Chapter 5 - Stars and Realms
Asgard, the Realm Eternal
Two weeks have now passed since Thor's banishment and Balder was not content. Since Odin was in the Odinsleep, replenishing the Odinforce, Balder stayed as the King-In-Place. Balder The Brave did not like the idea that he could not bring Thor back and undo Odin's banishment. It was not permitted for the current King to undo the previous King's law. Balder was sitting on the golden throne of Asgard. His silver armor contrasted against the throne's golden color.
"Lord Balder, lord Balder!" Herokin the Barbarian said, the leader of the Einherjar, fallen warriors worthy enough to be brought to Asgard by the Valkeryes and to sit beside Odin in the great halls of Valhalla.
"What is it, strong Herokin?" Balder responded in a worried tone.
"It's Utgard-Loki King of the Front Giants and Malekith King of the Dark Elves! They ask to have a colloquy with thee, Golden One." Herokin said.
"Those fiends, what they want?" Balder said as he stood up and walked towards out of the throne room.
The God of Light walked to Asgard's outer wall and glanced down towards Asgard's outskirts. He saw two of Asgard's enemies, The Dark Elf and The Frost Giant Monarchs.
"Balder Odinson! It is good to see thee oh mighty king of Asgard." Malekith said with mock in his voice.
"I see that Loki took no time in informing thee of Asgard's current situation." Balder knowingly said.
"Indeed, puny god, it would take mere hours for Asgard to fall without Odin or Thor to protect it!" Utgard-Loki said aggressively.
"I don't think so, you mad giant. Asgard is home to warrior gods and no giant army would make us fall." Balder answered with pride in his voice.
"Now let's not get low-minded now. Balder, we have come here to ask thee for a preposition." Malekith said.
"What kind of preposition one as dark as thyself would want from Balder, the Golden Son of Odin?" Balder said.
"Loki wants to rule Asgard correct?" Malekith said.
"Indeed." Balder responded.
"If thy open thy borders and agreed to unite Asgard with Jotunheim and Álfheimr we shall deny Loki's request and protect Asgard from Loki's forces." Malekith slyly said.
"Art my ears hearing correctly? Thou must be mad if thou think that Asgard would mix with thy evils. I say thee nay to thee Malekith and Utgard-Loki. Bring all thy forces, with Loki. It makes no difference. Asgard will never fall for we are gods, and the gods crush all!" Balder fiercely and proudly yelled.
"You will regret that, oh Golden One. Come Utgard, we have things to do." Malekith said with a deeper voice.
"Yeah, you will regret that decision, puny god." Utgard-Loki said as he left Asgard along with the dark elf king.
Balder breathed a heavy breath, he wondered if his decision had been a wise one. 'What would have Odin done?' Balder wondered. If only Thor were here, he would help Balder, but he knew that the duty of protecting their father's kingdom had fallen onto him. Balder The Brave would lead Asgard into war.
Republic City, Midgard
Two weeks had past and Thor was still unworthy of lifting his mallet, Mjolnir. His divinity was still locked away from him, but he was well accompanied. The mortals of Midgard proved to be decent, Thor could not ask for more. Today he would watch Korra's Pro-Bending Training, to see how they used their gifts that the gods' had bestowed upon them.
Korra kicked Bolin with a water whip which was blocked by one of Bolin's earth disks. Great coordination was used within them, Thor was impressed, when it came on sparring with Mako, Korra did not do well. She seemed to be too aggressive and not as smooth as she was when she sparred with Bolin. Every attack that Korra unleashed was easily avoided and countered by Mako.
"You better step your game up, Korra. The final is tomorrow night and we need to be in top shape if we want to beat the Wolfbats." Mako madly said.
"I know that, you don't need to be telling me that all the fricking time!" Korra yelled at him.
"Then you better do what I say, or else we'll lose." Mako said in a aggravated voice.
Mako left with Bolin to clean up, leaving a mad Korra sitting on the floor and a confused Thor sitting on a nearby bench.
"Why do you let him scream to thee?" Thor truthfully asked.
"He's my captain, he is supposed to do that, but power has gone to his head." Korra said, she knew that there was another reason but she decided to not tell Thor.
"He reminds me of someone." Thor said as he looked at the floor, remembering of what got him here in the first place, his arrogance.
"Of who?" Korra asked.
"I never really told you why I was banished from Asgard and stripped from my divinity did I?" Thor said.
"No, you didn't." Korra curiously responded.
"My father, Odin, exiled me for a reason. My arrogance, cockiness and hot-temper were not deemed worthy of the son of Asgard and son of Odin. My own power went to my head, and I was banished, to probably to stay here forever." Thor said, with a somber voice.
"Maybe there is something that Odin wants to tell you." Korra said.
"Probably, father was notorious for his riddles." Thor said, with his smile returning to his face.
"Hey you wanna spar?" Korra asked.
"Me? It would be hardly fair." Thor said.
"Oh yeah? Well, show me." Korra taunted.
Thor stood up from the wooden bench he sat on and walked towards the training arena, he took an Asgardian warrior's stance.
"I have to let you know that I am not only the God of Thunder and Lightning but of Strength too." Thor said with a smirk in his lips.
"We'll see." Korra said back.
They began to bend the elements around them; Thor didn't use his air manipulation to give Korra a chance. Thor felt the heat of the fire, the force of the rock and cool whip of water hitting his mortal body, a feeling that he had never understood. They began to close on each other, avoiding their moves attacks adroitly. Then it culminated in close quarters battle. Thor, because of his bigger size would easily over-power Korra's smaller frame, but something happened. Korra saw that since Thor was taller, she could trip him over using his own legs. She went for the hit Thor's knees and made him fall on his back, she quickly jumped on him and pinned him.
"Impossible." Thor said; with a surprise look that made his water colored eyes open wide.
"Looks like I just defeated a god in battle." Korra said smiling.
A minute passed and Korra didn't move, she was still looking at Thor's eyes.
"Thou art not moving." Thor said, smirking.
"What? Oh!" Korra said once she realized that she still had Thor pinned for over two minutes.
"Sorry." Korra said with a warm sensation on her cheeks.
"It is of no consequence, Avatar." Thor said as he stood up. "But my pride will be hurting for a couple of days," Thor jokingly said.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Korra said as she punched his bigger arm.
They both left the Arena and headed back towards the island.
Air Temple Island
Thor lay on the grass, outside of the temple, looking at the stars. He still wondered what had happened in Asgard since he left. Thor looked to his right; he saw the airbending training grounds, or what was left of it, where his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, was still unclaimed, untouched, unmoved. He sighted.
"Hey, any room for one more?" a voice came from behind him.
Thor moved his head to see, but he already recognized the voice.
"Avatar, what art thou doing out here? I thought that thou wanted to rest." Thor said.
"Well, I can rest out here can't I?" Korra responded.
"Very well." Thor said smiling.
"What are you looking at?" Korra asked as she laid herself next to Thor on top of the grass.
"I am looking at the stars, waiting for one of them to give me a signal, to point to me to the right direction." Thor said.
"Oh, still thinking of Asgard?" Korra asked.
"Aye, it is my home. I keep worrying; with father on the Odinsleep and Balder as king I am worried that my brother will make his plan true." Thor said.
"I'm sure that Balder will do a great job, besides he is your blood brother." Korra said.
"I suppose you are right." Thor answered.
"Thor, can I ask you something?" Korra said.
"Of course you can Korra." Thor said.
"Have you ever...liked someone?" Korra asked.
"Yes I like all of my friends, including all of my new found friends here on Midgard." Thor said.
"No, I mean as like like." Korra said, clarifying her question.
"Oh, well yes, once, but that was a long time ago." Thor responded. "Is this about Mako?"
"How?" Korra asked.
"I noticed, and the reason that his brother told me." Thor responded.
"Bolin…" Korra said madly.
"If he truly liked you the same way he would reveal his true feelings to you instead of hiding them and going off with another. A real man would not do that; someone with honor would not do that. I would not do that." Thor said as he stood up and walked back to the temple.
Korra stood up and was thinking of Thor's response, until she noticed on what Thor was saying.
Undisclosed Location
The room was dark and gloomy. Only a desk and a lamp light illuminated the area. A man with a mask sat on the desk plotting and scheming, he was writing on a piece of paper until…
"Amon." A voice called the man's name.
"You are back." Amon said.
"Indeed I am, and I brought a gift." The mist said as it took shape.
The mist took shape, the shape of Loki, God of Mischief and Fire.
"What kind of gift would someone as you that comes from the high above, give to me?" Amon asked.
"A gift that will resolve all of your problems on your battle against the benders of the world, a gift that would defeat my accursed brother if he ever got his powers back." Loki said.
"What is this gift that would vanquish all of the world's benders and a god?" Amon asked attentively.
"An armor made by Odin himself, blessed by the Odinpower, to fight Celestial beings. An armor that cannot be broken, an armor that will champion thy cause and squash the God of Thunder…" Loki continued.
"…The Destroyer."