Chapter 9: Bravery
I'm sorry for the late update! This fic is not abandoned! It's just that I had to struggle a lot with this chapter and in the end, at the last moment, I started to change things and rearm the argument LOL (besides that the action scenes are so difficult to write! ). But as a reward, here is a long chapter! Hope you enjoy!
(1) Seidr: A form of magic practiced by magicians and sorcerers in Asgard. It's characterized by extracting its power from the great Yggdrasil tree.
(2) Yggdrasil: It is a perennial ash tree or also known as the great tree of life, whose roots and branches join the different worlds.
In a matter of seconds, the invaders raised their swords, and rushed forward, roaring at the villagers.
They ran too, taking the offensive. The blades of their weapons glowed dangerously and the sun, hardened their grim features.
Both groups came together in the middle, in an intense explosion of sounds and colors.
Everywhere there was confusion and struggling bodies. The swords clashed with each other, in rumbling metallic sounds.
The villagers fought with ferocity, dodging sword thrust and brandishing their weapons bravely. An unprecedented power radiated from them, emerging even more powerful when they saw their home being invaded.
In the midst of the revolt, three villagers took Loki to the back, to the farthest place from the battle. Positioning themselves in front of him, they acted as a shield, protecting him from any attack.
Seeing this, Loki stifled a grunt. These men were willing to give their lives for him and Loki couldn't do anything to stop them. If only he could fight, help in the combat... but no, he was trapped in a wheelchair, waiting helplessly for the outcome of the battle.
His mouth tightened in frustration and his insides twisted with helplessness.
Pepper, along with other villagers, took refuge behind a barricade, raised with old farm-carts upturned. From there, they riddled the soldiers with hunting arrows and spears.
Several other barricades had been erected around the main square. Its objective was to corner the enemies and attack them from different flanks.
Peter also stayed in the back, intercepting any attack aimed at the most unprotected villagers. He fought with two short swords, repelling blows and using his agility to surprise those soldiers who managed to approach the group of civilians.
The chaos escalated. The hubbub of voices was heard even beyond the hills and the fervor of the fight was leaving fallen bodies everywhere.
Suddenly, some soldiers lit several torches that came dangerously close to the wooden barns and the houses with thatched roofs. His goal was to set fire to everything in his path, burn everything they found.
Seeing this, the inhabitant's hearts skipped "Fire!" They thought frenetically.
The villagers, thanks to their efforts, had been able to collect enough rainwater to supply the canals and ponds that bordered the village, but they could not boast of having water to spare, it was still a scarce commodity. If the flames managed to spread, they didn't have enough resources to contain the fire. If the invaders fulfill his aim, everything would be lost. Everything for which they had fought, would be transformed into nothing but ashes.
Sensing the imminent danger, a group of brave men barreled at full speed into the soldiers, knocking them down with their bodies. They fell backward, hitting the ground in a loud crash, raising a great cloud of dust.
The torches fell from their hands, skidding across the floor, consuming themselves with the friction. However, one of them reached their initial target. One of the houses was touched by the fire, causing it to spread at a dizzying speed due to the flammable material.
Acting swiftly, a group of villagers race to put out the blaze.
They tried to help but soon, despite their efforts, everything turned into chaos. Each individual gave themselves to the task to suffocate the flames with any means at their disposal, however, there was no teamwork, only scattered groups that hindered and interfere with the work of their peers.
Pepper then, came running up. She quickly ordered the distribution of tasks and organized the people so that they could extract, in the most efficient way, the water from the ponds. It was a battle against time and Pepper took advantage of every second.
Several people lined up to pass the buckets of water while a group volunteered to stay near the flames and face the fire with the water provided.
The intense heat made sweat trickle over their eyes and their lungs scorch from the smoke. But it didn't matter. They continued to struggle against the burning scenery, even when it seemed their bodies were going to be completely swallowed by the powerful flames.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the fire finally gave way. They had managed to contain the blaze and to prevent it from spreading through the rest of the village.
A feeling of sorrow spread among the villagers, at seeing that burned debris. It was a reminder of what could have been, of what could have happened had they not been successful.
If the soldiers had achieved their goal, remains like these, were all that would be left of the village. It could have been the fate of their crops, their houses, even, they could have been the charred bodies of their children, husbands or wives.
The villagers looked at the soldiers, and an unprecedented rage came from their hearts. Burning them from within. As strong as the flames they had just faced.
They then, launched themselves, roaring like beasts, against the enemies.
The force was such that some soldiers retreated, howling in pain and screaming for help.
"Attack you cowards! They are only peasants!" A general shouted angrily.
The enemies regrouped, but the villagers were ready. Acting with haste, they did not give them time to attack. They rushed upon them like an avalanche, using their weapons precisely and a resolution that radiated through each of their pores.
The soldiers, being overwhelmed by such ferocity, began to retreat. The village was finally gaining ground.
Seeing all this, Loki felt it: that tiny little flutter, that spark of hope that made its way through his chest, like a warm and comforting light.
Just a little more and they would get the victory. The enemy had underestimated them. They did not count on the implacable strength of the inhabitants of the village.
But suddenly, a small tumult of voices was felt among the invaders.
A man appeared on the horizon, walking calmly, edging closer to the battlefield.
Loki didn't know him, but still, as he laid eyes on him, something curled in his gut, making him feel nauseous and dizzy.
There was something very wrong with that image as if a strange energy was floating in the air around him, forming a dangerous and disturbing aura that made Loki wake up, an intense and macabre foreboding.
"It's Red Skull! We are saved!" The soldiers shouted.
When the man approached, a loud and bone-chilling voice rang through the heavy air.
"Villagers! I see you armored and ready to fight, but I want you to know, that you have sealed your doom. Today you have only readied yourself to die"
He made his way easily, knocking down anyone who got in his way. Advancing decisively, going in a straight line to where the civilians were.
But someone blocked his way. It was Peter, who had stood firm in front of this new enemy.
"Well, sir, I'm gonna stop you right there. I can't let you pass. I'm sure you understand" He said, raising his chin and looking Schmidt directly in the eye. His gaze was defiant, mixed also, with a bit of fear. But above all else, an intense determination was reflected from his soul.
Without saying anything else, wielding his two short swords, Peter charged.
Loki tried to warn him, tried to tell him to desist from this confrontation, but everything happened very fast.
Red Skull stopped the attack, using his sword as a shield, resulting in both weapons colliding in a metallic rumble that reverberated through the air.
They separated and Peter rushed to attack again, but Schmidt didn't give him an opening. Calmly, he stopped each of his attacks, dodging the edge of his swords as if they were both involved in a strange and coordinated dance.
The confrontation continued for several minutes. Peter struggled as best he could, grunting and shouting for the effort as he wielded the blades from side to side and tried to deflect his enemy's thrusts. But it was clear who had the most experience in combat. His body began to resent the constant loss of energy and his movements became increasingly slow and erratic.
"It's enough" Said Red Skull, with a smile "It's been good training, but I think it's time to end it"
Lunging forward with blinding speed, he disarmed Peter. And then, using only his bare hands, grabbed him by the neck, lifting his whole body with his grip.
Peter struggled, trying to separate those hands from his neck and panting from the effort of trying to get air into his lungs.
Schmidt squeezed harder and harder, determined to extract every last breath of that body in his hands. Taking his time, he stared at Peter's face, as if spellbound, watching as life slowly slipped away from those eyes that, just a moment ago, radiated so much vigor.
"Alright Stop!" Loki shouted.
Red Skull heard him and stopped short.
"Well, well. Is not that our mighty God?" He said in a tone, full of sarcasm.
Changing his attention focus, he placed Peter's body back to the ground, making his heels touched the floor. Schmidt loosened his grip, but his hand remained close to the boy's neck, not releasing it completely, restricting his movements.
Peter could breathe again, but he was weak and disoriented. Red Skull's grip was the only thing that kept him standing.
"Leave the villagers in peace, it's me who you want. I will go with you. There's no need to continue this madness" Loki said, his voice hard.
Schmidt chuckled.
"What makes you think you can negotiate with me? I'm not going to deny that I'm interested in you, but no, that it's not the only reason I'm here. Actually, I enjoy the roar of battle, the shedding of blood, the conquest and absolute submission of my enemy.
I'm going to take you, of course, but first I'm going to have my battle. I am a conqueror; I will not stop until I dominate each and every one of the tribes. And when I do it, everyone will recognize my power, I will be like a God. No... even more..."
"You? A God?" Snorted Loki "I've never seen a more pathetic human"
The immutable face of Red Skull snapped for a moment, turning a grimace.
"I think…" He said slowly "I must give you a lesson in superiority, after all"
"That's it..." Loki thought, "Forget the boy, focus on me"
For a moment, it seemed as if Schmidt was going to release Peter and go to him, but unexpectedly, he stopped his motion. Looking at Loki fixedly, he scrutinized him with piercing eyes.
"Mmm... It may seem strange, but I think I recognize something in you. Yes... I'm not mistaken. There is something in your eyes, something that speaks of experience, of having seen incredible things, horrors that few have come to witness. Your eyes are those of a warrior, a murderer...
You know? I had thought about offering you an opportunity of redemption, showing you where is your place, teach you a little humility. But when I saw you, I realized that it is useless. You are not like any other. The methods that I normally use, wouldn't work on you. You are used to pain. The physical suffering I intended to cause you, would have little if any effect on you.
But I think I have a solution for this little dilemma... Torture for you doesn't mean anything. But... what do you say about someone else's pain? Someone, who you clearly cares enough about to try to save his life?" He said pointing emphatically to the figure of Peter, which was still imprisoned in his hands.
"Tell me... Would you mind terribly If I remove a limb? Or two?"
Loki's body tensed and fear fell slowly down his spine.
"You wouldn't dare..." He said, trying to make his voice sound steady, but failing miserably.
"Oh? Do you really want to test my word?"
Red Skull brought his sword close to Peter's arm.
Frantically, Loki searched his mind, some way to help him, but he didn't find anything.
Negotiating was useless and his paralyzed body felt more than ever, like a cruel prison "Why? Why did he have to be so weak?"
Peter tried to get away, but it was useless, Schmidt held him with an iron grip.
After a moment, he stopped struggling. Standing very still, he accepted his destiny.
Red Skull, aligned the edge of his sword at the juncture of his wrist.
"NO! STOP!" Loki shouted, not caring anymore, the hint of desperation that appeared in his voice.
But the man, just smiled at him, without even wavering an inch the grip of his sword.
His arm gained momentum...
Suddenly, a strange sound was heard, like the whistle of an object through the air.
Schmidt only had a few seconds to throw himself to the side and dodge the arrow that was aimed directly at his heart.
With that movement, he released Peter, who fell to the ground.
He was sore and weak, but undoubtedly safe.
The light of the sun blinded his eyes for a moment, but Loki could see shadows at the distance, just where the arrow had been thrown. When his gaze cleared, his heart pounded violently against his chest. Tony and his troop, appeared over the horizon.
Loki closed his eyes, took a long breath and then released the air slowly, feeling a great relief go through his senses. They were safe, reinforcements had arrived.
He saw Tony, brave and bright, galloping on his horse. All the hero that he really was. Beside him was a man who was not part of the troop, an archer. He was the one who had fired the arrow that saved Peter.
Who was he? An ally, no doubt. A silent thought of gratitude, crossed at that moment, through his mind.
Loki's musings were interrupted, suddenly, by a loud growl.
Red Skull was watching Tony's Troop, with such a sour face that seemed as if he have swallowed a whole liter of decomposed milk.
"Surrender," Loki told him "You and your people, no longer have any chance of victory"
Schmidt contracted his face in frustration, but suddenly, something changed; a mischievous crooked smile settled on his lips.
"I think you've earned the honor. I'm going to show you something truly special"
Red Skull rummaged in a bag that was tied to his belt. Inside, he pulled out a wooden chest, adorned with the figure of an ominous tree.
When he opened it, a shining light was projected from within, tinting his face in bluish tones.
There, resting in the confines of the chest, the imposing form of a crystalline cube could be glimpsed.
Its bright form emitted electric flashes and within its translucent walls, you could see something swirling in its interior, A kind of energy that seemed to come from its very core.
When Loki recognized it, the air seemed to get stuck in his lungs.
"The Tesseract? What is it doing here on earth? How was it possible for this human to find it?"
"I only use it with especially fierce enemies. Only a touch will disintegrate your bodies completely. Behold! Here is the cube of the Gods, be witnesses of real power, of my power"
But there was something wrong. The light radiating from the Tesseract behaved strangely. She flickered inconsistently as if she were going through different energy changes. And suddenly, with a jolt, the walls of the cube seemed to widen.
Loki knew immediately what was going to happen.
"Stupid Mortal! You have no idea how to use the Tesseract. It is responding badly to you. Don't you realize? It's going to explode! You are going to kill us all!"
"Do you think you can trick me so easily? I am not an ordinary man. I will not give this power away. There's nothing you can do to stop me"
The cube began to shine with increasing intensity, emitting a disturbing sound, like a shriek.
Loki was running out of ideas. If he didn't do something soon, everyone would die.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tony's troop running towards them, with their weapons raised, coming closer and closer.
Loki felt real fear when he realized that, if they approached, they would also be trapped inside the explosion.
He tried to scream, to warn them, but his voice was caught within the growing uproar.
Loki shuddered with fear and rage, until his whole body was consumed with feverish chills that left his cheeks burning and his breath short.
It was a matter of time, at any moment, the Tesseract would explode and take with it, any hint of life that found in its way.
Loki felt as if the world had stopped. It was as if all the sounds had gone out, and he could only feel the sound of his heart pounding in his chest.
Everything was so fast, he didn't know how it happened.
He felt a familiar warmth surrounding his body, one he'd been terrified he'd never feel again. His magic! his Seidr!(1) It was within reach again, permeating his being with its power.
He perceived himself, renewed and strangely euphoric. It was as if he had been deathly ill and suddenly, woken up completely well again. Or as if a limb, he'd never known were missing, had been restored. Everything was now seen with new clarity. He could think, could see, could feel.
With his magic restored, Loki felt hope bloom in his chest. He was no longer helpless, now he had the possibility to fight, to be able to defend himself and his new home. He had a weapon to wield against the invaders. The opportunity to make a difference in this battle.
He called his magic, and it came to him. He felt her dance inside him, float and go over his body in a gentle flutter. But... something wasn't right. When he touched his Seidr, Loki knew it.
Although part of his magic had returned, it was still damaged. His Seidr had been replenished, but only a small part, one that was infinitely weaker than it had been before. His power was there, but it was just a spark. Something unstable that could be put out at the slightest provocation, vanish, if it were brought to the edge of its limit.
Worry soon became the predominant emotion. Would his magic be enough to stop the threat? Could his crippled Seidr contain the ancient power of the Tesseract? Loki did not know... but what he did know, was that there was no time to doubt.
Failure was not an option. His magic was going to be enough, it had to be enough.
Loki then released a great bolt of energy. It was a green light that crashed into Schmidt, ejecting him several meters backward.
His body crashed into one of the barricades, breaking the wood, to then collapse to the ground with a thud.
The Tesseract fell from his hands, crashing to the ground. Where it kept shining dangerously.
Ignoring Red Skull, realizing that he must do something soon, Loki's magic concentrated.
His Seidr, went towards the cube, trying to wreathed that pulsating energy, struggling to contain in some way its power.
But the Tesseract, rejected Loki's Seidr again and again, dispersing his energy by barely making contact.
Both magics began then, a silent battle, striking each other like lightning, forming a confusion of colors and blinding flashes.
Heavy drops of sweat ran slowly down Loki's temple and suddenly, the flow of his power began to waver. His magic was failing. His reserves were running out by leaps and bounds.
But he could not surrender now, not when the resolution of this battle could mean the difference between the life and death of all present. Just a little more, he had to strive a little harder...
Loki gritted his teeth, reached into his core, and pulled, extracting, squeezing every last drop of magic. The effort made his body tremble and his vision narrowed.
This time, the magic of his body was expelled in a powerful energetic wave, reaching the cube with a blow, achieving that his power merged with that of the Tesseract.
If someone had asked him, he could not have described what he felt at that moment. It was as if the cube was communicating with him, singing, showing him a whole new reality. For a moment, Loki was no longer himself, he was another being, one who was completely united with its power. The Tesseract had accepted him and his magic. And suddenly, Loki knew exactly what he had to do.
The green light of his Seidr shone brighter, separating from the cube, surrounding it, and then, with a twist, the Tesseract disappeared. His magic had vanished it as if it had never been there.
Loki only felt it. He sensed the energy of the cube being contained within one of his pocket dimension. It was a great explosion. So powerful, that he could swear, to have felt a slight vibration within the channels of his magic that connected with the branches of the great tree of Yggdrasil(2).
The danger had passed. He made it. He had managed to contain and isolate the power of the Tesseract.
After that, Loki called his Seidr again, but only emptiness resonated. His magic was again out of reach, depleted again.
Well... it didn't matter anymore. Everyone was alive, and honestly, that was more than he had any right to expect. His Seidr was a fair price for all the lives he had been able to save today. He regretted his loss, of course he did, but Loki also knew that had things been different, he could have lost infinitely more...
As if it were a distant echo, Loki heard the sound of something metallic and heavy footsteps approaching quickly and threateningly.
Fixing his eyesight, Loki saw the figure of Schmidt running towards him. His face disfigured with rage looked at him with unfocused eyes and his sword drawn, shone as if reflecting a thousand suns.
The villagers who were defending Loki, with a shout, rushed towards Red Skull, but they stood no chance. He pushed them with his sword, throwing them through the air, knocking them out of his way.
Schmidt arrived where Loki was and in a matter of seconds, he was already leaning over his body, with his weapon aligned, ready to end him.
He raised his sword and in a broad movement, the blade began to cut through the air, pointing directly at his head.
With his magic exhausted, Loki understood that he had no way to defend himself.
Those seconds before the sword connected, passed slower than they should.
Some people, when confronted with the certainty of death, say to experience different revelations; some, relate how they saw their life pass before their eyes, others say, be enlightened with the truths of the universe or even, possible angelic encounters and celestial choirs.
But Loki, at that moment, didn't have any of those epiphanies. Instead, only an immense tranquility circulated through his mind. He had no unknowns to solve, not even anger, only a quiet acceptance that numbed his senses.
"Ah! So this is the end..." He thought "I only regret one thing; not being able to see Tony's face once again..."
He closed his eyes and prepared for the blow, but... this never came.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Tony standing behind Red Skull. His sword, pierced from end to end in his chest.
For a moment, Schmidt stood there, perplexed. He seemed not to feel the wound and looked at the tip of the sword that came out of his chest as if nothing were happening, almost with curiosity. He stood there, dazed, but then, a light of understanding reached his eyes. He stifled a moan, and with a last sigh, fell to the ground, from where he didn't move anymore.
To the enemies, that vision was enough. Yielding to panic, they ran away in terror, only to be cornered by Tony's troop. Finding themselves with no way out, they released their weapons, falling to their knees, fixing their frightened eyes on the imposing figure of Loki.
Stripped of their weapons, they were reduced with ropes and taken into custody.
It was over. They had won the war.
The people had glassy eyes of shock, pain, and exhaustion, but a look of accomplishment illuminated their features.
"You came back," Loki said to Tony, smiling.
"As you see, I kept my promise," He replied.
Suddenly, Loki felt as if the world around him began to spin.
His breathing became heavy and he felt the adrenaline dying down in his system, as the agitation of the fight faded.
Apparently, the use of his magic had taken more effort than he had anticipated. He had pushed himself to the brink and had overextended himself badly.
The weight of exhaustion was felt by his body and his head throbbed. With one last look at Tony's troubled eyes, the earth vanished, and he sank into oblivion.
º
º
º
º
º
Don't worry Loki is not dead! (just a little spoiler hehe)
Actually, I must confess that this chapter was going to be twice as long, but I had to cut it in two or if not, it felt as I was never going to post it. But, as good news, I managed to make a lot of progress, so I hope to post it soon (fingers crossed)
Next chapter: Basically...There will be a lot of talking and feelings. And also, some issues that were unfinished in relation to the war will be discussed.
Stay tuned!
As always, thank you all so much for your comments and feedback, they truly keep me going! Also, feel free to leave a comment or a fav and tell me what you think. It's very much appreciated.
For Mitzu:
I'm glad you like it! :D and thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
Hope you liked chapter 9 Hope you are well! Take care!