I gasped, colors and lights surrounding me, engulfing me completely. I felt weightless and blind, unable to hold on to anything that would keep me grounded to the earth. Finally, my vision cleared and everything came into focus-a glittering rainbow bridge leading to a white palace and villageis what I saw. "Asgard," I breathed and set foot on the bridge, which had a huge scar in one place, as if someone tore it in half.
"I have been expecting you, Marisol Rose Rogers." I whirled around to face a tall, dark-skinned man with a strange-looking helmet. I recognized him immeadtely.
"Heimdall," I greeted him, hoping he wouldn't send me home.
"Welcome to Asgard. I do not think King Odin would appreciate your visit, but I will acompany you to the end of the Bridge." We walked in silence for the rest of the walk, until we reached land.
A few guards regarded me reluctantly, and people surrounding the street and village watched me curiously. "Is she mortal?" I heard a young boy ask his mother. The Asgardians paid no attention to them as they escorted me to the palace.
Once inside the palace, I glanced at everything in amazement. Asgard was beautiful. Asgard, I'm in Asgard. I thought giddily. I'm going to meet my father. Asgard, Father. I restrained a grin.
Finally we entered what could only be the main hall, or the throne room. At the end of the hall, sitting on large thrones werea white-haired, one-eyed, proud-looking man-Odin Allfather. Aside him was a woman with gold-braided hair and a delicate tiara on her head-Freya. And, in the last throne, who I saw next to her made my breath cut short.
Thor.
Thor, my father. My father, Thor.
I widened my blue eyes, which were identical to his. I stayed my eyes locked on his for a few moments, glad to see the recognizion in his eyes.
The guard behind me kicked the back of my knee. I whirled around to frown at him and he hissed, "Kneel!"
I quickly knelt on one knee at the steps to the platform with the thrones, looking down at my feet.
"Why have you come, Midgardian?" Odin's voice was powerful and there was no questioning the authority surrounding him.
I cleared my throat before looking up at him. "Allfather, your Majesty," I started, bowing slightly. "My name is Marisol Rose Rogers." I saw disbelief upon Thor and Freya's faces, but no change in Odin's. "I am the daughter of Thor. I come to visit him." And take him home with me, I added mentally.
Suddemly Thor jumped up. Looking at Odin for approval, my father walked down the steps, the smile I only had seen in pictures on his face. I stood numbly, feeling his strong arms, stronger than Dad's, wrap around me, lifting me off the ground. "Marisol...my Rose..." He murmured into my hair. "I cannot believe you are here..."
I buried myself in his arms and chest, memorizing every detail of him, feeling so secure, so comfortable and welcome. I felt...happy. Happier than I had in a while. I felt as if I could finally give Dad, Steve, what he wanted most-Thor, my Father. I was overwhelmed with all of this-I'l admit I shed a few tears. Finally he let go, but kept me hand. "Marisol..." he touched my face lovingly.
"Oh, child!" Freya came towards me, hugging me fiercely. "All the stories I have heard of you from Thor and Heimdall...Oh, how you have grown! You are so beautiful, just like your mother..." Freya stopped, glancing at Thor in apology. "I mean to say, you are much beautiful than her!" He continued, fussing about my hair and how tall I was, asking if I had a boyfriend...So this is what having a grandmother feels like, I thought. I must say...I like it.
Odin stayed back, watching me with a slight disapproving look. "Hello, Grandchild. Welcome to Asgard."
My heart sunk. I had hoped for a more loving Gradfather, like Freya.
"Allow me to show you the kingdom," Thor boomed, glaring to his father in warning. Just as we left the Grand Hall, four Asgardians stopped us.
"Thor, what are these rumors we've heard of? A mortal has been let on Asgard?" The woman with long black hair frowned at me, followed by the three men.
"Sif, this is Marisol Rose, daughter of Thor. And she's only part mortal." Thor smirked at them.
"Your daugther? Is this her?" The one with a bushy beard gasped. "I am Volstagg-"
"Marisol, this is Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun." Thor smiled down at me.
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you at last," The Warriors all said as one, patting me shoulder or shaking my hand. Sif eyed me reluctantly.
"She is Jane's child, yes? The one who you risked your life for heartbreak? You were foolish to fall in love with a mortal-though, I approve of the Captain-you know Allfather wwill not be happy..." Sif hissed at Thor.
"I will not have any of your disapproving, Lady Sif. She is my daughter and you will treat her just as a fellow Asgardian." Father said, firm.
Sif pursed her lips and nodded at me, then aburptly left.
"She is merely jealous. She was meant to marry Thor and was left for a mortal-it was such ainsult to her when you were born and Jane left Thor. She will come around, do not worry." Fandral smiled and winked at me.
Thor cleared his throat loudly. "Alright, then. We best be going." Father pulled me along to a garden. I yelled a goodbye to the Warriors Three.
For hours after that, Father and I walked along the forest and the gardens, just talking and getting to know each other. It was the first time we had seen each ther in 15 years-I had to get to know him.
"You still have the bracelet," Father smiled at me. "It was Asgardian magic in it. Have you found your ability?"
I smiled at him and concentrated. Soon, the amazing blade was with us. Father laughed and touched the blade tenderly. "Her name is Orion. After the star you see form Midgard. It was the star I first saw when you were born." He smiled at the memory.
I put the blade away and hugged him again. "Thank you, Father," I murmured into his chest.
After another hour, he took me, reluctantly, to the Prison Chambers where Loki was imprisoned.
I watched my uncle through the mist-like but solid surface. He looked so much more different than I imagined. His skin was a dark blue with swirls of raised, lighter blue lines everywhere. He was shirtless and his eyes were closed-when he opened them, I saw that they were a deep, bloodred. I reached out to touch the cage, but recoiled when I felt my fingers go numb instantly. Why were they keeping him in such cold? Still holding Father's hand, I tried talking to him.
"Loki...Hello. My name is Marisol Rose, I'm your...niece. Thor's my father," I said awkwardly. Father stayed silent as Loki narrowed his eyes at the word "niece". I frowned and looked closer. He closed his eyes and turned his head away.
I stayed frozen in place. The glare Loki gave me was anger, complete anger, as if he were telling me, I would never even dream of being related to you. You are not my niece. I do not want you to be my niece.
"Loki..." I tried again, and wondered why he wasn't speaking, until I noticed with a jolt; his mouth was sewn shut."Oh," I said in a small voice.
Fianlly Father spoke. "Marsiol, Loki was not always like this Whe we were younger, Loki treated me like the brother I was to him." At this, Loki turned his head back and glared at Thor. "He had pale skin, green eyes and black hair as he does now. The cold of his prison keeps him in his Jotun form. He is a Frost Giant." He explained.
I felt horribly sad at Father's loss of his brother-I can't imagine what it'd be like, losing someone to close to you, your brother and your best friend...I tried to imagine what it's be like to lose Chris in the worst way possible-to have him try to kill me and forget all our memories and waste away everything we had. I found I coudn't bear to think of anything like that.
After another long glance at my imprisoned uncle, Father and I walked into another garden, hand in hand.
"Father," I started softly, "Why haven't you come to Earth...Midgard, I mean, to visit Dad? Or me? For 15 years..."
Father sighed. "I apologize, Marisol, I hoped I would get a chance to see you...You have grown so much..." I smield at that. "And I counted the days the Allfather would allow me to return to Midgard and rejoice with Steven. I love your father, Marisol-tell him I miss him and I will come back. My promise is fully intact. I regret staying in Asgard for so long. 15 of your Midgardian years I have not seen my love, nor you, and I wanted him...Needed him..." I looked at Father, more determined than ever to bring him back.
"Father...Thor... Can-will you come to Earth...Midgard...with me when I leave?" I asked him hopefully. "We can go home, you and me, to Steve, to my dad, you can rejoin the Avengers, you can come home..." I pleaded. I wasn't planning on taking no for an answer.
I watched eagerly as Father's eyes brightened with hope, excitement, joy. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words never came. Instead, Odin's voice, loud, fierce and powerful:
"Thor will not be leaving Asgard anytime soon. And you will not be returning anytime soon."
I opened my mouth to yell at my grandfather, but I was suddenly captured with the swirling colors again with a wave of his hand.
