Chapter 9: Natasha
Nat had seen few places as dismal as Svartalfheim. The Dark World was aptly named, she mused as she followed her fellow Avengers across the bleak terrain. Only mountains of sharp rock broke up the gentle hills of bare dirt beneath the light of a black hole.
It was weird, being on an alien planet for the first time. Natasha wasn't entirely sure the whole thing wasn't a dream. It was incredible to think how much her life had changed in the last couple of years. She'd gone rapidly from government agent to intergalactic alien-hunter. The thought brought a smile to her lips.
The expression faded as her roving gaze landed on a set of boot prints in the sand that, based on the direction they traveled, didn't belong to any of the team. Natasha paused, following the tracks with her eyes until they disappeared beyond an outcrop of rock. Thor had said nothing lived here…
"Natasha! Come on."
Banner's call drew her to where the others had gathered before a small portal, but her thoughts were still with the mysterious boot prints.
Thor stepped confidently into the portal that waited in the middle of nowhere and the others followed. Natasha cast one last look back, but the wind was already erasing the tracks. She stepped through the portal and found herself in a narrow cave. Sunlight streamed through the cave's mouth, causing her to blink as she moved to stand with the others.
The cave mouth was set into the side of a mountain range, falling away sharply to a wide expanse of water that seemed – unless Nat's eyes were tricking her – to pour off the edge of the planet in a massive waterfall. Across the water lay a shining golden city and more mountains. It was a truly awesome sight.
"My home," Thor said.
"Wow," Natasha breathed.
Suddenly a flying ship-like craft rose up in front of the cave mouth. A tall warrior in golden armor stood at the boat's tiller. "Avengers," he said, surveying the group. "We have been waiting for you."
Thor smiled, and Natasha could tell he was relieved. "Heimdall."
Natasha wasn't sure who she found more imposing a figure – Fury, or the equally one-eyed Odin. The king of Asgard certainly cut an impressive figure, seated in the massive throne room of the palace with his spear in one hand. The fact that she had to look up at him from the bottom of the steps leading up to his throne's dais made the statement of power even greater.
At least Fury smiled every other month, Nat mused. The Allfather was far from humor right now.
"It is as you say," he told the team. "Loki has the Tesseract and has disabled Bifrost." He paused, seeming unwilling to reveal this news to a group of strangers. "Also, he has taken the Casket."
Thor swore, but everyone else looked as confused as Natasha felt.
"Casket?" Marvel inquired.
"The Casket of Ancient Winters is the chief weapon of the Frost Giants," Thor explained.
"And Loki's a Frost Giant, right?" Tony added.
Thor gave a nod. "Yes."
"He has returned to Jotunheim to amass their armies," Heimdall added. "I have seen it."
"Then we have to stop him," Steve said. "Now."
He'd barely finished speaking when a loud rumble like thunder sounded from beyond the palace walls. It was quickly followed by another. Somehow Natasha doubted that it was a good sound.
The throne room doors burst open and a slim, raven-haired woman in armor ran into the room, followed by three male warriors. "Allfather, a ship is attacking!" the woman announced.
Odin looked to the Avengers. "You have brought trouble with you."
"Not intentionally," Thor replied. He moved towards the nearest window and Natasha followed with the rest of the team, looking out over the city.
A large spaceship hovered just off the edge of Asgard, raining fire down on the city. Several buildings had already been destroyed and dark smoke rose thickly.
"Who's this?" Natasha asked of no one in particular.
Thor's face darkened as he looked at the destruction. "I don't know."
"So they're not invited," Tony said. Thor gave a nod and Tony shut his visor. "Then let's send them home."