Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Let's take a moment to remember Bernard Cribbins, who was Wilfred Mott in Doctor Who. May he Rest In Peace.
Guest: Thanks for the review. Poor Thor indeed. You'll see if he does find a way around it or not. Glad you agree, and the meme is fitting. No kidding, the studios didn't rein in Waititi, when they should have, but reined in Raimi, when they shouldn't have.
Screw Loose: Thanks for the review. It has a hammer side. Glad it was great. Rest In Peace Bernard Cribbins indeed.
Chapter 4- Its here
Yggdrasil the World Tree rots and withers and dies as the Black Winter blankets the Heavens in search of this reality. This Black Winter was the void in the center, devouring light and flowing only towards the endless nothing. It is the one true end of everything.
Right now, only one person stood in its way.
"Thor, you unbelievable horse's ass", Sif said to him, standing between him and Bill.
Thor warned her. "Sif, think very carefully about how you proceed. I am your King and there is only so much I will tolerate from-"
"Save your breath. I'm not afraid of you, and I will not fight you", Sif told him.
"You're the guardian of the Bifrost and you've abandoned your post", Thor pointed out. "And I will not-"
"You're right, I am", Sif nodded. "And I'm taking Bill to Asgard under my protection. Do as you must."
"Really, Lady Sif", Bill staggered up behind her. "This is unneeded, I'm fine, I just need to catch my-"
"What day is it, Bill?" Sif inquired.
"I..err…Monday?"
"Was that a question?"
"Very well then", Bill gave in.
"That is enough, Lady Sif, I will not take orders from you or anyone", Thor immediately said. "Now stand aside or-"
"Or what?"
Thor hurled Stormbreaker, only for Sif to tap Hofund into the ground, as the Bifrost shot down right upon Stormbreaker, and when it disappeared, Stormbreaker was gone.
"Sif", Thor asked her. "Where is Stormbreaker?"
Sif smirked.
Jotunheim
The Frost Giants were moving around, when suddenly Stormbreaker fell amongst them, making them back off in fright.
"Jotunheim? What the Hel are you thinking, Sif?" Thor asked her in surprise. "How could you-"
"I've sent it to a place where no one has the amount of power or will required to wield it, for we've had enough of that for a day, don't you think?" Sif asked rhetorically.
"This is madness. My father would never stand for such a thing", Thor told her. "And if you think-"
"You are not your father!" Sif snapped. "You're better." Looking at him, she continued passionately. "I know you're restless in your new role. That your best days are behind you and the idea of dying fat on the throne cripples you, Thor. But you must not lose yourself in your quest to prove you're still worthy, Thor. I know you're scared of the end of you but-"
"What?" Thor asked, confused. "No, I'm not afraid of-"
"Yes, you are", Sif pointed at him now. "I see everything, remember?"
Suddenly, a green pillar of flames appeared next to Thor, turning solid and revealing itself to be Loki, holding Gungnir in his hand.
"Sif! You forget yourself. You stand before your King."
"I will not stand by as-"
"He saves your life? All of our lives? You seem to forget that our King made this choice out of necessity. Having doubts in himself is troubling enough, but his own Queen challenging him, would you see Asgardia's ruin? Would you let it fall just as Asgard once did?"
"It seems you have forgotten, Trickster, it was you who banished me from our home in its time of need." Sif pointed out to him.
Loki had sent her away, and next thing she knows, her home and best friend were gone. That had built up resentment, even if she didn't always show it as she had moved past it, but it still hurt.
However, Loki was not phased. "My memory serves me well, Lady Sif, and it remembers how Heimdall remained, while you left. How ironic that you would acquire the same power of the man whose loyalty had no bounds."
"You question my honor?"
"I question your commitment, "Queen"."
"ENOUGH!" Thor shouted and held out his hand.
Jotunheim
One Frost Giant was about to touch Stormbreaker, when it flew off.
Stormbreaker flew back into Thor's hand and he caught it as a storm surrounded the lifeless moon, thunder booming and lightning flashing. "Save your quarrels for another day, I have no want for petty arguments."
"Of course, brother." Loki bowed, and glared at Sif, who returned it in equal measure.
He knew what's at stake, and Sif was jeopardizing things. Thor may have his honor, Sif and Bill may want to preserve it, but Loki has to think of the big picture, for both his brother and his home.
"Galactus bores of your family squabbles", Galactus then snarled at Thor. "If you are finished in this place, I hunger."
"Aye", Thor nodded, and turned to Loki, Sif and Bill. "Go home now, all three of you."
"Very well", Sif called the Bifrost, Loki and Bill on either side of her. "You send any word for your kingdom then? For your people?"
"No", Thor turned around. "When the work is done, I'll tell them myself."
"I look forward to it, brother", Loki said.
"Until then, my King", Sif said, the Bifrost finally transporting them all away.
"Are you ready?" Galactus then asked Thor.
"Not yet", Thor told him, before suddenly striking Galactus with lightning, that made him scream while arcing back into Thor, his appearance as the Herald of Thunder now finally returning at last, for he had taken back the Power Cosmic from the Devourer now once more.
"My Power Cosmic", Galactus snarled with gritted teeth as he recovered. "You have taken it. You dare-"
"Aye, and now I am ready", Thor looked back up at Galactus. "Let's end this now."
And so, the reign of the Thunder King spread heavy across the stars. While the Black Winter quickened towards everything, the Devourer and his Herald darkened three more skies.
First was Sylus, an uninhabitable and miniscule mesoplanet and former home to a race of long-dead war sorcerers that resembled jellyfish, fell first.
Their burial ground, rich in decomposing enchantments, added its dark power to Galactus' growing might.
Then came IO-X4, home to a massive herd of gentle bearlike animals gifted with the power of telekinesis and precognition. They were ready and waiting to be evacuated when Thor arrived.
And then Vanysh IVII, an ancient supergiant with a semi-sentient core of molten blood, gave its life freely in service of the coming fight, the insectoid race their giving it all up.
Galactus had now grown powerful enough to the point he eclipsed the version of himself that had attacked Earth not too long ago.
Four planets that were now sacrificed to save the Universe. Four black stains on the soul of a King. Four down, and one to go.
This one was none other than Kryo. The Thunder King wasn't even thinking of including Arda.
Thor hovered in front of the residents of this planet, including the leader who wore blue roes. "Greetings, please do not be alarmed." He landed on the ground and gave a bow. "I am Thor, King of Asgard, I come in peace, but please", he looked up at the leader again, "stand down."
"We know of you. Of what you want", the leader revealed to him. "We will not leave our home. Our armies are not assembled against you. We will aid you in your fight."
"A truly worthy gesture", Thor said, sounding relieved. "And I thank you and your people for it. But if you stay in this place, you and your people will all die." He now requested. "Please allow me to take you to Asgard, my people will-"
Sensing something, Thor looked up and muttered in horror. "Odin's beard-"
"NO!" The leader cried out.
Galactus glowed red with his power, and struck the planet already, slowly devouring it, to the horror of the leader and other residents.
"What in the Hel are you doing?" Thor flew up towards the Devourer, Stormbreaker held out. "There are still people on this planet. I have not given you permission to-"
"Galactus needs no permission! You have fulfilled your bargain, Thunder God", Galactus cut Thor off. "You have brought me to the final world. And we are out of time." He revealed just why they were out of time. "The Black Winter is here."
"No…." Thor whispered, as the Black Winter actually was descending upon Kryo at that point.
To look into the Black Winter is to witness your own fate. To see the form of your true death. For the King of Kryo, as with Galactus, it looks very much like Thor in the moment.
"Gods no, it can't be", the leader cried out in horror.
But for the God of Thunder himself, there will be only darkness, for he simply took a piece of his cape, ripped it off, and covered his eyes, to shield himself from the knowledge of his true death by staring into the Star Plague.
And then, he fired lightning, his newfound Cosmic Power roaring through his veins into the Uru, the blast fired right into the heart of the falling black storm.
It could shatter entire continents, and right now, it bought Galactus fourteen seconds of time.
But for the citizens of Kryo, it bought them nothing.
"I am sorry", Thor apologized to them with a heavy heart in vain. "I am so sorry."
Galactus soon devoured the whole of Kryo, with its people now gone too. "There, it is done. Now we must act quickly. The Winter is here, stay at my side and-"
"I know it had to be done, but that makes it no better, so know this, Galactus", tears escaped through Thor's blindfold now. "When the winter is clear, you will answer for the people of Kryo. And for all the lives you've stolen before it."
"Until then", Galactus simply said.
"Aye", Thor held up Stormbreaker, ready to battle. "Until then."
The God of Thunder with the Power Cosmic, and the Devourer of Worlds rejuvenated by the energies of five uniquely powerful worlds. They are the most powerful force the Multiverse has ever seen, and they are about to face the very definition of destruction throughout Creation.
Another one done now, hope all liked it.
Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help again.
Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.