Hello everybody and welcome back to "To Eternity, My Witch". I hope y'all are doing well and are surviving this January. Sorry for the late update to this story!

I DO NOT Own any of these as they are and were created by their respective creators. Marvel is owned by the late Stan Lee via Disney. Phantom of the Opera (PotO) is owned by Andrew Llyod Weber. LofZ : TP and OofT by Shigeru Miyamoto. Fire Emblem by Shouzou Kaga. Black Butler by Yana Toboso. And finally, Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi.

Please enjoy!

Chapter 20 Face to Face with Fire

Stefan's POV.

I sat on the edge of the Bifrost, staring down into the depths of the sea below. The leviathan below was circling where I sat. It had taken Thor, Steve, T'Challa, and I a little over two weeks to gather and prepare everything to kill the leviathan. Thor and T'Challa were finishing up the rig that held the explosives while Steve neared me on the rope that I had securely tied to the Bifrost's turret near my right arm.

He had just finished luring the leviathan out from the depths with the decoys that had the meat inside. I could tell he was near exhaustion and possibly collapsing from it after climbing the almost 500-foot climb from the sea below. When he got within hearing distance, I encouraged him, "Come on Steve, you're almost there. You can do it." I knelt as he approached the top.

He was breathing heavily, and when he was within my reach, I leaned down and helped him up by taking the back of his shirt and giving him a much-needed boost to the Bifrost's stones. Steve grunted in pain and rolled onto his back as he laid on the ground, breathing heavily with his eyes closed, his face in a severely pained grimace, his body shaking.

"You alright, youngling?" I asked, grave concern on my face.

His grimace deepened and rolled his right shoulder, breathing out his answer with wheezing, painful, panting whispers, "No. That climb took… took a lot out of me and the creature… the creature knocked me hard into a cliff on… on the way topside. My… my shoulder and torso on that side are… are hurting greatly because of it. I feel as if something is wrong inside. Despite… despite my super-soldier state even I… I get exhausted and can get severely injured if I am not careful. Wait was… was that another old man joke?" He opened his eyes slightly to look at me in question, a hint of a smile breaking through, even though his chest still heaved, and his face still held a painful pinch.

I smirked, "Yes, but the joke was aimed at me. Remember, I am far older than you Steve. That gives me the right to call you young. Here let me look at your shoulder." I came forward and helped him sit up and lean against the turret's solid structure. I got out a few medical supplies from my belt before I helped Steve take off his armor and shirt.

What I saw was not good. Steve's whole right shoulder was bruised black and blue. Even down to his bicep and into his pectoral muscles and back muscles. I could tell just by eye that he had severely damaged several tendons and his muscles. I turned my eyes to my dragon vision and found he had also fractured his shoulder blade and his collar bone. And several ribs were broken. He had severely torn his pectoral muscle and a few other muscles as well. How he had not blacked out from the pain as he climbed the rope was a massive and a most impressive feat for a human. Even one with his super soldier status. I am sure he had damaged them further as he climbed for his life. I could tell there were several damaged arteries as well.

I mumbled, trying to not let my worry come out and show, "Hmmm… The leviathan really did a number on your shoulder, Steve. Far more and far worse than what I can see on the outside. I have a better idea than these medical supplies." I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder gently but firmly. Steve winced and groaned in pain, but he didn't move away from my touch, not refusing my help.

I closed my eyes and chanted in Latin, my healing powers manifesting. My hand glowed and in turn Steve's entire shoulder, neck, upper torso, and right arm. Said person groaned further in pain, flinching and grimacing as I healed his shoulder. He let out pained grunts and moans as I moved my hand around the different areas that were injured. Healing wasn't my strongest ability. It tended to take me far greater concentration and time than Amelia's ability, but I was able to do it. In about a fifteen-minute period, I finished healing Steve.

Soon I stopped and opened my eyes. Steve's shoulder, arm, and upper torso was completely healed, and he looked to be far more comfortable. I asked, probing his shoulder gently, "There, how does that feel, youngling?"

Steve rolled his shoulder, "It's feels much better. A tad sore, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem now. Thank, Lord Stefan." He looked to me with great respect. As he put his clothing and armor on again, I stood.

"Woah, woah there, Steve. It's Stefan. Yes, some people back in my world call me such, and all call me king as it should be, but with you and everyone here, it's Stefan. We're all the same when it comes to disasters, no matter whether we are paupers or kings. Come, Thor and T'Challa are almost done with the explosives." I gave him a hand up and we headed to the area where said men were just finishing up. They had glanced Steve's injured shoulder when he finished his climb and respectfully left me alone with him so I could heal it. They had busied themselves as I did so, knowing themselves that the injuries Steve had incurred from being slammed into the Bifrost's support column needed to be healed and fast.

Thor finished tying off the last of the rope, turning to Steve and I as we approached, "Stefan, T'Challa and I have the explosives ready. Only thing to do now is to lower it to the beast below."

"Good. Soon, we will lower the explosives with the timed fuse set for 10 minutes. Once the rope is cut and the explosives are in the sea, the leviathan should go after them." I mentioned as I walked towards the edge to peer down at the circling beast.

The creature truly was a leviathan. It was huge and a combination of at least 15 different sea creatures. Just like Cthulhu or the leviathan from the book of Job. It roared, stirring up the sea and causing much of the water to be stirred up onto shore and over the edge to space. I sneered at it, growling back loudly for it to hear, causing it to roar in rage and thrash around the sea. Steve, Thor, and T'Challa paused to look at me in question.

"Where does the water of the sea go to, Thor? It seems to be such a waste. And what did you say to make it so angry, Stefan?" T'Challa questioned disapprovingly as he looked over to see a wave of water fall over the edge.

Thor interrupted, answering T'Challa's first question, "The water is recycled via ancient magic that an ancient intelligencer put in place millennia ago. It does spill over, but it's then transported to an underground aquafer underneath the Desert of Ruin. As the aquafer is refilled, the water is cleaned and purified, which then flows and feeds the springs that make up Lanayru's spring and the rivers flowing into the sea below. Also, if any water is permanently displaced, there is a space fairing planet sized ball of water feeding the aquafer to make sure it's permanently sourced. There is enough water in that planet sized ocean to last millennia." He then looked over to me and raised a brow, "How much longer Stefan? We need to get this done."

I hmphed, "Soon Thor. The reason it's so mad at why I growled is because I refused to acknowledge him entry to the rest of space and give him the food he wants and needs. Which means he hasn't eaten in millennia. Since I left Asgard two millennia ago. Odin forced it to dive deep into the sea and has kept it forced to stay there via an invisible grid that causes it great pain if it attempts to surface. What I also said when I growled is that it is a monstrosity that needs to be tamed. It responded in kind by renouncing me and cursing the creator in dragon language. But I will not repeat its words, they are too nasty to repeat." The three sneered down at the leviathan. T'Challa nodded at Thor's answer and mine.

I continued as we looked at the creature raging down below, "Since Ragnar's invasion over four weeks ago, the grid's power was cut off allowed it access to the sea above it. Though it knew enough not to trust its sight. Which is why we needed to bait it. With the bait Steve dropped down and then brought up via rope, it now is here in the sea above its prison. It will eat anything if we throw it in. Come, let's do this terrible job over with." I walked over to the cache of explosives and between Thor, Steve, T'Challa, and I, we were able to teeter it on the edge of the Bifrost. "Cut it, Thor, and let's drop it."

Thor cut the rope and the four of us pushed the rather large bundle off the Bifrost and we watched as it pummeled towards the sea below. The leviathan took notice and turned to come out of the water to grab the bundle in its giant rotten maw as it fell from its great height. The bundle of explosives disappeared inside its gullet and the leviathan crash down into the sea again to swim around.

"Run! TO THE PALACE!" I ordered, sensing that the leviathan was maybe going to be damaging the supports to the Bifrost. I would have flown Thor, Steve, and T'Challa, but with the realm covered in twilight I was stuck in my human form.

As soon as we reached the palace gates and solid ground barely, a large explosion rocketed the ground. A massive column of water rose out of the sea along with blood and rotted flesh from the leviathan. It even reached the three Avengers and I, covering us in flesh and blood, making us all smell and look at it in disgust. But fortunately, the threat from the sea was vanquished. The leviathan had been killed.

I sighed, sitting down on the street's curb, relieved. Now to get to the Bifrost. Wanda and James will be here in the next day or so. I glanced over at Thor, Steve, and T'Challa, all three grumbling in disgust about the nasty flesh and blood coating their bodies. I couldn't care less about being covered in rotten flesh and blood, just happy to have the troublesome beast killed. I stood crossing my arms, "Such wimps you are. Head to the cave on the first Bifrost support. There's a hidden hot spring that is down the spiral staircase near the back of the cave. I've something to go check on before I come and clean up myself."

Thor and T'Challa left for the cave immediately, though Steve hesitated, even as grimy and gross as he and I were. I could tell he wanted to speak with me. "What is it, Steve?" I probed as I walked over to grab a spear from the supplies shed near the gate. There were several keys I grabbed too.

I could feel his sadness, and I turned to him as he inquired, "How are you holding up? With this invasion? With Amelia… imprisoned and suffering torture?" He glanced up the tower where Amelia was held.

I thought for a few moments without responding. Steve waited patiently, understanding how time worked differently with his past having been frozen in the Arctic. Even with that, he was still so young compared to me.

I sighed, sitting down on a barrel in the blacksmith's stand, wiping my neck to catch some dripping blood, "I won't lie, Steve. Not well. Not at all. To see the love of my life suffering is beyond torture for me. Especially every time she is a tortured captive, since we were mated and married, has hit me hard. Not that I haven't had time as a tortured captive, but every single time she has been, she has been the focus of much hatred and evil. All those times and this time have all been unfair, but she wouldn't have it any other way though. Especially now. Her own son putting her in tortured captivity… Gods…" I ran my hands through my hair in frustration and sadness, tears close to the surface.

Steve could hear the pain in my voice, and he put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Stefan. I don't know if I could survive or even want to live with having Natasha go through the same thing. Wait… Her own son? Who is her son?"

I sighed blinking back tears and realizing my blunder as the truth was about to come out. Standing, I looked to Steve who had a confused look mixed with concern on his face, I looked away, resigned, "I'll explain as we make our way to the cave, Steve." He nodded and I picked up the spear as he clutched his shield close and Mjolnir in his right hand.

"Ragnar, the usurper, is Amelia's son. He was somehow… corrupted… in the Twilight Realm and…" I was interrupted by Steve as we arrived at the Bifrost's first few feet.

"Say what?! He is her son?! Doesn't that make him your son?" Steve accused, pausing on the Bifrost.

I stopped walking and faced him, a frown on my face, "No… he's not my son. Ragnar is Amelia's son via a different man. She was… raped… and unfortunately became pregnant because of it. She had twins, might I add, and both were adopted out to families where the women were barren. I would have adopted them in a heartbeat, but that wouldn't have been possible. As they wouldn't have survived the trip through the Mirror of Horizons." I paused. turning to look down at the waters below. It was starting to clear. Good the flesh and blood are disappearing…

Steve's eyes were wide with shock, heartbroken at the news, yet happy to know that her children had a happy ending, "Who then is their father?"

I narrowed my eyes in concern as I sneered and turned to face him again, arms crossed, body tense, "Do you really want to know that knowledge, Steve? Cause if you knew, the knowledge would come as a full-blown shock. It could even cause you much heartache." Reila had much of James' features in her face.

Steve hesitated for several minutes, thinking, Do I need to know? It would potential have benefits with figuring out this disaster. He was torn. He wanted to know, yet he dreaded the answer to it. Steve looked up and back to me, saying after a long time, "Yes, I want to know."

I looked away, knowing this knowledge wasn't going to come as welcomed news, "Very well. The father of Amelia's twins, Ragnar and his sister, is none other than James Buchanan Barnes. Your best friend and confidant."

Steve went as white as a ghost, nausea rising in his gut and white dots speckling his vision as he felt dizzy. The nausea quickly boiled up in him as his eyes went glassy. No…! James… raped… Amelia? He's the… the father… how…?

I turned backed and watched, impassive and devoid of emotion, as Steve went to his knees and emptied his stomach on the roadside at the Bifrost's edge, "So, do you regret hearing the news? Is the knowledge you gained having been worth it?" My face was a mask, he shriveled back from my look of impassiveness and my tense body.

Steve didn't answer right away, instead thinking for several long moments that would count as minutes, even as the nausea finally wore off. "How? When? Why? What happened to them?" He finally inquired as he sat there on the ground, watching me with clouded eyes, nausea threatening him again as he thought on it further.

I turned away from Steve and walked to the edge of the Bifrost bridge. I observed the water of the sea below again as it slowly but surely started to push the bloody water with the rotten flesh to the edge and over. The remaining flesh would sink, providing much needed food to the other types of sea creatures below. He again patiently waited for me to answer, knowing a few more minutes seemed like mere seconds to me.

I murmured, remaining impassive as Steve struggled to hear as he came closer to hear my words, "HYDRA forced James to do it as his second to last act of loyalty to prove himself to them as the Winter Soldier. It was the second to last thing to finally make him the perfect killing assassin soldier that would listen and do without question. So, technically he was forced to do it. And I don't blame him in the slightest though as I have already forgiven him of it as has Amelia. As for when it happened, it was right before she escaped from HYDRA in 1965 before the KGB captured her." I paused as the tears that threatened to fall earlier started.

Steve didn't know what to say, to hear that his best friend had been forced to rape their mentor and friend was shocking. Yet it completely quelled his feelings of anger and sadness towards his friend, instead giving rise to renewed hatred towards HYDRA. If he didn't have reason to hate HYDRA before, he now loathed them with a passion that far outpaced his hatred towards them. He looked out over the sea of Asgard, thinking over the knowledge that I had revealed to him. He snapped back to stare at me as I began again.

"During her time with HYDRA, Amelia forced herself to become her anthrozil self. A half human half dragon hybrid, like when she was much younger. Even then she repressed her dragon traits further to prevent HYDRA from discovering her real self. And when that time came, when she was with the KGB for three months, she discovered that James had gotten her pregnant. Most dragons, when in stressed situations, don't have the natural control to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and that is what happened to Amelia. She…"

"Wait… then how did her pregnancy go unnoticed by the KGB?" Steve asked, again loathing and anger flaring up at HYDRA.

I finally turned to him, tears falling down my checks, "Dragons usually have a gestation period same as humans, about nine months, but if forced into situations like Amelia had to go through, female dragons have the ability to slow the gestation time to a point without harming the developing unborn child in any way inside to that of two to three years. And she did just that. The KGB never figured it out, even after she escaped in 1967 with Natasha's help."

Steve's brows furrowed, "What happened to the children then? How did Ragnar end up being turned into a Twili?"

I turned again and looked at the sea, which was even clearer than before. "Amelia had them in a Norwegian town several months after she escaped the KGB. She made a name for herself there as a wonderful cook at the local restaurant. Within several weeks, Amelia had official documents and a citizenship in Norway. No one after the first month suspected she was a foreigner. She became good friends with the community.

"She became especially close to one couple there, Erik and Frigga Odinson, who she was family friends with prior to her imprisonment. She had her twins in their house when she couldn't work anymore at almost nine months pregnant. A week after she stopped working, she had the twins in their home and being that Frigga was barren, Erik and she adopted the girl." I helped Steve to stand, silently giving the gesture to move, and we walked around to the path that led to the base of the Bifrost's first support.

He waited as he and I stopped at the Bifrost's support path, and we paused to rest. Steve sat again and I stayed standing. "Where's their daughter located then?" Steve asked after a few minutes of silence, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I'll get to that in a moment, Steve. Come. I'll finish the tale as we go." I gestured, giving him a hand to stand after several minutes, and we walked the rest of the path going down the slope to the Bifrost support. Steve walked to my right as we went and I continued, "Amelia christened them Josiah and Reila Hansdotter, the midwife that was called in made sure to do all the proper documents and legal action before she helped with the adoption. Erik and Frigga renamed Reila as Rebecca Sigurd Reila Odinson to avoid detection as they raised her.

"Erik and Frigga wanted so bad to adopt both children, but due to concerns that James, who we know was still under HYDRA's control at the time, she didn't want to risk Erik and Frigga's lives as well as Josiah and Reila's lives when Josiah got older and resembled James. Once the adoption was complete a month after their birth, Erik and Frigga, with Reila in their arms, tearfully watched as Amelia leave. She made her way to the ancient gateway that led to Asgard here with Josiah in her arms. At that point in time, Amelia was considered a traitor and exile in Asgard because of some… unsavory and false accusations from Odin… She dressed as her alter go Sheikan, who was considered a friend of Asgard still. And she brought Josiah to Odin."

"Why would she want Ragnar… or Josiah… here in Asgard if he's a Twili now? How did she get there to the Twilight Realm from here?" Steve inquired as they approached the massive column of stone acting as the first support to the bridge. The stairway appeared for Steve and I as we approached and I talked as Steve went first.

"Asgard here has a connection to the Twilight, as you know, in the Desert of Ruins. Amelia, in disguise as Sheikan, was able to convince Odin that Josiah's safety depended on him being placed somewhere HYDRA would never be able to find him or even be able to reach him without having to go through Asgard first. Even if it meant having Josiah become a Twili. Which if he tried, James and anyone in HYDRA would have been immediately killed by Odin and his army. She has many connections in the Twilight Realm and knew a couple who were also infertile like Erik and Frigga. Asgard had the only means to get to the Twilight realm.

"Her reasoning was that she would provide them a child to raise, and Josiah would be with a loving family and in the process, protection from HYDRA. In a way, the tragic and horrible result of what happened between James and Amelia became a tool to bless two families with children and the children would be blessed with loving homes, protected from horrible fates. At least we had hoped. And that is what I believe Steve." Steve and I arrived in the cave, coming upon Thor and T'Challa who were now clean.

Thor frowned, "What took you two so long? We were beginning to worry." T'Challa nodded in agreement.

Steve remained quiet, thinking over everything he had just learned. I smirked, "Just some history lessons between Steve and I, nothing too important. But it had to be a private conversation. Fortunately, we didn't see or come across any corrupted Twili beasts or other monsters or enemy soldiers. Steve, come! Let us get cleaned up and get some sleep before we go meet Wanda and James at the Bifrost." I ordered as I grabbed a set of clothes for myself and a towel. Steve grabbed some as well and a towel and we headed down to get cleaned up.

Third person POV.

James woke up from sleep to the ceiling of the alcove of the cave where Eldin's spring was. He didn't know how long he slept, but he could feel it may have been a considerable amount of time. He felt a weight shift on his chest, and he looked to see Wanda, in her shadowy imp form, sitting on his chest. He smiled and asked, "Can't sleep doll?"

Wanda's head snapped over to him and she stared into his eyes, "No, not as of late. How are you feeling, James?"

He sat up and stretched his arms, "Sore, but I should be able to travel within the next hour or so to the gateway. How long did I sleep?"

"You slept over 12 hours James. Your body and mind needed it. How about we do as you suggest and leave within the hour?" Wanda mentioned quietly, laughing at his shocked expression. She moved off him, brushing against his manhood purposefully, causing James to groan in want. "When we get this all unraveled, I would like to officially become one again James." Wanda said seductively as he moaned again as she sat on his growing length. "Hmmm…"

James tried his best to reign in his arousal at Wanda's antics, but it took him a while. The heat didn't make it any better. Wanda laughed, causing him to growl. For an hour, she teased and aroused him to the point of release. However, an hour later after that, he was clean and dressed and the supplies that Stefan had brought to Muspelheim were packed away in Wanda's pocket dimension. Eldin appeared when James and Wanda emerged from the alcove.

"The fire demons have settled down, much more than usual. Be cautious as you make your way back to the gateway. I have marked on your map the safest route to the gateway. It follows the road that has the least amount of fire demons in the path. Be safe." Eldin spoke with admonition.

James nodded, "Thank you Eldin. Stay safe yourself. It was nice meeting you."

Eldin nodded, "You too, youngling. Now go. Until later." And with that Eldin disappeared.

James hmphed, "Wanda, you ready?"

Wanda laughed coquettishly, "Yes soldier." James smirked with a twinkle in his eyes.

They soon were on their way. Fortunately, like before, they were able to avoid any run ins with fire demons, but it still took them over a day to journey to the Transgate. After a day of avoiding and dodging fire demons, they were at the gateway. Touching the trans-stone orb, James and Wanda were transported to the Bifrost.

Standing in the small area, Wanda appeared to James, "Ready soldier? This is the last of our journey to rid the world of Ragnar."

James nodded, "Ready as ever, doll. Pull me into the twilight." Wanda nodded and disappeared beyond the veil. Moments later, her hand appeared, large and menacing, and she pulled him into the twilight covered Asgard. Again, after a painful transformation, James stood as a wolf and Wanda was now visible. Something was different this time. Wanda and James immediately noticed four soul flames standing around the sword in the center of the Bifrost chamber. A weird oval moved about slowly allowing one to see the world normally around the one spirit that was holding it.

As James trotted over with Wanda on his back, the oval turned to "face" them and the smiling face of Stefan appeared. James stopped and both him and Wanda looked at him in surprise. Stefan smiled, exclaiming, his voice echoing as if in a large and empty chamber, "Good, you're back in Asgard and from the looks of it, you have all the fused shadows from the other realms. One left here in Asgard." Thor, Steve, and T'Challa crowded around Stefan, squishing him and causing him to frown in annoyance. All three chatted and clamored for answers before Stefan shouted quieting them, "Quiet! Let Wanda speak." Thor, Steve, and T'Challa still crowded Stefan, looking at Bucky and Wanda in expectation.

Wanda jumped up and floated near the oval, "How is it possible for us to speak Stefan? What means are you able to create this communication?"

Stefan smiled, "I had Link and Zelda bring this nifty mirror call the lens of truth and it can pierce Twilight and destroy false barriers and disguises. Thus, it allows me to talk with non-spirit transformed beings such as you both. Speaking of which, James you look mighty fine as a wolf. Perhaps Amelia and I will consider your candidacy for being a wolf Laguz." James huffed, embarrassed.

Wanda patted James' shoulder, "Well, you can't be as handsome as James not to see he makes a great looking wolf. Anyways, Stefan, Thor, where's the guardian's spring here in Asgard? We need to get the Vine of Light to gather the drops of light for Lanayru."

Stefan stroked his beard as he answered, "Follow me. Thor, I'll take them there. Steve, T'Challa gather your stuff along with Thor and make for the eastern gates and wait for me there in the blacksmith's house. There is a hidden room behind the kiln, so hide there and soon I'll be back with Wanda and James in tow." The three men nodded and they disappeared in the lens' barrier.

"Come, Wanda, James follow me." Stefan disappeared along with the oval. James and Wanda followed the four spirits across the Bifrost. When they arrived at the southern gates to the city, three of the spirits headed east while the last one headed south towards the cliffs. James followed with Wanda after the lone spirit. Half an hour later, Stefan's spirit flame stopped at a cave near the sea's edge. His face appeared in the lens' oval.

James looked up at Stefan as he spoke, "Lanayru is in there. His spirit is rather large, and you should be able to speak with him. I have already spoken with him about your arrival, and he is prepared to speak with you. I mentioned to him that you know of the dangers surrounding the fused shadows. However, he and I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is for you James, specifically, if you touched them, you would be cursed or killed. They're that dangerous. Aside that… Once you have all the drops and restored the realm, I will be waiting here for you."

James nodded, and Wanda smiled, "Thank you, Stefan. We'll get them as fast as we can, but looking at the history of gathering them, our gathering of the drops over the course of the last few weeks, it could take a good solid day or more to do so. We'll need to recover afterwards."

Stefan sighed, resigned to the delay, "Very well. Just make sure you come here and search for me once you're done." And with that his face disappeared and he curled up inside a hidden crevasse, his soul flame practically invisible there.

James huffed before going into the Lanayru's spring. Just as before, they were given the vine of light and it took over an entire day to gather all the drops. They were able to defeat seven groups of Twilight beasts, the portals all over Asgard. One portal was over Trondheim, making James and Wanda much more hopeful to see their other family members doing well. However, as soon as James got the second to last drop, no spots on the map indicated where the last one was located at.

"Hey, what gives? Where's the last drop of light?" Wanda grumbled in annoyance as she looked over the map with James who growled in annoyance as well. But within moments, the last one appeared in the center of the Sea of Frost boarding Lanayru's spring.

"Weird… why did it just appeared now?" Wanda wondered out loud. James nudged her shoulder, wanting her to get on his back.

Does it matter? Come Wanda, we're almost done at removing the Twilight forever. Let's get that drop of light! James wagged his tail as he sent that thought to her, making her laugh.

"Mush, wolf!" Patting his and hitting his sides lightly, Wanda laughed when James growled.

Not funny Wanda. I'm not some creature to be commanded… James continued to growl.

Wanda laughed, "Oh come on, James. It's just a little jab of fun."

James groaned as a wolf does, but Wanda quickly chuckled and transported them back to the gates of the Bifrost. James snorted and trotted across the Bifrost and down to the sea and swam out to the area where the last beast was which also had wood debris floating in the water around it. He and Wanda searched, not finding the beast when a large oversized one came flying out of the water.

It was far larger than the normal ones and seemed more resilient. James growled; fangs bared at the creature as it flew around him. The creature flew at him but missed when James jumped out of the way barely. He jumped onto the creature and began biting at its thick hide. After a few bits, the creature went limp and fell backward into the sea. James jumped to the nearest piece of wood and onto the creature's stomach, crouching, Wanda helping him target all eight legs of the creature.

At a fast rate, he bit all eight legs. He and Wanda did this twice more before he jumped on its back and crushed the creature's exposed heart in his fangs. The creature shrieked and threw him off, as it chaotically tried to fly around before it went silent and fell into the water. Its body burst in a flash of light and the last of the drops of light appeared. James swam over to the piece and Wanda grabbed it, placing it in the vine and causing it to flash pure white.

James swam over to the shore, shook off his body, and trotted back to Lanayru's Spring. Soon he stood as a human again in a restored Asgard. Lanayru commended his courage and work before disappearing.

James smirked, "Finally, all the Twilight has been removed Wanda."

Wanda appeared, beaming, "Yes, it is, isn't it? Feels good, doesn't it?" She giggled, causing James to smile. Both felt the huge sense of accomplishment and pride. Though Stefan's voice made them look his way.

"Congratulations, younglings! Both of you restored all the twilight covered realms back to normal. Such works required wisdom, power, and courage to do." Stefan said, a smile on his face as he approached them from the spring's entrance. He clasped James' hand in a strong shake before pulling him into a strong manly hug. "Such work is to be commended. Now we can go forward with calling the frost giants to war and our loved ones back to Trondheim. But that will be my job while you go get the last fused shadow James. Come. I have something for you in Trondheim. Thor, Steve, and T'Challa are waiting for us at the blacksmith's shop." Stefan ordered, pulling back from their hug.

James smiled and followed the ancient warrior, considering him as a good mentor and a father-like figure. They jogged back to the abandoned city of Asgard. Thor and Steve surrounded James, congratulating him on restoring the realms. T'Challa simply smiled as James' return.

Thor laughed, slapping him on the back rather hard, "Good job soldier. You're worthy to be an Asgardian. Hold this!" He handed over Mjolnir, and James, unable to refuse, grabbed it. It didn't fall to the ground, instead James felt its lightness and balance. "See! You're worthy to rule! Come let's go celebrate!" Thor shouted in glee, but was quieted by Stefan, giving Steve and Thor a glare, effectively quieting them. T'Challa remain passive, a smile on his face.

Steve hugged James, patting him on the back like brothers, "How you doing, Buck?"

"Not too bad for a semi-stable, hundred-year-old man." James smiled as they parted. "How are you doing, Steve?"

"Good. Now where's Natasha and the children?" Steve sobered, inquiring of his wife.

James stroked his full beard now, "She and the children are in Vanaheim right now under the protection of Charles and Meg. I suggest they remain until all this chaos is resolved. Or if it's possible, we need to get them safely to Trondheim. Whatever is decided, they seemed rather safe there for the time being."

Wanda added, "Yes, plus Charles and Meg seemed to be rallying the town therein for our cause. We'll have time to visit them later. We also must get in contact with Loki in Jotunheim and Brunhilda and the Valkyries in Alfheim. They're all waiting to hear from us, and they all are ready to come to our aid against Ragnar. However, that aside… Stefan, do you know where the last fused shadow is?"

Thor spoke up before Stefan could, "Yes, but before we call them, I will tell you where the temple is. Below the sea, near its bottom is the temple where the fused shadow is. You're lucky we got rid of the leviathan in the sea. It would have killed both of you in moments." James frowned, annoyed.

"How are we going to get there? With it being at the bottom of the sea?" James asked.

"There is a sea worry vessel hidden beneath the city that should be able to get you down there." Thor mentioned.

Stefan gestured, "Come let's get to that vessel."

Soon all six were boarded on the vessel, with Thor and T'Challa driving it. Steve and Stefan were in the back with Bucky and Wanda explaining the situation with the leviathan and how they had killed it. Both James and Wanda were grateful for their allies and family to have survived such an encounter.

"One thing I have for you, Buck, is this set of armor." Stefan handed a complete set of blue armor that had a ton of scales on it and had sea themes to it.

"What is it?" James asked as he took and examined it.

"It's called Zora armor. The Zora from Link and Zelda's ruined world developed it for people like us to be able to dive deep like any deep-sea creature. It will give you the ability to breath underwater and to withstand the high pressure of deep-sea diving. Such as you're going to do quite a lot of it soon." Stefan said as he crossed his arms. "I also suggest you leave Jedidiah's armor behind. It's only going to weight you down and it doesn't belong down there in the depths."

James hmphed and started to undo his armor. Once he was done, Stefan mentioned quietly, "I suggest you only wear what's necessary, James. Such as your boots and extra stuff." James growled and took off most of his knives and his conceal and carry. Only things he had on now were his trousers, shirt, and boots. He kept the spears, his sword, the boomerang, and his best knife. He kept the three jars, one of chuchi jelly, a blue potion, and lantern oil for his lantern.

Wanda floated into the air from the chair she stood on, "Looking good, Rex." James blushed at Wanda flirting with him in front of Steve and Stefan, who both laughed.

"Oh James, don't be so embarrassed. Amelia is far worse. Don't be afraid of flirting with her in return in front of people." Stefan slapped him on his back.

James blushed further as he put on the Zora armor. Steve crossed his arms, "Be careful as you go Buck. Please, we're all counting on you getting that fused shadow to defeat… Ragnar." James didn't miss the weird expression, or the weird tone Steve gave Stefan, who in turn sighed, but he didn't say anything. He would ask them later about the weird interaction.

Once he was done putting on the armor, Thor announced they were at the entrance of the temple. "Don't forget to be aware of increased enemies James. We'll be waiting here for you." Stefan mentioned.

"Actually, Wanda will transport me out. Every temple we've gone to has us trapped within the guardian's lair. She'll transport me straight to Lanayru's spring." James countered.

Stefan narrowed his eyes, yet conceded, "Very well. We'll hold our position here for an hour and then head up to the spring. Thor! Prepare to go to the other realms! We need to start rallying our allies!"

James nodded before turning to the back of the ship. The back would be flooded, allowing him to swim out and to the entrance of the temple. The doors closed and the room of the ship started to flood. James pulled the mask of the armor over his face, allowing him to breath in water and to see in the deep, dark depths. The water filled the cabin and the blast door opened to the depths beyond. He swam to the entrance and into the tunnel. Arriving inside, he and Wanda found it to be rather dry for a water temple.

Unlike the other temples, this temple was far more than confusing and complex, and it took by Wanda's estimate, over three days to complete. He was forced for several hours to sleep a day into the temple as Wanda kept watched. More than once, they had to back track and complete tasks before they could move forward within the temple. He always felt rather soaked since the temple always forced him to dive under water to get to different areas of the temple to advance. Nice thing though, vibranium was highly resistant to rusting, his arm never actually felt stiff or sounding squeaky. And since he didn't grow hair on it, it moved effortlessly in the water. Though where it was attached to his shoulder, it was starting to get irritated from the constant water and moisture around it.

Continuing, he gained a claw shot from a rather disgusting and monstrous toad, which became quite handy in advancing in the temple. He also found another bottle of healing potion, except the note he gained said, "Dear adventurer, this bottle contains the great fairy's tears. It heals all wounds be them minor or major. And it gives a boost to energy. If, and only if, are you able to remove the boulder leading to the great fairy to gain more, use this only when you're in total desperation. And if you can face and survive the Savage Labyrinth therein, you will gain a powerful ally. Good luck to you on your journey. An old adventurer." He nodded and thanked whoever left it.

Once he had obtained everything, James jumped to the ledge that had the entrance to the guardian's lair. Inside, he was forced to dive into a rather dark chamber filled with water. It was an enormous chamber, dark and terrifying to those who would fear the dark. At the bottom, James found a creature buried in the sand, its tentacles sticking out. An eye came through one the tentacles, and it looked at him before it quickly disappeared.

He figured out to attack the eye one it appeared, using the claw shot. After a rather simple battle, the creature roared and its tentacles disappeared, yet James' eyes went wide as the creature made its full entrance. It was a monstrous eel like creature. Its eye on the back with the tentacles around its teeth-filled mouth. It swam around the chamber but made no move to attack him. He swam through the water, figuring out how to attack the eye using the claw shot and his sword. He could tell this would be an easy battle.

The battle wasn't really a battle… It was more like an eradication, and it took about an hour at most. The guardian didn't really attack him unless he was directly in front of its mouth and that only happened once. Soon he slashed the eye one last time before the creature roared, swimming erratically around before hitting a tile at the bottom of the chamber, breaking it. The water emptied from the chamber until at last James was standing on solid ground. As soon as the water completely drained, the eel monster's body blackened, and it shattered into a million twilight specs that soon coalesced into the last fused shadow. Wanda grabbed the piece and shouted in victory, "We got the last piece! Woot! James, come on. Let's get back to the spring." She smiled and created a portal.

James smiled, "Indeed, Wanda doll." He walked over to the portal, "No use in staying here."

When they arrived at the spring, James faced the spring, before turning to the entrance which he came face to face with the usurper, whose masked face was a grotesque creature. Lanayru appeared suddenly, trying to ward off the usurper. Ragnar stepped forward and sent a shock wave, causing James to groan and fall to the ground, dazed. Lanayru was thrown back hard against his spring, causing the spring to shudder upon impact. Ragnar lifted an arm and then lowered it slightly, Lanayru dropped and disappeared, causing the realm to return to twilight. Wanda appeared sitting next to a wolf James.

"Well, we meet again, traitor." Wanda accused, sneering up at the usurper.

Ragnar used his power to trap her in the air in front of him, arms spread, "If you had just appeared young one, you and I could share the power of the golden treasure. Yet… you try to use this old worthless magic against me." Ragnar brought out the five pieces of fused shadows before throwing them carelessly away behind him into his pocket dimension as Wanda cursed him in English, Sokovian, and Russian.

James came to and jumped at Ragnar with fangs barred, yet he was thrown down again, with a piece of cursed magic lodging itself in his forehead before disappearing completely into his skull. He was unconscious now. Wanda tore herself from Ragnar's grasp and went straight to James, tearfully caressed James' check as the piece of magic fully disappeared itself into his skull, lodging itself inside his skull.

Ragnar pulled her back to him arms behind her back as he whispered in her ear, the mouth portion of his mask disappearing. His voice dripped, sarcastic poison, persuading and sickening, "Do you really think the people of the sacred realms are worth it like us Twili? We were made for power, Wanda… Look at that creature… he's just like every other light being, having forgotten us Twili. Just lend me that power you contain and control… And yet… I can give you everything… I can give you the world and bring it to your knees… Forget the wolf. He is not worth it." Yet Wanda struggled from his grasp and ran to James, clinging to him.

"Never in your dreams, you traitor." Wand sneered at Ragnar, defiant.

Ragnar let out a humorless laugh, "Very well, I'll let you cherish your light creatures." He lifted her in the air as he restored Lanayru to his true form, restoring the realm. Wanda screamed in pain as Lanayru's light burned her body, inside and out, mortally wounding her, her twilight body not able to handle his light. Lanayru, the guardian of Asgard, narrowed his eyes seeing her and James as their salvation, transporting them to the fields north of Asgard, leaving Ragnar alone in the spring to look around in the empty spring in the late evening twilight.

I hope you all are doing well. I had covid for the second time. Yes… a second time… But it was like a mild head cold for me. Other than that, I am updating my other stories soon as well so look for those updates as well.

Until later my reader and please leave a review!

Yours truly,

WS. Z.