Stumbling through Godhood

by freeraynman

If you could travel through alternate realities what would you do? Become a God and rule or chillback and go with the flow? Inspired heavily by 'Cruel To be Kind', '12 Steps To Omnipotence', 'Rise of an Empire' and a million and one other fanfics. If you see stuff and think that it's similar to another fanfic. it's probably because we read the same story and I liked that idea.

16. Chapter 16

AN:

Some Answers:

Silentpassenger chapter 14 . Apr 7

Thank you. We are getting to Stargate. Darrow wants to get a few more 'things' from the Harry Potter Universe. The story is accelerating to move the main action out of HP over the next 2 to 3 chapters.

.gervas chapter 14 . Apr 9

Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

frankieu chapter 15 . Apr 12

Thanks! You can in this chapter what he picked up. Should be all useful items even if some will only be used in the background.

Gon Freaks chapter 15 . Apr 12

Not to worry, that's barely a complaint. I do this as a hobby and update times are what they are. I would lie to all of you if I committed to a schedule.

Kulha chapter 15 . Apr 12

There's blood guts and all the other bodily fluids that a normal man isn't used to dealing with…he gonna puck since he's grossed out by the whole situation.

Kennji chapter 15 . Apr 12

I have not been able to find Warhammer live action. Maybe PM me a link?

Guest chapter 8 . Apr 12

The noninvolvement with the golden trio was at the beginning as eh wanted them to form their bond.

webzayne717 chapter 11 . Apr 14

It was supposed to be fairly ridiculous. The whole tournament is pretty ridiculous.

ZhaWarudo chapter 12 . Apr 18

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

I liked both 12 Steps and CTBK. I wasn't a fan of Gems of Infinite Potential.

The businesses will play a slightly bigger role when he goes to Stargate. Construction is just the ones I highlighted and the main ones, there are more in the background and the main businesses will expand into conglomerates…eventually.

Gal Gadot is hot.

There is only so much time Darrow has and it makes more sense for him to concentrate on his housemates as he has contact with them the most.

Thank you all for you input it is appreciated and please don't be surprised if I 'steal' some of your suggestions.

Story inspired heavily by 'Cruel To be Kind', '12 Steps To Omnipotence', 'Rise of an Empire' and a million and one other fanfics. If you see stuff and think that it's similar to another fanfic. it's probably because we read the same story and I liked that plot line or idea.

BEWARE this is a 'Gary Stu, wish fulfillment, power fantasy type story.

Thank you for reading!

Enjoy

Chapter 16

Scene Break

Year 6, Day 330: Xenaverse, 40 BC

I appear in the cave like room of the Labyrinth of Gods that houses the Tree of Life. I take a second to get my bearings and ensure there is no one else here.

There isn't.

The upside down L shaped Tree of Life is sticking out of a small mound surrounded by torso sized rocks as if it was growing out of an old fire pit.

It looks windswept even though it's not possible in this chamber as the only contact with the outside world are a few cracks in the stone ceiling through which sunrays perfectly fall around the tree accentuating it's divinity.

However to be brutally honest the tree looks old and wilted and not that impressive and I would not have given it a second look if it wasn't for the six magical golden apples hanging by thin stems on its equally thin branches.

I think the overall lackluster look is because of this reality's tacky nature. 'Xena-Warrior Princess' and 'Hercules The Legendary Journeys' were great shows in their time but they are a product of their time and budget and since ARTY gets me close to what I can conceptualize I'm stuck with this.

'Oh well, time to get to business.'

I put my shotgun down to get a bit more comfortable and extend my arms in front of me palms facing the ground and fingers spread out.

I take a deep breath and concentrated on my innate energy gently bringing it forth into my hands. Water envelops my palms and a small stream falls gently to the ground at a slow speed defying the acceptable gravitational constant.

As the water touches the floor it seeps into the ground. I push it deep and through it I can feel every crumble of dirt, every rock, every root and every pocket of air.

I will the water to circle the Tree of Life all around the faux fire pit and to envelope every branch of root big or small it touches.

Once the circle is complete forming an ice-cream scoop around it I lift the whole thing out of the ground. My water keeps everything together not letting one speck of dirt fall through.

I concentrate once more and transfigure the water into a giant pot to hold everything and I use ARTY to store it into the Control Room.

Finally I let out the breath I was holding in.

'Take Tree of Life. Check!'

Hopefully the Tree of Life will survive and will bear me more and more Greek Golden Apples, if not I at least had the six currently on it.

Useful things the Greek Golden Apples, they will turn a mortal into an immortal and potentially turn an immortal into a god. In the show they only showed the apples turning Callisto into an immortal but not just how she was, they actually turn you into the form that you consider to be the physical and mental prime of your life.

So if you eat it when you are an old fat you will turn into what you considered to be the best version of yourself up until that point. The show also says that it's able to cure some really nasty incurable diseases or poisoning but then it doesn't turn you into an immortal.

So why do I want the apples when I'm already an immortal god?

Well eventually I'll probably want to create my own pantheon but more importantly I need to give my minions something to strive for. I have to have something to reward them with and I don't want to fully turn them into gods.

At least not right away.

I know myself and I know my limitations. I know I will never be the smartest nor the most creative or the strongest. There are just too many realities and different types of people out there so I want to be able to keep an advantage over my minions for as long as possible.

It's why I also plan on acquiring the Norse Apples. They had a variety of apples which were a bit more complex and offered even more flexibility.

They can turn a person into a god, which I assume is the Norse version of a God. The Norse Gods were a bit more mortal than the Olympians in the show.

They were able to die in battle though it was never quite specified if it's because they were actually mortal or because of their desire to reach Valhalla so they inadvertedly self-actualized to be mortal in battle.

After all they can't really get any joy out of battle if there is no risk to it.

That remains to be seen.

Their apples could also turn someone immortal like the Greek ones but they also had a version which could simply give you eternal youth or eternal life. You didn't age and were reverted to your prime but could still be killed by conventional means.

That should give me a nice little ladder for rewards to my most fateful minions …or to any hoes I might want to keep around…or any pets. I really hope they work on pets. 'I miss you Jake the Pug!'

For immortals I'm pretty sure if I melt them, disintegrate them or throw them into a star they will die. Destroy every cell in their body a la Cell style.

Still once I'm able to grow a few more trees I have a few rituals in-mind that I learned in the restricted sections to modify and tie the magic of the trees to my will.

Zeus is able to control and revoke the godhood of anyone that ate Ambrosia and really of almost any Olympian god since he is king over the Olympian domain. Eventually I want to have that ability as well; though I'm pretty sure for the naturally born Olympians he mostly just suppresses their abilities instead of actually taking their godhood away.

There is no better way to keep control of a pantheon than being able to remove their 'godhood' at your will. Needless to say I plan on staying in power as long as possible.

With the Tree of Life secured I've doddled too long in this place. There are a couple of other items to pick up before I venture to the Norse Apples.

I pick up my shotgun and with a mere thought ARTY transports me to my next destination, the Hall containing the Greek Amazon's Ambrosia and Dagger of Helios.

I don't waste any time. I take out one of my trunks keyed to my blood and store both there. The Dagger of Helios can kill any of the Xenaverse gods so I plan on keeping that stored where no-one can get it for safekeeping, just in case I have a runaway god by my own creation.

As for the second bowled sized chunk of ambrosia well you can never have enough of the stuff just in case as well.

Next stop is King Quallus's museum where the Kronos stone is on display. One of the most powerful items in the Xenaverse is just there on display in a shabby museum of some vain small time king.

'It's no wonder the Olympians eventually lose their domain.' I think bitterly.

The stone allows you to control time though technically every Olympian god has the ability to time travel but it's heavily suppressed and forbidden by Zeus and for good reason.

Messing with time is never good. You can eventually write yourself out of existence or create terrible, terrible parallel realities. I don't plan on messing with time however that's not all that the stone can do.

The stone was used by Zeus to give him that extra boost to finally defeat and imprison the Titans. So if I ever need an 'in-universe' power boost I can use the Kronos stone.

Max power over 9000!

'Maybe I can grind it up into fine powder and snort it whenever I need that extra pick-me up.'

…enough of dumb ideas.

With the Kronos stone secured in the Control Room I didn't want to spend any more time in Olympian domain lest someone notices what I'm doing and confronts me. Then again the adventures of the show were just starting so I shouldn't encounter any problems. Either way I didn't want to attract Zeus's attention as he could smite my ass to mortality as easy as 1, 2, and 3.

I give the command and ARTY transports me to the northern forests of what will one day become Denmark.

The Norse Apples are protected by Odin and cared by Idun. I have no way of reaching them since they were in Valhalla…mostly because I haven't been able to find the damn place.

The forest is lush and green. Its majestic and vibrant life barely touched by humans, to think most of it will be gone in a thousand years.

'Time to get down to business.'

I take a deep breath, concentrate and shout:

"ODIN! I"VE COME TO BARGAIN!" My sonorous enhanced voice thunders in the quiet rustling of the forest.

Since I can't find Valhalla I have no choice but to contact the Norse gods. It is very risky but if I succeeded with ARTY in uncovering this reality then the version of the Norse gods should be from the version from the early HTLJ show that are decently reasonable.

Since me just contacting them doesn't mean that they will be willing to part with their apples and saplings of their trees I needed to find a way to convince them and really the only thing of value I can offer them is knowledge.

In HTLJ both Odin and Balder had decent personalities. Odin was a wise and respected Allfather in love with his wife and concerned for his people and Baldur was also shown to have great concern for the Norse people being generally realistic and logical about the good and bad of the Norse.

I plan on using those traits to entice them into trading their Apples for knowledge that can help their people thrive.

I looked all around me extending my magic trying to feel if anyone appeared in the area but I couldn't see or sense anything outside the rustling of the leafs and creaks of branches.

So I took another breath.

"ODIN! I"VE COME TO BARGAIN!" This time even louder pulsing my magic through my vocal chords and into my words.

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

"ODIN! I"VE COME TO BA-!"

I don't get to finish as a thunderclap reverberates above me…it's a clear sky. In a split second I feel the air change around the small clearing I'm in and in a flash of lightning a long haired, ram helmeted, armor and fur covered man holding a giant hammer appears.

"WHO DARES DAMAND THE PRESENCE OF THE ALLFATHER!"

'Fuck! Of all the Norse gods in this show of course Thor was going to be the first one I meet!'

This wasn't optimal. Thor was hardheaded easy to anger and had only one thing on his mind…Fighting.

"Peace Thor God of the Storm!" I say raising my hands up in a surrendering pose to show that I am not a threat. "I am not here to fight. My name is Darrow and I am a traveller wishing to speak with the great Odin himself."

The rugged god looked at me and set his hammer down in front of him and looked me over.

"You are Olympian?" he asked curiously.

"In a way yes." I respond. See Thor is a god and I could 'feel' him...sort of. And I don't mean just using my 'magical sonar' there is something else more instinctual, something 'primal' where 'kind recognizes kind'.

Now I haven't met other gods so I couldn't tell how he knew I was Olympian specifically. I have no clue if it was some kind of energy signature I was giving off or if he simply didn't recognize me from his pantheon and assumed I was from the Greek world.

Also I looked like a cosplay version of a green beret, sure it was a much better version compared to the first time but still not quite the real deal.

"And what does Olympus wish to speak with the Allfather?" he presses forward.

"I act alone in this!" I respond. "I have things to trade and to discuss with Odin. All I ask is for an audience."

"Tell me strange traveller what is it that You wish to speak with the Almighty? What do you have to trade and what do you want in return?" he asked.

"To trade I have books, knowledge and artifacts as for what I wish to ask of Odin is only for his ears." I respond firmly and I can immediately see that he does not like my words as he shifts from his relaxed pose to holding his hammer.

"If you cannot tell me then it is not important." He says dismissively. "Leave stranger! For the great Odin has no time for petty southern gods!"

'What? This motherfucker calling me petty!' I felt a small surge or annoyance but clamped it down right away.

"I cannot do that!" I say firmly. "I shall stay and ask again to meet Odin."

"Your calls will go unanswered." He said.

"Then I shall shout so loud that I will deafen all of Asgard." I say pulsing my magic with a blue light emanating from me.

I could see by the scowl on his face that he definitely didn't like that. So I brought my energy forth and sped up my perception ready to move at super speed.

"Then I shall make you leave Stranger!" He said and rushed me with a hammer swing from his right to left.

I was ready.

I super speeded backwards putting distance between us and launched an overpowered Stupefied at him.

To my surprise Thor moves just as fast as I did. With a glowing left hand he blocks the spell and throws it to the side where it falls harmlessly to the ground and in the same blurry motion he swings down Mjolnir.

It is only out of pure instinct that I dodge to my right missing the hammer by inches. In the show he never moved this fast, then again the only gods that I saw use super speed were demi-goddess Morrigan and the Celtic god Kernunnos and of course Hercules himself.

Now all the gods have the ability to manifest it I just never really saw it being used in the show outside of those instances and that's probably because the show runners didn't want to use that set of power. Unfortunately for me this was real and things could be a bit unpredictable.

It is only through pure instinct that my ultimate shield activates and absorbs the resulting thunderclap shockwave of the hammer hitting the ground.

Even with the ultimate shield I'm thrown backwards a few meters. Luckily I regain balance of myself and land on my feet. Unluckily Thor is on me right way as he throws Mjolnir after me.

My shield springs up with a wall of ice in front of me taking the blow. The ensuing lightning force shatters the ice in pieces that turn into small droplets of water as they return to me.

The blow was blocked but once again I'm thrown backwards. I get a breather to recover myself as Mjolnir flies back to his hands.

I thrust my hand out and a dozen Velociraptors spring into existence out of grains of forest dirt.

'Let's see how you handle transfigurations!' I was both scared and excited. This was a fight between gods! I could finally see where I measured on the scale.

The thunder god didn't flinch at the Raptors rushing towards him. I felt his energy gathering and he swung mighty Mjolnir once again. The skies roared and lightning bolts hit the pack dispelling them back into dirt.

'When did storm clouds gather?'

"HA! Ancient monsters will not help you Stranger!" he said cheerfully. "Give up now and I shall be merciful!"

"I'm not done yet thunder god!" I yell out firmly.

I thrust my left hand forward shooting ice water at him. Thor thrusts Mjolnir forward in response creating a shield that stops my ice water.

"AHH!" he yells and shoots a lightning bolt of energy through Mjolnir disintegrating my stream. I dodge to the right again and super speed back once more.

I throw another bright red Stupefy at him as a distraction which he blocks with his hammer. Taking a page out of Padma I concentrate and all the roots around spring out of the ground grabbing and entangling Thor pulling him to the ground.

"AHHH!" he screams and with a mighty effort he rips through all the roots jumping from his position hammer ready for a swing towards me.

"Shit!" I speed again backwards making his hammer blow catch only air.

"You fight like a wizard! Come and face me like a GOD!" Thor yelled frustrated.

"Yea no thanks!" I yell back. Fuck that I'm keeping my distance. In the Xenaverse Thor was just as strong as Ares and Hercules and they were top tier when it came to physical strength of the gods. Really the only ones above them were Odin and Zeus so yea no thanks I'd rather not get hit by them.

Not only that but my hand to hand combat skills were abysmal. Sure I was good for a 'mortal' but Thor had thousands of years of fighting under his belt.

He didn't like my answer.

"Very well! Then face MY WRATH!" he shouted and swung Mjolnir down in front of him.

I instantly dropped to one knee my shield sprang into action above my head being reinforced by my arms crossed above me in an x shape.

'Death from Above'

It was almost instant. The lightning bolt and thunderclap hit the shield shattering it plowing into my forearms for one agonizing instant.

It took everything I had not to collapse under the immense energy and it rattled me to my core.

I was breathing heavily and my forearms were numb and burning at the same time.

I survived only to catch a speeding blur out of the corner of my eye.

Thor suddenly stopped in front of me.

"Fuck!"

I was too spent to avoid thundering Mjolnir hitting my chest.

I only felt myself being launched off the ground and my ribs cracking only for a split instant.

Then Darkness.

Scene Break

A sudden avalanche of warmth fell over me.

Darkness, breath, pain and light as my eye fluttered opened.

In a small moment of panic of not remembering where I was and what I was doing I tried to stand and get away from the glowing light under which I was laying.

That was a mistake as the pain intensified.

"Ahh!" I let out a yelp.

"Peace traveler!" I heard a response from behind the light and as my vision cleared I saw hovering over me a tall man with long blond hair dressed in the same rugged yet royal appearance as Thor.

"I am almost done. You should feel better in mere moments."

His hands were hovering above me and a glowing yellow light between them was feeding me warmth and strength.

True to his word in mere seconds I was feeling better. No pain in breathing and I halfway stood from where I was lying.

"Thank you." I said to the man I recognized as Balder from the show.

"Where am I? Valhalla?" As I briefly looked around I realized I was in a small bed in a great rustic looking hall.

He let out a chuckle. "I'm afraid not!" he said very good naturedly. "You are in Odin's great hall in Asgard." He said.

"Asgard? How? I was fighting Thor and-" my hand went to my chest as a ghost feeling of pain overtook me for a moment.

My first fight with a god and I was completely overwhelmed since I didn't have the power advantage anymore. 'Not good.' I thought. I didn't manage to adapt quickly enough to Thor's raw power and aggressiveness. Admittedly this was Thor, he was top tier when it came to the Xenaverse gods but in comparison with messing around with MCU or DCU entities…I still had a lot to learn.

Or just get more power-ups and overwhelm my opponents with raw strength. I was immortal and I had time since I wasn't planning on going and facing against DC or Marvel monstrosities willy nilly right away.

"Yes, you took a hit from Mjolnir straight on." He said. "You have fared better than most against my brother…he tends to overdo it." He said looking back behind him further down the hall. I saw a table where Thor was eating merrily with some people, who I assumed were Asgardian gods or Norse warriors.

"Since I'm here and not splashed all over some trees does that mean Odin has granted me an audience?" I asked as I stood.

"Aye. Both father and I was intrigued by you so once you took the full brunt of my brother I interfered on your behalf."

"Thank you." I said. "Apologies, I have not caught your name." I say.

"Balder. And you are Darrow from Olympus?" He said extending his arm which I clasped firmly.

"Darrow Miercuri." I respond. "As I've told your brother even though I am Olympian I come alone. I am a traveler actually from very far away and only very loosely affiliated with Olympus." Really fucking loosely.

"I see. Well glad to-" he doesn't finish his thought as a crow lands on his shoulder. "Ah, father is ready to see you now. Follow me."

As we walk Thor and the warriors look at me briefly but don't say anything as we pass them and they resume their story telling.

Balder leads me to a door at the back of the great hall and we enter a cozy office like room. A giant ass brown bear skin as a rug, more polar bear skins as wall tapestries. Some other animal skins with runes inscribed into them, shelves with trinkets, parchments and books.

A fire burning brightly and warmly at the back of the room and in front of it sitting at a very nice looking desk was the God of the hour, Odin himself.

'Score! I got the reality right with ARTY! It's the HTLJ Odin in front of me!'

I have to give it to him very practical set up I half expected some Game of Thrones style reception being made to grovel while he receives me on the Asgardian golden throne or something like that.

I much prefer this as it's a more private and the information I want to share with him I don't want to share with all of Asgard…though I couldn't help the small inkling of thought that formed into my mind. 'Why am I not being received in front of Asgard's throne and a full court? Am I not worthy enough?'

Never mind that. Crushing those thoughts down.

"Father, this is Darrow Miercuri. A traveler from far away." He said as the crow flew from his shoulder to Odin's.

Odin had the Allfather look from the show. He looked in his early fifties with long blond hair and beard. He was hearing a simple head band as his crown instead of the winged helmet from the show and was covered in a regal looking outfit with furs and golden chest plate armor and wristlets.

Overall he looked confident and comfortable in his big ornately carved chair which more or less resembled a throne.

He looked like he owned the place which he kind of did.

"Great Odin, thank you for granting me this audience." I say taking initiative. "I have come here before you to-"

"Darrow Miercuri." He said suddenly cutting me off. "You are here to bargain. We all heard you loud and clear." He continued. His tone steady and neutral not giving away anything.

"Yes, well I was hoping I could speak with you privately. I have information which you might find useful." I said a bit awkwardly.

I liked Balder in the show and truthfully he was going to be my back up option of bargaining with if Odin doesn't work but since Odin is the big kahuna and what I was about to say was very sensitive information I wasn't sure if he wanted it to share with Balder yet.

Odin didn't say anything for a moment so I decided to continue on giving him an inkling more of information.

"I know about the dreams that are haunting you…the dreams about Ragnarok."

The moment the word left my lips Odin waved his hand and the door closed behind us.

"Both of you sit." He said leaving no room for argument. "You shall tell me all you think you know and how you know it."

"Well as I have said before I am a traveller. I come from a realm far away that no mortal or mere god can reach. A realm like this but more…advanced." I responded. "My realm has a way of allowing me to peek into your realm's possible futures." I continue.

As I was giving my explanation I could see Odin's eyes grow bigger and harder.

"You come from the Future? Messing with Time has grave consequences BOY!" he said fury building up with each word. I could also see Balder's expression sour and stiffen.

I immediately threw my hands up defensively. "It's not what you think! Not exactly! I do come from the Future but not from yours. I promise you I have not messed with time travel not in the way you are thinking. My gift that allows me to travel to this realm actually prevents me from travelling through time once I am here." I say quickly.

He looked at me intensely scrutinizing for almost a minute of awkward silence before he spoke again. "I sense that you are not lying." As he said that I also felt Balder relax once more.

And I wasn't really lying. Once I entered a reality I couldn't use ARTY to look at its future or past and time would flow 1:1 ratio. No time travel for me.

'Also I wonder how pissed he's going to be once I show him the Olympians, Hercules and Xena messing around with time travel.' Then again I have the Kronos stone now so at least one time travel plot will not happen.

"And what is it you wish to bargain for this knowledge?" he asks.

"Great Odin, this knowledge I offer freely as a sign of trust for they are events that due to my mere presence here could already end up being averted though I doubt me merely being here could smolder the jealousy in the hearts of those closest to you." I respond.

This version of Odin valued trust, honesty and directness so it was better to not beat around the bush.

"I have glimpsed beyond your dreams the true Ragnarok of your people and it is the knowledge of how to prevent it that I wish to bargain in exchange for your Magical Apples along with saplings of the trees for I wish to grow my own." I said firmly and steadily.

He rubbed his beard for a moment. "You ask for much traveller. Our most sacred trees that bear the fruits of life, grown from saplings of Yggdrasil whose roots connect to the Source itself."

While I didn't let it show I was actually very intrigued by this since I had never read anything like this. Also the Source? I remember hearing that somewhere before, DC? …no it couldn't be…could it?

"Tell me what you know of my dreams and I shall decide afterwards if we shall continue this bargain." Odin said decisively.

"Very well, though it would be easier if I showed you."

"And how would you do that?" Balder asked.

"Well I can only do it one at a time but all that is needed is that you look me in the eyes." I say turning to him but it was Odin that spoke next.

He leaned forward a bit. "Very well then show me." He said.

I turned back to him and as our eyes met I softly spoke:

"Legilimens."

As I practiced with Cato a rush of images, feelings, events and information flowed in an orderly but disjointed manner.

Hercules arriving and his fight with Thor.

Odin's worries and Frigga's magic of invulnerability woven over Balder.

Loki's betrayal and his deal with Dahak leading to Balder's death.

Ragnarock and the freezing of Asgard.

Hercules fighting Loki and saving them all using the Book of Fate.

There was a lot to unpack and the memory sharing took over a minute.

We physically 'broke' apart as we both leaned back in our chairs and I found myself being a bit winded. The experience was similar yet different to when I practiced with Cato. Odin's mind was more intense like a bright burning sun which I had to hold off from letting it overwhelm me even when he wasn't trying to. Cato could turn it up to 11 when he wanted but it never quite felt like this. Odin was raw power in its purest form.

This has me a bit worried.

The Xenaverse gods have an adaptable power set giving me access to magic which is the main reason I chose them as my stepping stone, and also because it was super easy, but how they were portrayed in the show they didn't really stack well against the MCU Asgardian gods.

Your standard Asgardian in MCU was a 20 to 30 tonner in terms of physical strength and incredibly sturdy. While they didn't really show the average Asgardian's magical capabilities it always felt more like a cultural thing where magic was left for the women and 'real' Asgardian men fought with blood and Uru.

The Xenaverse gods were definitely more magically versatile and well more 'godlike' in their day to day abilities but overall this Odin still should be miles behind the MCU Odin and yet I felt quite 'stressed' when he wasn't even trying to do anything to me.

It's possible that its simply me not being used to 'butting heads' with other gods so I don't have the feel for it yet or it could be my preconceptions of the Asgardian's in MCU that have 'tainted' my search with ARTY or simply the fact that Odin was hella old and experienced and I was a five year old god.

It could also be a combination of everything either way I was broken out of my thoughts by Balder.

"So are you going to show me as well?" he asked very straight forward.

I looked at Odin to which he nodded in agreement. I turned to Balder, our eyes met and I repeated the process.

Balder's mind, his presence felt completely different. It felt like happiness of meeting an old friend, one who you could trust to have your back, one who you know you will have a good time with and get into ridiculous shenanigans.

'It's no wonder why everyone likes Balder. He's generally a good and warm person.'

"Loki…my own brother…why? I don't understand why he would do this. I've only ever had love for him." Balder said mostly to himself. He was a bit sad and upset at Loki's perceived betrayal that leads to his death.

"Do not blame yourself. Do not even blame Loki, not yet at least. Like I said my mere presence here may change that future…though I would be cautious of the jealousy that burns in his heart." I tried to comfort him a bit though it didn't look like it helped much.

"Enough of that!"

"I will deal with my son when the time comes. This version of the future you showed us is not the true Ragnarok. Even if it comes true Hercules will undo it and the prophecy of Loki bringing Ragnarok will both be true and false at the same time. Fulfilled and undone." He said to which caught Balder by surprised. It seemed like he didn't know about the prophecy.

"Now show me the true Ragnarok." Odin said firmly.

'Excellent, he is hooked.'

"Great Odin, I will show you however I do want something in return. Like I said I am here to bargain." I said and paused for a few seconds. "In exchange I want saplings of the trees that bear you magical apples."

Odin looked at me for a few seconds as if deep in thought. "You ask for too much boy." He finally said.

Before he could speak again I cut him off and re-aligned my offer.

"Then a sample of the apples, two of each kind in exchange" He mused the offer for a moment then agreed.

"Very well that is reasonable." He confirmed.

"I warn you, you will not like what you will see." I said as our eyes met.

I showed him the growing cult of Eli who will eventually turn into Christianity. I showed him the rise, fall and conversion of Rome. I mixed in images from various shows and documentaries about medieval times, the Viking age and the slow conversion of all of Europa.

Once done he leaned back speechless and lost in thought. I repeated the process with Balder.

"Father!" he immediately said as we broke off the connection.

"I know Balder." He said quietly. "No great battles, no Valhalla, no honor just a slow fade away as our people forget about us, abandon us."

"Our Ragnarok is to be dismissed, abandoned and forgotten." Balder said dejected.

"Well at least it's better than outright dying like most of the heads of the Olympian pantheon." I said trying to cheer them up. "And you last for a thousand years more. Your probably alive even in the 'modern' age, your people will be healthy and wealthy…they just won't be looking to you for guidance anymore. "

That was a very poor attempt on my part as they both gave me a look like I was dumb. Their fates were much more intricately woven with their people compared with a basic ass god like me. I just told them they will lose their kingdom, people and probably a good portion of their power and influence real or perceived…no king wants to hear that.

"And you say you have a way to prevent this from happening?" Balder asked.

"Yes…technically." I responded.

"Technically?" he asked.

"Yes, technically. I can give you the tools and I can outline a path however it will be up to you on how to implement it however before I continue I would like to bargain once more." I finished firmly.

"You want the saplings?" Odin asked and I nodded. "Is there anything else I could offer you in exchange?"

"No, it's the saplings I want." There's nothing else in this reality that I want, I already took everything else. 'Thanks shitty Olympian safe keeping!'

Odin leaned back in his chair and pondered for a few moments. "The gift of life, of immortality, of the divine in exchange for life, for the future." He said out loud. "One sapling of each, no more."

"Agreed." I instantly replied and extended my arm to shake on it. He clasped my whole forearm and I instantly knew he was bound to his word.

"Now show us." He commanded.

"Well" I said as I stood up and reached into my mokeskin pouch and pulled out a magical trunk. "It won't be easy to change but the main issue your people have is a lack of knowledge and a culture of education and of writing things down."

I opened the trunk and pulled out four books, two primary science and two first year Hogwarts spell books. I handed a copy of each to them.

"The tools I will provide you are books and scrolls of knowledge, both magical for your pantheon and those mortals who are gifted as well as science, a way of looking at and explaining the world for the mortals to use."

I said and paused for a bit as they both started to ruffle and look through the modern books I gave them. "Now, I'm sure you will see that a lot of the knowledge I give is already knowledge that you as divine beings already know instinctually."

"The advantage of my gift is in the way that it's packaged. The knowledge is presented in a way that mortals will understand, explained in a way that ties things together with pictures, examples and detailed descriptions of cause and effect."

"That is where the true value is. Their curiosity will be peaked; their minds will be able to process and eventually use the information. Not all of them of course but enough of them." I paused again.

"Aye, that is true. It is always hard to explain to mortals how things are connected or how the patterns that are woven into our world assert themselves. Their lives burn bright but short which often blinds them to truth." Balder affirmed in a sad yet wistful way.

"Yes, that's a good way of putting it. Now knowledge is one thing, and I have a lot of it in my trunk here for you but what is important is also how you disseminate it to the Norsemen."

"In their current state they are not ready to receive all this information. You will have to change the culture, encourage them to adopt writing…of course you can't just order them to do it since human beings don't really work that way…people are hardheaded and don't like change."

They both nodded in agreement.

"So let us talk about the path you should take, what you should do and what you can do."

I unfurled a world map and floated it in front of us.

"Let's begin with culture and geography, they are tied closer together than most folks realize." I said with a smile.

Scene Break

I looked around the impromptu classroom we had established in one of the rooms adjacent to the great hall and saw a mixture of bored, excited, sulking and neutral faces.

I have been in Asgard for over a week continuing my discussion with Odin and Balder as well my 'education' of the Norse gods.

Eventually we had to bring in Thor since he was like a curious cat and didn't take too kindly when Odin announced I will be staying a few days.

Odin kept no secrets from his wife so Frigga was included and eventually as 'our plan' evolved so were Sif, Idun and Skadi.

I was really surprised when Odin insisted on me showing Loki the 'future' and bringing him into the fold.

That went about as well as you can expect it.

First he denied it and tried to teleport away. Odin prevented it. Then he of course berated me and tried to lunge for me probably with intent to kill me.

He failed of course…pretty badly.

I didn't actually have to do anything, the whole family was in the room and it was Balder that reacted first. He intercepted and smacked Loki so hard into the wall that it cracked also knocking Loki unconscious.

I'm pretty sure Balder and Loki's relationship is forever ruined. Odin and Frigga had words with their sons in private which seemed to calm things down a bit and made Loki behave. Still the tension between him and Balder was real.

'Note to self: Don't piss off joyous and bright Balder all of that can be turned into righteous fury.'

Sometime during the third day I had the bright idea to ask for martial training since my weapons and hand to hand combat skills were kind of shit. I had technique from my Sambo practice but I hadn't been able to truly apply since I might break a mortal in the process.

Of course Thor took it upon himself to be my teacher. His method of teaching was to whoop my ass every day. Fair enough I was getting better and it was super liberating to punch someone at 'full strength' especially when they could take it.

And that brought me to my current situation of leading the discussion on how to best ensure the survival of the Asgardians as leaders of the Norse and how to enact change into the Norsemen.

"I still don't understand." Thor said. "If this seed drill can feed our people should we not introduce it quicker?" he asked seriously.

I could see Loki was about to make a remark but stopped himself and just resumed his sulking.

"You are right Thor however introducing it now will not help you much. The Norsemen are not yet structured to take advantage of this invention." I say. "Remember every piece of knowledge you teach will eventually find its way down to the other civilizations. The Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Persians will be able to better apply it and take advantage of its output." I could see that he wasn't quite getting to what I was explaining.

"Think about it like this. If there is a farm that takes 20 people to work which can feed 80 people that means there are 80 people free to be warriors, craftsmen, priests or to pursue whichever trade they want." He nodded in understanding.

"Now with the seed drill and some of the other inventions that farm will only need 10 people to tend to it. That leaves an extra 10 people to be warriors, craftsmen, priests or to pursue other skills. It doesn't seem like much but if you repeat the process over a 100 or a 1000 farms and now you have an army of people available to do other things."

'Yes I see that and why wouldn't we want that? With an extra thousand warriors we could conquer more territory." He said perplex.

"Well yes you are right, however the other civilizations will be better suited to take advantage of that. They have more farms, more people. They have cities, their soil is better their output will be higher and their population will grow larger."

"The Norse may get one thousand warriors but the Romans and the Persians will get ten thousand. More warriors, more priests, more smiths to make weapons."

"Then when should we introduce these inventions? How long should we wait?" asked Sif. Unlike her warrior counterpart in Marvel here she was the goddess of crops, wheat and the earth so she was very interested in the knowledge that increases soil fertility.

She was also super-hot with her long blond hair and well-endowed curves and 'Oh Lord' I was tempted to make a move but she's Thor's wife and I do not want to anger him.

'Love and Thunder as they say!'

I couldn't help but sigh. I already had a long discussion with Balder, Odin and Frigga on the topic and truthfully there was no complete right answer except that I knew for sure if they introduced it too early the Norse would get out-populated and out-cultured pretty fast.

"Ideally this should be introduced after the Norse take over Britannia." I said referring back to the discussion we had on which areas the Norse should migrate, conquer and consolidate under their rule.

"As discussed the day before, the island of Britannia has excellent soil and good natural weather cycles to help in farming and it is ideal to defend and to take advantage of the shipbuilding innovations I have provided the Allfather."

"However I know that it will be hard to keep it from them when you know it will save their lives and allow them to prosper so at the earliest it should be introduced in a generation or two once the habit of writing has been spread and the cities with places of learning have been founded in southern Sweden." I said and pointed at the floating map.

I was using the modern names for simplicity sake. That and it was easier on the maps.

"Our people are headstrong and stubborn. It will take a long time before they can all read and write." Njord added. I liked Njord, he was a water deity like myself and he was teaching me quite a few things.

"Right again Njord however not all of the Norse are required to have those skills. Just enough that there is a consistently large enough population who can in the cities." I responded.

"Writing helps in so many ways not only in transmitting knowledge from one person to another and from one generation to the next." I continued. "That is only the practical aspect of it. Writing creates history, culture as your people pass on their stories and traditions they bond together. Writing standardizes language and a common language leads to common culture which leads to a united people."

"And what do I say about being united?" I say beckoning the 'class' to answer. I immediately saw some rolling their eyes not only Loki, Skadi and Njord as well. I've been trying to drill this in them so they can drill it into their Norse followers as well.

"Common, you can do it." I egged them on a bit more before they said it in unison.

"United we stand divided we fall!" The godly voices reverberated in the room.

"Excellent, the Norse are not a numerous people and it will be a long time before they are so you must try to unite all the tribes." I said again.

"Yes 'Lord Unity' we get it!" Loki said sarcastically with a bit of venom.

I only smiled at him which seemed to annoy him further. He was taking my unity ideas a bit personally since you know…in the 'future', which hopefully will not happen, he is the one that divides his family just so he can play king.

"The Allfather and Balder will travel the lands as teachers and wise men to spread the knowledge and to help with the cities. It shouldn't take too long…especially if Mr. Silver-tongued there joins them." I said putting Loki on the spot.

The trickster and jealous little brother rolled his eyes. "I shall do my duty as I promised to mother." He said and sulked back further into his chair.

"Very well overall I estimated about 50 to 75 years, tops. That shouldn't be too long for deities such as yourselves." I finished firmly.

I looked around the 'class' and that answer seemed to satisfy them.

"Now then, let's talk about selective breeding. A process that both mortals and gods do though they haven't realized it yet. Done right it can create stronger animals and sturdier plants and technically everyone can do it with just a little bit of sense and dedication…no other skills needed."

Scene Break

I tasted salt as the droplets of sea water landed on my lips. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliff were soothing and I could feel their pull on me, calling me to join in the vast expanse that was the North Sea.

Water is good.

Water is soothing.

Water is life.

What can I say, water affinity.

In the Xenaverse the pull was strong and joyful singing to my ever cell still and as much as I would like to join Njord now was not the time.

I needed to concentrate, to focus. I was at the edge of the small cliff with my hands extended forwards and upwards pouring my 'essence' into the water and the air itself.

"Good, good. That's it!" Odin said. "You are already the master of water use your natural instincts. Water is not only in the sea but above it in the air as well. Feel through it…through your connection feel the energy." He continued in his calm yet powerful voice.

It's my third week with the Asgardians here. I had made the mistake of showing Odin and his family the MCU Asgardians and it was quite obvious to me that he became 'obsessed' with how well the 'Realm Eternal' looked on screen.

And for good reason too, his Asgard was pretty shabby in comparison. Loki was completely taken with his counterpart and Thor only commented that the other Mjolnir was short but could see the benefits on the upswing.

Balder was once again dejected when I told him that as far as I could tell he didn't even exist in that reality.

Between his supposed death in this reality and the non-existence in the MCU it seems to me that Balder will be the biggest advocate of writing among the Norse.

'He seems hell bent on not being forgotten out of history.'

That was about two weeks ago. So of course Odin insisted I stay longer to further iron out the plan and to further educate the Norse gods on what their roles should be and how to best use the inventions and knowledge I brought over.

'Just a few more days…to make sure we looked at all the possibilities.' He would say and withheld my payment.

Which of course made me upset so I renegotiated, I wasn't going to do all this extra work for free. In exchange I asked him to teach me how control the Storm.

At first he tried to pawn me off to Thor but that went as well as you could expect it. Thor's teaching was along the lines of 'You're the god you command the thunder and it listens.' And then proceeded to try to fry me with lightning bolts from above.

'Ok, buddy not everyone is a natural like you.' Still his advice did have some merit. Can't be a pussy if you're going to wrestle Mother Nature herself.

Generating lightning from myself and manipulating nature to rain death from above are two completely different beasts. At least my lessons with Balder on healing and light manipulation were a lot easier. Me and Balder were getting along very well, the same with Njord, and I was going to be very sad to leave them.

Balder was also very helpful and after some nagging from both of us Odin got off his golden throne and started teaching me himself.

"Feel the energy, its movement, how it wants to travel from where there is more to where there is less." Odin continued.

My eyes were closed but I sensed the wind pick up in response to my breath, to my extension of consciousness.

"Gather the droplets in the air raise them high, do not let them disperse."

Following the Allfather's instructions I could feel the energy gathering above, not only from what I was pouring in but from all around as well. At first a trickle, then a stream until it widened into a torrent.

"Excellent, raise it higher, whisper to it, excite it." He said almost joyously.

I took a deep breath and steadily let it out while 'pushing' harder. "That's it, keep going! The top will get colder, drier, the droplets will crystalize in ice, and the bottom will be heavier, warmer and wet. Feel the tension between the two." He continued with a spark in his voice. "Let it build until it cannot build anymore."

I could feel the strain, as if I was holding a great weight above, the sky itself. A pressure from the energy, wild nature gathering all around, my own consciousness keeping it together yet separate, letting it build.

As I let out the last bit of air in my lungs I felt it and heard it. At first it was small and then grew in strength with each reverberation.

A deep rumbling from above…thunder growling.

I open my eyes and as far I could see dark clouds blanketed the sky. Streaks of light that grew in intensity and frequency burst between the dark fluffy pillows high above.

"Good, very good, a very wonderful sound!" Odin said and I could feel his smile.

Rain fell that grew in size and intensity with each drop.

"We are almost there. There is just one more part." He said and this time I could feel his excitement.

Suddenly he put his hand on my shoulder and a shock ran through me. A sensation like no other. It was electric, lightning coursed through my veins right into my soul.

One moment I was on the ground looking at the sky the next I was the looking at the sea from the sky. My consciousness was widened.

On the ground due to the difference in speed we first see the lightning and then hear the thunder. But here it was all the same.

I couldn't just feel the energy around me, the tension, I was the energy.

I was every single water droplet, the spark in them and between. I felt the power, the fury, the THUNDER!

I WAS THE STORM!

And I was BURSTING! "…Focus." I heard Odin's voice. "…gather the power, create the tension…create the path."

This power was intoxicating, overwhelming. I needed to unleash. I felt my connection to the sea calling me. I used it to direct the energy-

'KRAABOOM!'

'Sweet release' then darkness.

I felt at peace, light as if I was floating. I felt warmth hit my forehead and as I opened my eyes I saw the rays of sun peeking through dark but broken up clouds.

I also realized I was floating in the now much calmer sea.

As I stood on the water I saw Odin walk towards me from the shore and I walked towards him.

"Very well done Darrow." He said with a big smile.

"That was a mighty storm you gathered, quite the build up!" he continued cheerfully.

"What happened? I was up there and now I'm here." I was still a bit disoriented on the whole process.

"Ah, you see you got a bit over excited and unleashed it 'ALL' in one shot. A mighty shot of course!" He said clasping my shoulder.

"Not to worry, it's a completely normal phenomenon for a Young and Growing God." He said patting my shoulder reassuringly. "It will only get better with experience." And gave me a wink.

I wanted to say something but my mouth just hung open.

'Did he just compare it to what I think he did?'

I decided not to say anything and just nodded.

Scene Break

I had done all I could for the Asgardians and the Norse and it was time to leave. It was all up to them now to implement the plan.

While Odin's plans were ambitious, he really wanted to turn this Asgard into a closer version of the 'Realm Eternal' in the MCU, personally I would consider it a success if they manage to implement the first step.

Imprinting on the Norse a culture of writing, creating some early cities and centers of learning while stream lining the Asgardian stories should help and prevent them from the onslaught that the cult of 'Eli' will become.

Hopefully it will be enough to prevent conversion and their sad Ragnarock.

The rest unification, conquering Britain and taking advantage of the knowledge I provided and eventually moving to conquer USA was really just icing on the cake.

Odin upheld his end of the bargain and I had my tree saplings and apples. Overall I was happy.

"It will be some time before I will come back. I wish you well." I said to Balder. I was closest to him and Njord, though Thor had started to grow on me as well.

"I wish you well as well Darrow. You have taught us much." He said sincerely.

"And you as well my friend." I responded and brought him into a bro hug. "Always watch your back."

"Farewell everyone! ARTY jump to set reality Harry Potter." I said abruptly and disappeared.

Scene Break

Year 6, Day 362: Harry Potter Universe, August 1995

The moment I appeared in my office I heard a voice which could only be Cato. He was the only one allowed to access my office when 'I' was not 'available'. Well Binny and the other elves could as well but no one else.

Not Nick, not Claire and not Andreas. The instructions were clear and the appropriate protections were in place. This was needed as my manor had evolved to become both training ground and office space as their responsibilities evolved.

"You're here. Good."

"Cato! Good to see you too. It's only been two weeks since I popped back to check on things. I thought you were visiting your grandson in Norway this week?"

"I was until Binny contacted me four days ago. There's been an attack." He said firmly yet neutrally.

I frowned my brows in concentration.

"An attack? On who?" Cato didn't answer right away only taking a half second pause then said:

"On House Miercuri of course."

Well that certainly killed my mood.

AN:

Thank you for reading.

How do you all envision the Norse in the Xeneverse evolving?