Hello everybody and welcome back to "To Eternity, My Witch."

If y'all saw my update on my other story… seems I have figured out where to go with my other POTO story. That's beside the point for this story, please like and leave a review.

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.

Chapter 37 Moving Forwards

~Third Person POV…~

As James turned to meet Wanda again, a scream ripped out in the ruined throne room. It was Amelia, and she was clawing at her neck. The collar and its chains were glowing with an angry, dark red energy. Wanda and James rushed over to the screaming Amelia, panicked.

"We need to get this collar off her now!" Wanda shouted, panicking, trying to keep the chains from hurting Amelia further.

A voice whispered into James' ear, a feminine voice similar to Amelia's, Farore, You need to take it off her, James. Ragnar put it on her, you take it off… Her voice went silent, though he understood immediately what Farore said. His DNA would mix with Amelia's and the collar would recognize the mixture as Ragnar.

Without saying a word to Wanda, James quickly grasped the collar and he started pulling the lock apart. Amelia screamed louder, but resisted fighting, knowing it was coming off. James grunted in pain as the collar burned his right hand as its lock gave under his pull, but he ignored it, knowing Amelia would be free of the pain and restriction it had brought her.

Soon the collar broke in two and James threw it across the room where it shattered and disappeared into nothingness. Amelia stopped screaming, and she whimpered and groaned in pain. Wanda gathered and held her close, smoothing down her hair to comfort her, even as Amelia clung weakly to her. James pulled them both close to himself, helping cradle Amelia between himself and Wanda, as he tried to help Wanda comfort the exhausted and terrified woman in their arms. Wanda whispered to the shivering woman, "It's gone, Amelia. The collar is off you finally. And you're alive." James hummed in agreement as he held Amelia and Wanda close.

Amelia croaked out a bitter laugh from her throat, "You can't keep me down long, my daughter." She had her eyes closed, her wings limp, her hair dull and straight. She was breathing slow, deep breaths. "Thank you, James, chosen hero. You have done well." She opened her eyes to see James tear up, giving all her pride and blessing to him, seeing him as he was: a true hero. She raised her hand slowly, cupping his left check, "Hero."

James nodded, accepting her blessing, covering her hand with his own vibranium hand, "Thank you." They all looked up as their fellow Avengers and family came running into the throne room, Stefan and Steve leading the group. Everyone's eyes went wide at Amelia, elated shock going through them all as they saw her breathing and her eyes open. Stefan broke the silence.

He shouted, "AMELIA! YOU'RE ALIVE!" He raced over and took her in his arms, sobbing inconsolable, beyond happy to know she was alive. He rocked her close, exhilarated at her being alive.

"Stefan, my love, I am here. I am alive." Amelia whispered, tears falling down her cheeks as she snuggled into his arms.

He pulled back from her in his arms, making eye contact with her before bringing her back again into a tight embrace, slightly teasing, "You scared me, literally, to death Ame! How dare you leave me?!"

Amelia simply smirked, "Oh you, old lizard. I never am gone for long. Now give me a kiss." She placed her arms around his neck as they kissed deeply, causing everyone to blush and turn away at the intimate moment, save for their children, and Wanda and James.

Stefan pulled back after a long while and over-looked Amelia, "You're not hurt aside from the collar burn?"

Amelia, exasperated, sighed, "No, Stefan. I just want to sleep." She closed her eyes, leaning her head heavily against his shoulder. Deathly white and skinny to the point of being actual skeletal, she looked like a vampire who had not drank blood in a long time. Her eyes, when she had opened them, were grey, a color too pale for her normal deep sapphire blue and her brown hair, normally bright, shiny, bouncy, and curly, was now straight, dull, lack luster, and flat.

"Amelia, I need you to stay awake until I help the others get to get the reconstruction of Asgard under way. Can you do that for me, love?" Stefan urged, lifting her head, knowing if she fell asleep now, he would never be able to help with getting the reconstruction efforts underway until he spoke to her in Libran Sleep. She opened her eyes tiredly.

Seeing his pleading eyes, she nodded, "Very well, Stefan." And with that she closed her eyes again.

Stefan stood and looked to James, "James, could you carry Amelia to our chambers? She needs to remain awake until I come up. Wanda, please, go with him and Amelia, take care of her."

James nodded, and carefully took Amelia, who was much skinnier than when she gave her life. James made his way through the palace away from the throne room with Amelia in his arms. Wanda, who wore a beautiful skirt which was tied at her right hip by a golden rope, and a cape that acted as a top as well, showed off her four-and-a-half-month-long pregnancy, followed. Wanda's ginger-brown hair cascaded behind her, making her beautiful.

James mentally chased away his elation as he looked at the woman in his arms. She was quite near death, even though she willingly chose to suffer to make sure he and Wanda were able to live, to make this journey, and kill Ragnar, and then eventually Ganondorf. And that made him all the more determined to save her. Even if it killed him, he would die for this woman he carried. She just had to survive. She is my mother, and I don't care who says otherwise. I will save her. James thought as he and Wanda disappeared out of the throne room.

Steve's POV…

I watched as Stefan gently handed a withered, sickly, and exhausted Amelia to James, who turned and disappeared to the right hallway, with a restored Wanda, who looked beautiful with her being four and a half months pregnant. I turned to Thor and the others as James disappeared, "Avengers! Let's discuss the plan of action! Thor and Loki, I order you, as a friend and fellow Avenger, to work with Frostein, Brunhilda, and Charles on rebuilding Asgard and the other realms."

I paused and turned to find the Frost Giant leader, speaking to him as a friend and fellow warrior, "Frostein, I cannot thank you and your people enough for your assistance in this war against Ganondorf. I doubt we could have defeated his army without your help." Frostein and his two generals smiled and nodded in my direction.

I turned again to the Valkyries, saying, "Brunhilda, I thank you and your fellow warriors for your assistance, even as few as there were of you, though it was understandable. We're grateful regardless." Brunhilda nodded at my thanks along with her commander, Valkyrie. Both saluted.

Finally, I turned to Charles and Meg, along with several of their elders and chief commanders and warriors, "Finally, but not least, I thank you, Charles, and Meg and fellow Vanaheimians for your help as well. With Odin now out of power and with Thor and Sif in place, you and your people will be restored and honored as well. Not only for helping in the battle efforts, but for caring for our loved ones when they were carried into exile with you." Charles and Meg smiled, nodding to his praise, and accepted it along with the elders and warriors of Vanaheim.

Stefan angrily growled, bringing them all back to reality, "What in God's name…?!" The others and I looked around, finding Stefan sneering at a very dead Ganondorf, whose body stood motionless with a sword in his chest. Stefan spit in disgust at the dead man. A fitting end to such an evil man as he. We gathered around, jeering, and sneering at the dead demon slayer.

I came forward and grasped the sword's pommel and violently pulled it from Ganondorf's chest. Ganon's body fell with a dull thud to the floor, unmoving. Everyone and I looked away in disgust and finalization. It felt like a hollow victory though, even after all the evil he had caused. I never wanted to take the lives of others, even the lives of evil. The evil enemy they were fighting was now dead, after four long, arduous months. Now they would truly have peace.

Well… Once Asgard and several realms are reconstructed. I looked around as I held Psipherius, the throne room was in ruins due to the battle between Ganon and James. Fortunately, many of the items from their wedding were gone. Last time most of us saw this place was at the wedding. It once was a place of celebration; now it was a place of destruction and death. That will soon change, and this place will be a place of celebration and life once again. I thought.

I strolled over to an Asgardian warrior, asking for a cloth to clean the blade. He readily nodded and pulled at his cape, ripping it at the bottom hem, creating a rag for me to clean the newly discovered twin blade of evil's bane. Once cleaned, I walked over to Stefan properly handing over the sword to him. presenting the hilt to him. "Here. You deserve it far more than I do, Stefan," I stated. The ancient warrior smiled approvingly at my words and my pose at handing over a blade properly, taking the blade from me.

"Thank you, Steve. This sword is Psipherion's twin, Psipherius" Stefan nodded gratefully as he created a scabbard for it and sheathed it at his waist. I turned with him, and he shouted, "Everyone," his shout pulling everyone's attention, his commanding side coming out, "I will take care of this… mess…" He gestured to Ganon's body before continuing as he looked to the Asgardian king,

"Thor, being that the war is over, I leave Asgard's reconstruction to you as you are the King of Asgard. Frostein, I will personally come with Thor and work on the realms' peace treaty in two days' time. The remaining enemies and monsters need to be dealt with and everything needs to be straightened out before that happens though. Steve…" Frostein nodded and commanded his two present generals to await his commands at Thor's prompting.

I saluted in the Asgardian way, "Yes, my lord?" I stood tall, proud, and listened further, watching as Stefan further ordered around.

"Take the available Avengers, aside from Thor and Loki, and head to Trondheim and bring our people back here. Inform the Gorons and the residents there that the war is over. All the monsters and enemies should be out of the area, if not dead. The town of Trondheim can go back to life once you get on the way back. It shouldn't take more than a day's time to do so. I am sure that the Gorons will send a workforce with you to help in the reconstruction efforts. It should take enough time to allow us here to get things in relative order. Also, any travelers on the road from other outposts and villages, inform them of the news. Prince Loki…" Stefan circled to the different people before getting to Loki.

"Yes, Sire?" Loki answered, stepping forward with his head held high and regal looking, his scar visible. He truly blossomed into a prince of Asgard under Stefan's fatherly care and mentorship that Odin had not given him. He stood taller at Stefan's formal usage of his name, officially recognizing him as an Asgardian prince.

"Lead a third of each army through the city and finish off any enemies. If any are willing, take them prisoner and place them in the dungeons. Once that task is done, go to your brother Thor, he will give you further direction. Though stay for moment, I want to sound the victory call," Stefan ordered, making Loki pause where he stood, expecting the best victory call he knew would happen.

"Yes, my lord." Loki agreed, staying until he was dismissed.

Stefan turned the warriors in the room, all were watching him. "Warriors of Asgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, and Alfheim present! VICTORY IS OURS!" Stefan roared in confidence, lifting his sword Roshni high in victory. The warriors shouted in victory, hitting their shields with the flat of their weapons, repeating his declaration. The victory chants were deafening and heard even throughout the city. Once the chanting ceased endless minutes later, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Amelia's husband. "Steve, go," Stefan smiled and ordered, nodding to me in friendly commandment.

I nodded back before shouting, "Avengers! Assemble! To Trondheim!" The Avengers shouted in victory as they followed me to the exit.

A few hours later, the others and I were back in Trondheim. Coming to the inn, the women came running out. Natasha practically launched herself into my arms carefully with her pregnant belly, kissing me deeply. She pulled back and expectantly asked, "You're back! What's the news? Have we won the war?" I looked into her hopeful eyes and couldn't resist her inquiry.

I smiled, "Yes, James and Wanda killed Ganondorf this morning after a long three-and-a-half-day battle. His armies are practically dissolved, and we are beginning the reconstruction efforts in the city." Natasha smiled broadly as did Pepper, Shuri, Zelda, and Kagome and all those of the Asgardian members of the militia and residents that were stationed there. They all cheered in victory and congratulated the Avengers.

"What happens now, Steve?" Pepper asked as Tony held her.

"Stefan ordered that we are to prepare to get back to city after we help the residents clean up the town. He wants the residents of Trondheim to be able to get back to normal life here as soon as possible. He sent orders that all Avengers and Asgardians of the militia to deconstruct the camp and the triage hospital and help clean the town to allow that to happen. Who wants to be the runner to the Gorons to call back the elders and children?" I asked. A Goron by the name of Gorgoron, who had willingly come down to Trondheim to help guard the town, volunteered immediately and disappeared down the road and up the path to his people's homeland.

Natasha clung to him, "Well, let's help the villagers get the town cleaned up and get out. As much as I would love to stay, I know Stefan would like us all back at the city."

I smiled, "Indeed. However, I know he said the militia should leave as well, but I believe they should stay in the case of any rogue enemies lingering. At least for another few days or so. Commander Torren!"

Said man saluted, "Aye Captain?"

"I know Stefan ordered the militia to return, but is there a way to keep the small squadron of warriors here for the next few days?" I inquired.

Torren nodded, scratching his bearded chin in thought, "Yes, that would be a wise move. Our squadron which has been here would be good for the town to stay safe."

I gestured to the guard, "I'll leave you to choose the warriors to stay, that is if any of them wants to return or not to the city. In the meantime, Avengers, let's help get the town to normal. But before we do so I have news!" I moved towards the inn and the Avengers followed suit. The militia and villages smiled and went off to start cleaning up the village and prepare the return of the elders and children.

As soon as we Avengers were alone in the inn, Shuri turned to me and inquired, "What is the news?"

Peter got to it before I did, "Amelia is alive! She was… ah… somehow brought back to life. And now is recovering in the palace!" He was ecstatic as I was.

A cheer of praise went up. Natasha looked like she could faint. I stepped forward, taking her into my arms, "What's wrong love?"

Natasha shook her head, eyes disbelieving, yet filled with hope as well, "Never would I have guessed she would have survived. My… my mother is alive!" She cried in happiness, though she soon felt dizzy. She whispered in my ear, "Please… Take me to our room before you get started Steve." I did so, getting her settled before the others and I got on the task of helping the villagers recover their town and surrounding countryside.

I know this chapter is short compared to the others, but it had a great break for the next chapter. Please like and/or leave a review, tell me what y'all think about this story.

Until next time!

WS. Z.