Chapter 14: Stealing Hearts

Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. This was a fun one to write and will begin quite a bit of romance I have planned for this story. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.

In Asgard, Mala, Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin and Caleb were standing before Odin, Thor and Neo.

"Neo has told me about your quest to help Meridian and it is very noble." Odin said.

"Thank you, your highness, but if Neo has told you why don't you send your armies to help us defeat Phobos?" Caleb asks.

"Caleb. Don't be rude." Cornelia whispers.

"A wise king never seeks out war, but he must always be ready for it. I have allowed my son, grandson and their allies to help but I will not throw away the lives of my people. Should we ever join the battle it will be when we are ready." Odin said.

"Wow, that's some pretty wise ruling." Irma said impressed.

"When you live as long as I have young lady you learn quite a bit." Odin chuckles. "Since you all have been such help to my family you are all allowed to spend the night here as my guests."

Instantly all of them smile. "King Odin that is so generous." Taranee said.

"Neo would you like to show them all to their quarters?" Odin asks.

"Of course." Neo nods walking down. "Follow me."

Mala was about to follow when Thor grabs her shoulder. "If you don't mind, I'd like to talk you."

"Uh sure." Mala nods.


In another part of the palace, Neo opened the room to reveal 5 king-sized beds inside for each of the girls.

"I hope you don't mind the guest rooms. Your room is right there Caleb." Neo points.

"This is one room is bigger than my place." Will said blown away.

"It's gonna be nice sleeping in a bed without smelling Blunk on it." Caleb sighs.

Running in Hay Lin jumps on her bed and bounces up and down. "You girls have gotta try these beds."

Cornelia walks up to hers and lays down. "Mmm a girl could get used to this kind of treatment."

"Gotta admit having an incredibly rich friend has its perks." Irma smiles laying down.

"Wait Neo, if Odin is your grandpa and Thor is your father does that mean you're in line to rule Asgard?" Taranee realized.

"Second in line after my dad." Neo points out.

"Whoa." They all said blown away.

"Hey Neo, if you don't mind I was wondering something?" Caleb asks.

"What's up?" Neo asks.

"You have all this power, wealth, servants, things a million times better than Meridian how did you…well?" Caleb tries to figure out the right way to ask.

"Not go mad with power and insane like another spoiled prince we all know and hate?" Neo guesses.

"No offense." Caleb nods.

"None taken, my family always taught me that the real secret to power is knowing when not to use it. A good Prince doesn't look for what he can take but what he can give." Neo said causing Caleb to smile.

"I wish Merdian had a prince like you charge." Caleb said patting him on the back.

"Well if it did you and rebellion would be out of a job." Neo chuckles.

"Hey Neo you think you can give us a tour of Asgard?" Taranee asks.

"I think I can arrange that, that'll give the chefs enough time to make your dinner." Neo said.

"Chefs?" Irma said interest. "Uh how much food do you make for guests?"

"As guests of Odin you all are entitled to literally anything you want, as long as it's reasonable." Neo said.

"Looks like you won't be able to get a solid gold statue of yourself Cornelia." Taranee smirks as they all giggle.

"Ha Ha real funny." Cornelia said crossing her arms.

"Well, what are we waiting for? We have one day in Asgard, we better make it count." Will said.


Meanwhile, at a local pub, Mala and Thor were sitting down as two large mugs were placed in front of them.

"How does one continue to be a mother after being absent for 13 years?" Mala asks.

"Look I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. All this time whenever Neo asked about his mother, I said she was a nameless soldier who died saving me on the battlefield." Thor said.

"We have very different views on parenting." Mala said.

"Clearly, but I have to believe that together Mala TOGETHER we can make at least halfway to decent parents." Thor said.

"Alright but first things first, how are we going to work out how to raise him?" Mala asks taking a sip of her drink.

Thor takes a sip of his before both look at each other and almost instantly they started gulping the liquor down their throats turning this into a drinking challenge.


Walking through Asgard, Neo led them all down the streets of the main plaza and Hay Lin was looking at all the food stands like a kid in a candy store.

"Wow what's going on here?" Hay Lin asks.

"This is just a local Farmer's Market, we have people growing all kinds of crops and they meet here to buy the items they need for their meals." Neo explains as Hay Lin was looking at a cart full of juicy red apples. "One apple please." Neo said handing the man some money.

"Oh your majesty of course." The farmer said handing him one with a smile.

"Here you go Hay Lin." Neo said holding it out for her.

Smiling Hay Lin takes a big bite. "Mmm so sweet."

"Wow you're easy to impress." Astrid said walking by holding a basket filled with various vegetables.

"Hey Astrid. Your mom having run errands since you're back?" Neo asks.

"Yeah, she wants a nice family meal before I go back to Earth." Astrid shrugs. "You wanna join? You know mom always loves having you over?"

"I'd love to, but Grandma wants the same thing." Neo sighs.

"Figured." Astrid said punching his shoulder. "See ya round."

"Hey. I need that." Neo said rubbing his shoulder as Astrid walks away laughing.

"Ah still fun." Astrid smiles remembering when she first joined Johan's training.

Flashback:

A young Astrid was standing in the arena where Johan was holding an event to see which kids would get to be his students.

"No turning back." Astrid said getting herself pumped.

Many other kids in Asgard wanted to be his students and Astrid wasn't gonna lose this chance.

In the back, near the entrance Thor and Odin were walking with a young Neo.

"He doesn't need Johan I can train Neo myself." Thor said.

"Thor you know as well as I do Johan is one of the finest trainers in Asgard, besides I think Neo could use some friends around his age." Odin said.

"He has Sif and the Warrior's Three." Thor points out but Odin looks at him saying Thor just proved his point. "Alright fair enough. You ready, Neo?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Neo nods as he ran ahead and joined the crowd.

As the tryouts started Astrid knocked down all the other kids with ease and quite a few kids ended up leaving in stretchers.

For her last test, she had to compete in a team fight and her partner was Neo.

"I'll take one, you take the other?" Neo suggests as each one of them held a wooden sword.

"I have a better idea." Astrid grabs him by the shirt and yanks him in close. "Stay outta my way. I'm winning this thing and I don't need you screwing things up for me." She glares.

"Begin!" Johan said as Astrid pushed Neo to the ground and charged towards the other two applicants.

One applicant swung his sword but Astrid blocks with hers and kicks him in the gut knocking him to the ground before attacking the other one.

When Neo picked himself up he saw the applicant Astrid knocked down was sneaking up behind her. "Astrid look out!" Neo calls out.

But Astrid didn't listen and found herself trapped in the other kid's grip.

"Hey let me go!" Astrid said trying to break free.

"You've been beating us up all day. Time to get a taste of your own medicine." Astrid was nailed in the gut by his partner knocking the wind out of her.

She was about to be hit again when Neo ran in and blocked that attack.

"You forget this is a team event?" Neo growls.

"I told you stay outta my way." Astrid said.

"Not happening." Neo said pushing the other guy back before throwing his wooden sword towards Astrid who closes her eyes only to have it hit the applicant freeing her from his grip.

Astrid looks to Neo as she picked up the wooden sword and joined him in battle.

Soon, the tryouts were finished and Neo, Astrid, Heather and Rayla made the spots for Johan's students.

As Neo walked back to Thor and Odin, he had a big smile on his face.

"I knew you could do it." Thor smiles patting Neo on the back.

"Johan will turn you into a fine warrior." Odin nods when he looked up and saw Astrid walking over.

"Hey." Astrid said getting Neo's attention. "Why did you help me back there? I wasn't exactly the best teammate."

"It's because you were my teammate that I helped. That's the whole point of being on a team, so I can help you in situations you can't do alone." Neo said. "Why were you so insistent on doing everything on your own?"

"Because I am not some girl who needs to wait around for others to save her. I can be as tough as any of those guys." Astrid said.

"Asking for help doesn't make you weak, Astrid. If anything having the strength to admit your faults makes you stronger." Odin said surprising her.

"It does?" Astrid asks.

'Maybe we can get stronger together?" Neo offers a hand. Smiling softly Astrid punches Neo on the shoulder. "Ow!"

Almost instantly Astrid laughs at his reaction along with Thor and Odin.

Flashback End:

'And Odin was right, I got stronger than ever before…because now I have someone I wanna protect.' Astrid thought walking away.


As they walked through the streets, Taranee was blown away by all the history and stories Neo was telling her.

"So all those myths and legends I've read about?" Taranee asks.

"Really happened." Neo nods.

"This is unbelievable. I am so gonna ace Norse Mythology section of class." Taranee smiles.

"Amazing, you're in a place like this and you're thinking about school?" Irma smirks.

"I guess someone has to." Cornelia giggles.

"Hey what's that over there?" Caleb points to the Bifrost under repairs.

"That's the Bifrost, it's how we were able to travel between worlds." Neo explains.

"So why does it look like that?" Will asks.

"My dad and I kinda destroyed the first one and so we're trying a to build a second one." Neo said.

"So that's why it took you guys so long to get back." Hay Lin giggles.

"Uh hey how about we go this way?" Neo said leading them away.

Walking towards the main square near a small waterfall, Neo spotted Rayla leaning against a rock near the waterfall reading a book. Letting out a yawn Rayla leans back to see Neo looking down at her. "Whoa!" Rayla jumps up turning around to see Neo's smiling face. "Give me a break, Neo."

"Why am I not surprised to see you laying here?" Neo teases.

"Hey I just wanted to relax a little bit." Rayla said.

"At the same spot I brought you too when you first came to Asgard?" Neo points out.

"Don't you have a tour to give?" Rayla narrows her eyes causing him to chuckle.

"Alright, alright." Neo said.

As Rayla sat back down a soft smile appeared on her face remembering when Odin first brought her to Asgard, she was nervous being the only elf and wasn't sure who to talk to until she met Neo.

Flashback:

A young Rayla was walking through the streets of Asgard and as she walked by a few kids were whispering about her.

"There she is, the elf."

"I heard King Odin found her in the ruins of Svartelheim."

"We better not get too close, she might try to drink our blood."

With each rumor Rayla felt worse and worse until a small ball rolled in front of her.

"Hey throw the ball!" Rayla looks up to see a 5 year old Neo running to her. Picking it up Rayla throw it to him. "Thanks…wow are you an elf?" Neo asks noticing her.

"Y-Yeah." Rayla cringed expecting an insult.

"Cool." Neo smiles surprising her. "Hey I'm going to the main plaza, wanna play?"

"Y-You want me to play? Haven't you heard the rumors that I drink blood?" Rayla asks.

"Do you drink blood?" Neo asks.

"Well no." Rayla said.

"Then I don't see the problem." Neo said tossing the ball into her hands before running. "Throw it! Throw it!"

Rayla looks at Neo and smiles before throwing the ball at him.

After playing catch, Neo and Rayla walked to the small waterfall and sat down.

"Wow, that was fun." Rayla smiles.

"You act like it was the first time." Neo said.

Rayla pauses not wanting to say it was.

"Neo!" Looking up they saw Frigga walking over. "Time to go."

"See you tomorrow, Rayla." Neo said confusing her.

"Tomorrow? You wanna hang out again?" Rayla asks.

"Yeah you're really fun." Neo smiles before walking away.

Smiling Rayla sits down against the rocks.

Flashback End:

'And after you and I started hanging out my life got better and better.' Rayla smiles going back to her book.


At some stores, Neo and Caleb were sitting down in some chairs.

"I might have made a mistake bringing girls to the shopping area." Neo said.

"Ya think." Caleb rolls his eyes.

"Why do you they take so long to try on clothes?" Neo asks.

"No idea." Caleb sighs.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Heather asks walking when Yan Lin walks out in sky blue Asgardian clothing, Irma walks out in teal, Cornelia in green with shiny stones on the skirt area, Taranee in orange and Will in purple and blue.

"Not my normal look, but if I'm gonna hang around this place I might as well dress in style." Cornelia smiles.

"Cornelia just because Neo's paying for this doesn't mean you have to buy the most expensive ones." Irma said.

"It's like you don't know me." Cornelia smiles.

Neo groans as he hangs his head causing Heather and Will to giggle when Heather noticed the bracelet around Will's hand was the same color as her outfit.

"Hey that's cute." Heather said.

"Huh? Oh yeah thanks. Neo got it for me on my birthday." Will smiles.

"Neo is the best at picking gifts." Heather smiles.

"Is there any more stores we can check out?" Cornelia asks.

"Don't push it." Neo said.

"Sorry Cornelia, guess new dresses are all we're getting today." Will teases.

"Come on let's head back I bet dinner is ready." Neo said.

"Noted." Irma said as she tried to run out but tripped on her new outfit and fell.

Neo walks over and helps her up. "Hang on." Bending down he adjusts the area around her legs causing a soft blush to form on Irma's face at his gentle and strong hands touching her feet. "There you go, try walking now."

"Uh…okay." Irma said as she walked around but this time she didn't trip.

"Perfect. See you later Heather." Neo said as they walked out.

Reaching to her back she pulled off her double-bladed axe and smiles when she first got it.

Flashback:

2 Years ago, in Johan's newest training assignment Neo, Heather, Astrid and Rayla were by a raging river on the outskirts of Asgard battling Ulik the Rock Troll with Loki and Johan watching nearby

Raising his shield, Neo blocks the punches as Ulik pushed him further and further back towards the wall.

"Where is Thor Odison?!" Ulik roars.

"My dad doesn't need to waste his time with you!" Neo calls out.

Leaping down from the top Heather slam her axe down on its head knocking the monster back.

Roaring Ulik swings his hand at Heather who raises her ax to block but it shatters upon impact before flying backwards.

"Ooh that's not good." Loki winces. "Maybe Ulik the Rock troll was too ambitious for them."

"They'll face much tougher opponents someday, best they be ready." Johan said.

"Yet you brought me along so I could help in case they fail." Loki mocks sitting down to watch the show.

Astrid and Rayla charge in and slam their weapons into his leg making Ulik scream in pain before falling to the ground. Turning to them Ulik's legs heal before he swings his arm knocking them away.

"Hey Mudslug!" Neo said standing by the river. "You can't beat me what in Odin's beard makes you think you can take on the rest of my family?!"

Roaring the troll charges towards Neo as he ties a rope to his sword and stabs it into the ground before jumping into the river as the troll ends up falling in and getting swept up by the current.

"I'll get you for this! The House of Odin will FAAALLLL!" Ulik screams going over the large waterfall.

"A prank worthy of God of Mischief." Loki smirks as he and Johan climb down. "I'll send some guards to go fishing."

"Wait somethings wrong…where's Neo?" Johan asks as Neo resurfaces and clung to the rope for dear life.

"Help!" Neo screams as his sword was getting pulled out of the ground.

"Neo!" Heather throws her broken axe handle which slams into the sword stopping him from before grabbing the handle while everyone grabbed her from behind and pulled Neo ashore.

"Thanks Heather, you saved my life." Neo pants.

"Never, do anything like that again." Heather said.

As they walked back, everyone was happy at their victory while Heather held the broken pieces of her axe with a frown on her face.

"Hey are you okay?" Neo asks.

"What kind of warrior lets their weapon get broken? How can I fight with this?" Heather asks holding it up.

Looking at it closely Neo examines it. "Give me a few days."

"Huh?" Heather said.

A week past as Heather waited in front of the blacksmith when Neo walked out with something wrapped up in his hand.

"Neo is that my axe?" Heather asks.

"No, I couldn't get it fixed to the way it was, but I was able to use the metal to make something else." Neo unwraps it to reveal her double-bladed axe.

"What is that?" Heather asks spinning it around in her hand.

"This is my way of saying thanks for saving my life. I uh had it engraved." Neo points.

Looking at it Heather saw the words Loyal and Brave carved on it.

"They were the first words that came to me when I thought of you." Neo smiles.

A small blush forms on Heather's face as she gave him a hug in thanks.

Flashback End:

Looking at the handle, she still saw the same words written on it.


Meanwhile, with Thor and Mala, things had taken an interesting turn in working out parenting ideas.

"Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" The Asgardians chanted as they looked to the back.

Standing on the counter, Mala and Thor were chugging glasses while the entire pub cheered them on before Thor finished first.

"Yes!" Thor cheers as Mala drops down into her seat. "My name is the one Neo keeps!"

"You…really are a god." Mala smiles clearly drunk.

"Alright, alright I think we can continue this debate another day." Thor smiles picking Mala up and carrying her on his shoulder.

"Whoo!" Mala laughs as they arrive at the castle.

As night came, the girls were laying in the guest chambers with big smiles on their faces.

"I have never eaten so good in my entire life." Irma smiles rubbing her belly.

"If I eat another bite I'll explode." Taranee groans.

"I should have taken some dessert with me." Hay Lin said when they heard a knock on the door.

"Will get it." Cornelia groans not being able to get up.

Mustering up all her strength Will got out of bed and walked to the door and opened to see Thor carrying Mala in.

"Oh my god is she okay?" Will asks.

"She's fine, not injured at all." Thor said as Mala hit her head on the door. "Sorry about that."

"What happened?" Will asks concerned.

"We drank, we fought, we talked parenting, she made her ancestors proud." Thor said putting her down on Will's bed.

"You really are a god. You proved that to me tonight." Mala giggles.

"Uh I guess I'll need to find another bed to sleep on." Will sweatdrops.

"Down the hall take a left and it's the third door on the right." Thor said.

Will nods walking out. "Wait did he say right and third door on the left or was it the other way around?" Looking around the castle, Will almost immediately felt lost.

Looking down the hall, Amora smirks seeing a chance to have some fun.

"Will." Amora calls out getting her attention.

"Oh Amora, thank goodness. I have no idea where to go." Will smiles. "Where's the guest room?"

"Follow me." Amora said leading her down the hall to a room. "Right here."

"Thanks Amora, you're the best." Will smiles opening the door but when she did she saw Neo walking out of a room without wearing a shirt causing Will's face to turn as red as her hair.

"Will?!" Neo said surprsed as Will slams the door shut causing Amora to giggle.

"You tricked me!" Will glares.

"Can't blame a girl for wanting a little fun." Amora smiles walking away. "Guest room is right there. Across from Neo's room." She teases leaving Will all by herself. 'She's as easy to tease as Neo. I can some fun with those two.'