Hello everybody and welcome back to "To Eternity, My Witch". This chapter will be shorter than ever. It's going to be short for y'all to take in the events that are happening. Hope y'all will enjoy this chapter! Yes, I am a little late. I was enjoying a weeklong vacation in Charleston, SC with family.
I DO NOT own any of these as they are and were created by their respective creators. Marvel is owned and created by the late Stan Lee via Disney. Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber. LofZ: OoT and TP by Shigeru Miyamoyo. Fire Emblem by Shouzou Kaga. Black Butler by Yana Toboso. And finally, Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi.
*Side note to y'all and public service announcement* I made a few grammatical changes to a few words that were not pleasant. Please for those out there please, I was quite tired the day I posted this chapter and didn't catch them until now. For the usage of such word I am sorry. *End public service announcement*
Now onward with chapter 29...
~Ch 29 Twilight's Front Door… ~
~Ragnar's POV, Twilight Throne Room…~
I sat on the throne growling and sneering into the expanse of the room. My master raged in my mind's landscape, accusing, "You failed my instructions, worm! Not only did you fail me in killing your mother, you had one job… ONE JOB at killing that useless imp and her ragtag wretched dirty mate… I should dispatch you right now, useless son of a…"
I murmured out, cutting my master's words into silence, "I will kill the path of interlopers. Besides, my mother sacrificing herself still resulted in her death, master. She will be of no use anymore. You know this, though master, the Creator cannot be defeated, even if stopped. There will be eternal repercussions, if He deems our plan a threat to the universe."
My master grumbled out, still on the edge of a rage, "Regardless, I will be lord over this universe, not this Creator and His accursed Son, nor His martyrs. As for your mother, she was expendable. Her death is the best placed piece in this plan to succeed. Wretched fool." My master turned to taunting now, poking at me, berating me with my guilt which I was feeling,
"Besides your mother was never the one to even face me. She never has the pride and audacity to face me because she was afraid of me winning. She had no honor in facing me, lord of shadow and darkness and evil, demon lord with the Evil One."
I raged this time, defending my mother, "NEVER SPEAK ILL OF MY MOTHER, WRETCHED FOOL! Despite her lack of honor not facing you in battle, she never was never prideful. Nor was she a fool in refusing a duel! She most likely found that you would never be able to beat her prowess! Do not disrespect her!"
My master sneered in rage and was about to attack me mentally, but with my power in the Twilight realm at its greatest, I was able to block him and push him out of my mind and my realm. I struggled against the piece of the Triforce of Power he obtained, but I was able to close his access to the realm and my mind.
I found myself on the balcony of the palace's throne room, gazing over the Twilight's beautiful landscape. Thinking out loud to myself, "I will kill the imp Wanda and her wretched man James that she claims as mate. And they will serve me well." I paused and forced Midna's daughter, defeat queen, to me and I smirked at the Twili queen fearful look. I continued, "No matter what happens, Lynara, you will serve me well along with Wanda as my slave concubines and James and your husband will serve me well as pacified eunuchs." And he kissed her forcefully before he pushed her back into the corner where her husband collected her close to comfort and console her.
Ragnar laughed maniacally as the gate to his conquered realm activated and he saw victory on the horizon.
~Clint's POV…~
I was beyond happy to have my all children back in my arms. Both Laura and I were elated over the moon to just have them back in our arms. She had agreed with me to stay with Pepper, Shuri, and Natasha, who were all going to keep the inn as their safe place once James and Wanda were done with going after Ragnar in the Twilight realm. It had been almost eleven weeks since the start of the War of Twilight. It was a week ago that James and Wanda returned with Stefan and Steve from Svartelfheim to get the last of the Mirror fragments.
I listened as Thor and Stefan collaborated with Loki and the Frost Giants' leader, Brunhilda and her leader Valkyrie, and Charles and his elders on the plan of attack on Asgard once James and Wanda arrived back from the Twilight Realm. They had to make sure that they had a strong chance of victory. Stefan was explaining something about a shield that was activated as soon as Buck and Wanda had the Twilight removed from Asgard. It would prevent Ragnar from going after the Spirits of Light again.
"Fortunately for us, the twilight beings have no way to figure out how to destroy the shield that we invented millennia ago when Amelia was there. It requires Thor's permission and his mother's DNA to deactivate. Even if they do know this information, there's no way in all realms that they can get Frigga's DNA, for sadly she is dead. When we take the city, the palace should be a breeze. Unless somehow there are terrors within the palace itself.
"Loki, you and Frostein will take a small party with Asgardian warriors and frost giants to draw off the Twilight beasts that patrol the paths to the city where we dragons will help in destroying them. Once at the city, we'll set up our army and attack the main body of Ragnar's and his master's forces. Steve, you and I will go with the main group to attack the city and once that battle is over, Stefan will join us as we fight to get inside the palace. The only drawback here is that strange shield that is over the palace itself." Thor explained, pointing at a map of Asgard.
Steve and James looked it over as did Stefan, Link, T'Challa, Pietro, Sam, Scott, and I. We all were in the meeting hall of Trondheim. There were several Asgardian generals and Frostein with his Frost giant generals as well, listening to their leaders discussing the plans of action. Brunhilda and two of her superiors were there as well, adding their intel and ideas to the mix.
Charles and Meg were there with several warriors and elders from Vanaheim as well, adding any ideas as well from Vanaheim's perspective. Tony had brought in several human military leaders as well to bring more perspective. The women were on the upper balcony, which surrounded the entire main level's floor where us men were. They were listening intently as we discussed the battle plans.
Stefan frowned and stroked his chin, "That's going to be a hard material to penetrate. I observed and studied the shield extensively over the course of the last five and a half weeks and there is nothing I can do or anything that I could find that is strong enough to penetrate its surface. I could get through the barrier if I have Psipherius, Psipherion's twin. Between the two swords, both swords would easily break it by overwhelming its evil properties and origins with their holy power. But we don't have Psipherius. Nor do we have the complete Triforce or the Eternity Gem to help us. Even if we have the Eternity Gem, it wouldn't affect the shield. Its power is too different. The only solution which I could figure out, which I should say, should be used as a last-ditch effort, as I have exhausted all other options while James and Wanda were gone getting Psipherion."
"And what would that be, Lord Stefan?" The Frost Giant leader, Frostein inquired.
Stefan hesitated before continuing, "If I transformed into my dragon form and slammed into the shield, it would shatter upon impact; however, it would be at the cost of my own life. An impact that hard would cause too much internal damage for me to recover from, even with my large regenerative factor of photoreceptors and photoreactors and stored energy in my diamond lined bones. I would literally give my life to break the shield. Being that the Triforce of Power powers the shield. God… who knows what kind of horrors lie behind that shield…"
Steve interrupted, shaking his head, unwilling to stake Stefan's life for the fate of the universe, "Then that option is out of the question, Stefan. Without you, if you did do it, it may turn out for the worst for us. The fate of the universe depends on your survival through the end of this war." Steve didn't want to sacrifice anyone's life, least of all his life. And the fate of every single soul in the universe.
Stefan nodded, "Unfortunately yes."
James tapped the table with his metal arm, getting everyone's attention, "From what I've gathered and seen since Ragnar came and invaded, he hasn't, at present, actively attacking us too much. Even with his master's wishes and the three-day battle two weeks ago and the four-day battle that end only two days ago. My best bet is that Wanda and I go to the Twilight Realm while everyone remains in a defensive position as much as they can until we return and then we decide on a plan of action. I know this will sound bad, but that way we can keep the number of lives lost to a minimum on all sides."
Stefan and Thor looked at each other before looking back to James. "Fine, anything else? No?" Everyone shook their heads, women, men, and children, including myself. "Alright, meeting adjourned. You all are dismissed." Stefan ordered.
Everyone moved around and Wanda came floating down to me as the people dispersed outside and to their respective posts or camps for the upcoming battle. "James and I are off for Arbiter's Grounds now, papa. We were wondering… well, I was… if you and Steve could be our scouts as we go to defeat Ragnar. Reason why I ask you two is because I want to keep the enemy from noticing that Stefan and Thor are away. James and I agreed it wouldn't be wise to have them gone with all these important officials here from all the different realms."
"Of course, Wan. Steve and I would be glad to be your eyes." I looked over to see Laura, Natasha, and Steve walk over to where Wanda and I were. James was coming over from the opposite direction. He had pulled Thor and Stefan aside to mention something about the Hero's Shade. Now he stood by Wanda and me, a contemplative frown on his face.
I turned to Natasha, hugging her before pulling away as I mention to the Black Widow, "Tasha, I need to borrow Steve for a day or so while we scout Arbiter's Grounds and to be their rear guard."
"Fine by me. I just want this disaster to be ended as much as the next person. Please, come back safe. All four of you." Natasha agreed. I nodded and turned to Steve, James, and Wanda.
That afternoon, Steve, James, Wanda and I were on route to Arbiter's Grounds, again going at night to scout the area in case of new enemies setting up camp there. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. It took us several hours to travel to the ancient ruins. Steve and I went with James and Wanda through the ancient prison this time and were both amazed and horrified by the sights within. Steve and I patiently waited on the sandy floor as we watched James and Wanda approach the mirror stand.
~Third Person POV… Arbiter's Mirror Chamber…~
James stood close behind Wanda as she brought out both mirror fragments from her pocket dimension. The pieces floated by themselves before fusing with the third piece, creating an unbroken, whole mirror. Wanda smiled wickedly, knowing she and James were close to being done. She turned to said man and asked, "Ready soldier?"
"As ready as I'll ever be doll." James replied in turned, a twitch on his mouth indicating a tease. Wanda smiled and turned to the mirror; however, the six sages surrounded Steve and Clint, who jumped and tensed in defense positions. The sages ignored them as they directly addressed Wanda and James.
"Be warned as you go into the Twilight realm, younglings. There are many corrupted Twilight beings there. Though if you can get the pure, untainted lights of that realm called Sols, you will gain many allies, giving back the twisted Twili their true, pure, untainted forms. O Twilight Princess." The lead sage spoke.
Wanda embarrassed, James backed up from Wanda, awed at her status as the Twilight Princess, "You knew?"
The lead sage hummed, "We knew that Midna had disappeared from the Twilight Throne several months before Ragnar invaded the Realms of Light. When he came here, we had a feeling that she would send her soul and power into one who would gain the Triforce of Wisdom. We speculated that she will be restored once when and if Ragnar and his master are defeated. With that, we trust you to her realm."
Steve, Clint, and James all looked to the Sages and then to Wanda, shocked and awed to know Wanda is now the Twilight Princess until Ragnar and his master are defeated. She was embarrassed and sorrowful. She looked away ashamed, the sages waiting. She looked up to them after a few moments.
"Thank you, old sages. We'll be back, dad and Steve." She turned to the mirror and tapped it. It leaded back slightly and the light it cast went onto the chained boulder. The chains dissolved as the light came upon them and the large boulder crashed down into the sand below it and made Steve, James, and Clint stumble. The mirror's light fell onto the boulder's flat face and created a portal into the realm beyond. The sages bowed their heads and backed up, disappearing with sighs.
James neared the edge of the platform and a stairwell formed up to a secondary platform, allowing him to be in the mirror's light. Taking a deep breath, James tapped the floor, and he was transported to a world like Asgard, yet far more broken. Like the twilight cover Asgard looked, the buildings were similar in structure with Twilight symbols all over them. The ground and the buildings were black, and the atmosphere was twilight colored, with twilight specs floating in and out of existence.
Several twisted twilight beings were milling about, though none of them were aggressive as James approached them. In fact, as he passed, they seemed mournful, their speech indicating appeals for help. One even put its hands together, speaking, and then pointed towards the bridge that led into the falling column of twilight specs.
Wanda whispered into his ear, "The Twili wants you to go to defeat Ragnar. I understand their language. He feels pain from the curse this Ganon placed over them, and he and many other Twili want this war to be over as much as we do, my love. He mentioned you'll need the Sols to get past the deadly column of twilight specs. Now, I'm going to continue to hide as your shadow, James. I don't want these people to see this impish person coming to their rescue, but to see a hero, who can turn into a divine beast, coming to save their world. Now go find those orbs the sages said were here. Perhaps it will restore some pathway to Ragnar."
James frowned, "Where to start though, doll."
"I don't know about you, but I would suspect that those two smaller paths that are going away from that larger main straight path will lead to them. That aside, I doubt we can get past that wide stream of heavy twilight specs without you dying from exposure."
Another nearby corrupted Twili started speaking to them, feminine sounding in nature, pointing to the two paths going away from the center pathway. Wanda hummed, appearing this time, "The Twili understood us. She said the Sols are down the two pathways, though they're guarded by two phantom Ragnars. She says to be careful as we go, there are many corrupted monsters and several beyond horridly corrupted versions of her people. The possession of the sols in the hands of the Ragnar Phantoms is why all the Twili are corrupted and twisted against their wills."
James nodded in agreement, turning to the Twili and bowed, "Thank you, dear Twili, for the information. I'll restore you, your people, and your realm as quickly as I can." The Twili nodded respectfully and in thankfulness, turning away to wait and pray.
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Until later my readers!
WS. Z.
