sister."
Skadi tighten her grip on her father's hand, not believing a word she just heard. She looked up to see Thor, wearing a painful look on his face as he was rendered speechless. He'd looked hurt, betrayed, just how she looked back when Odin informed her about marrying her off, and she could bet that it was the same look Loki wore when Odin told him the truth about him being a frost giant. Skadi let go of her father's hand, feeling angry. This was just another lie their father had told them.
"Her violent appetites grew beyond my control and I couldn't stop her so I banished her; I locked her away." Odin admitted, remembering that day like it was yesterday; the pain was still fresh, and even though he knew his children were furious it felt good to finally get it off his chest. "She draws her strength from Asgard, once she gets there she'll be unstoppable."
"Whatever she is we can beat her." Thor finally found his voice, though he'd sound as if he was about to cry. "Together, all four of us can face her."
"No we won't. I'm on a different path now. You must face this alone." Odin hushed him. "I love you my children, more than you will ever know. Look at that,"
Odin trailed off, pointing to something off in the distance that none of them could see or tried to see. Skadi looked up at Loki, seeing that he'd been silent this entire time. His face spoke for him as he wore the same expression she had. She was hurt, sad and confused; they were uncertain and uncomfortable by what their father had said to them.
"I remember this place; home." Odin spoke just as his body began to desperate and fade off from existence.
Skadi choked back tears as her father faded into orange particles, blowing off into the wind. She was still unforgivingly angry with him and hadn't thought that she'd be upset about him dying but she was. She wasn't ready to say goodbye, she hadn't wanted to but knew that she'd need closure and speak with him about everything and now she'd never get that now; Loki took that away from her. She also felt guilty, knowing that he died knowing that she hadn't forgiven him yet and he had died after losing everything; his throne, his children, his wife.
Thor stood first, clenching his fist in fury. He couldn't mourn, no, not as his heart bumped quickly, feeling electricity coursing through his veins. He could hear thunder bounding off in the distance. Without a care, ignoring Skadi nearly jumping out of her skin as another thunder strike went off, he just turned to Loki. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to replace him with their father because Odin deserved his life more than his senseless brother. It was all his fault, if he hadn't played his tricks, they'd all still be together.
Skadi jumped up, seeing Thor make a move towards Loki. Granted, she wanted to beat the crap out of Loki herself, she knew that she had to have the level head out of them. Thor raised a fist to Loki, only stopping when he felt his sister place a cold hand on his chest, while the other hand grabbed his wrist and stopped him from striking down on Loki.
"Thor stop!" She warned, letting her eyes glow. "I'm just as angry with him as you are, but fighting won't help us at the moment." Skadi pleaded before Thor could push her away.
She halted, releasing him as the three could heard a flickering off in the distance. Alert, remembering their father's words all three turned around slowly, watching as a green portal appeared a few yards away from them. They all knew that this was their sister; that this was the goddess of death coming.
Walking past them, Thor moved to go closer to the portal with Loki surprisingly following after him. Skadi watched as Loki used his magic, returning both brothers into their normal state of dress and thankfully leaving her as she was.
She slowly trailed after them, having an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She felt nauseous suddenly, blaming it quickly on the events of the day mixing in with her nerves. She felt the world spinning as the portal expanded further, a figure slowly making its way out, clothes all tattered and worn. Skadi tried to stopped herself from fainting that moment, recognizing the woman the moment she stepped out of the portal. It'd been the woman in her dreams, the woman that she had those almost forgotten dreams off as a child. The one where she'd be there playing in a garden with two boys, now who she realized where her brothers, and a woman would appear, Hela, taking her away from them as the garden would suddenly be set ablaze.
"So he's finally gone," She spoke casually, looking between the three Asgardians. The portal closed behind her, whipping her long black hair down to rest past her shoulders. "Such a shame, I would have enjoyed seeing that."
"You must be Hela," Thor said, eager to attempt to bring peace with her but knew that the chances for that were slim. "I'm Thor, son of Odin,"
"Really?" She said, amused. "You don't look like him."
"Perhaps we can come to an arrangement." Loki cut in, knowing that he was better with diplomacy more so than his brother.
"Ha, now you sound like him." Hela sneered, looking from the two brothers then to Skadi, "And who are you? Another one of Odin's? Clearly father's been busy since I've been gone."
"Who she is doesn't matter, now let's talk about how we can settle this." Loki snapped, uncomfortable with the way Hela looked at Skadi like she was prey.
"We can only settle this one way," Hela said with a smile, "Kneel,"
"I beg your pardon?" Loki questioned, not liking how this situation felt one bit.
"I said kneel," Hela repeated, drawn out as if saying it slower would help Loki hear her better. "Kneel, before you're new Queen."
"I don't think so," Thor said sick of the talk. Throwing Mjolnir out Thor intended to end this here and now without any new arrangements being made besides on Hela's face. Though, no such thing would happen as Hela easily caught Mjolnir with her hand, keeping it from hitting her. Thor was beside himself, shaking his head in fear and confusion, "It's not possible,"
"Darling, you have no idea what's possible," Hela smirked, clenching the hammer in her hands, breaking the metal as if it were made of clay.
The force sent from Mjolnir hit the three unexpectedly, sending them back a couple of steps. Loki felt his mind race, thinking less about saving Asgard but more about saving himself and his sister. He'd just gotten her back and he wasn't going to lose her in a pointless fight against this woman. She clearly was more powerful than they could handle just from stopping his brother's hammer alone, let alone managing to break it.
The woman formed a horned helmet onto her head, along with two long swords in each hand before strutting towards them. Loki could see Thor already edging forward to fight her and decided to let him. He moved backwards, snatching Skadi by the arm and roughly pulled her towards him. Shouting up to the sky he shouted for Skurge to bring them back.
"No!" Thor and Skadi shouted but it was too late, the Bifrost engulfed them all, sending them up spiraling up towards Asgard.