Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one
Well, it was a close call, but I did promise
Happy New Years everybody
No one guessed the mystery person, so I suppose you will all be surprised
Though the number of people who choose Frigga have caused me to think
about how I could work the Queen of Asgard into the story
And now, on to . . .
Part Nine
When the light from the bifrost faded, an entire war party hovered behind Thor. Under different circumstances, it would have looked quite picturesque. Handsome men sat behind Valkyries mounted on pure white pegasi, the winged steads flying high above the dark blue water. Their gold and silver armor gleaming as it reflected the suns rays, the city of New York shining in the background. Loki however, was not impressed, not at all.
"Please brother," Thor entreated the younger one last time, holding his companions back with a gesture. "I do not wish to hurt you."
The god of mischief resisted the urge to sneer in response to his brother's words. Didn't wish to hurt him? Did that dolt truly think that the fate of his children, that the Allfather's intentions towards this child did not hurt him? After a moments thought Loki decided that yes, he probably did.
To Thor, and the rest of Asgard, his offspring were not people. They had never bothered to look beyond his children's physical appearances. Well, he would let them know just what he thought of that. The sorcerer answered the other's plea, not with words, but with a brilliant bolt of offensive magic.
Not aimed at Thor though. Loki knew better than to think a single attack, no matter how powerful, would put the his brother down, and he wasn't about to waste the moment of surprise. The bolt shrieked past the god of thunder, hitting the lead pegasus and sending its riders tumbling into the sea.
Loki didn't know if they were dead, unconscious (soon to be drowned), or just down. Frankly, he didn't care; all that mattered was that they were out of the fight. It was a good beginning. Unfortunately, the sorcerer's luck didn't last, the tides of the battle quickly beginning to turn.
S.H.I.E.L.D. could have easily repealed an attack from Hydra, Dr. Doom, A.I.M., or even a number of super villains acting in concert. But these were not empowered mortals, these were gods. Each of them an elite member of Asgard's defense, chosen personally by the Allfather.
Hassen was one of the first to go down, an arrow through his shoulder. Not that that stopped him, he simply switched his gun to his off hand and kept firing. A look of frustration crossing his face as the energy beams bounced off enchanted armor.
The Avenger's were doing better, able to meet the Aesir on more even ground, and accustomed to fighting alongside Thor. However, they were outnumbered. It was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed, and all present knew it. Biting his lower lip, Loki strengthened his shield. He had not expected Odin to send such a large force.
Rumors aside, Loki was no coward. But at this point, it might be in everyone's best interest if he ran. Once he and Ariana were gone, Thor would have no reason to continue his assault. And speaking of his brother . . .
"It doesn't have to be this way Loki!" the god of thunder threw another agent aside, careful not to harm him too badly. Inwardly wincing at the fact he knew his companions would not be so gentle. "You can stop this." Was his brother truly so selfish that he would allow these brave men to die for the sake of his monstrous spawn?
The younger Odinson prepared a blazing retort, only to pause, mouth half open as he stared past his brother. Was that? It was, he thought with dawning wonder. It was. Loki couldn't stop the glee from bubbling up inside him as he smiled. "Perhaps," he told Thor. "You should not take it up with me," he pointed down at the water. "But with him."
On cue, the world serpent burst from the water, his ginormous coils encircling the pegasi who whinnied with terror, hooves helplessly pawing the air. "Jormungandr!" no one was certain quite who said it, but there is no denying the affect his appearance had on the Aesir.
It seemed the Asgardian soldiers had forgotten about Ariana entirely, more concerned about saving their own skins. They hacked at the serpent with their enchanted weapons to no avail. Jormungandr's hide was impenetrable. The arrows simply shattered on impact.
Thor meanwhile just watched in horror as the men and women under his command fell, one after another. Their aerial advantage quickly becoming a disadvantage as there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. One Valkyrie screamed, lips turning blue from lack of oxygen as the serpent crushed her ribs, before negligently releasing her body to fall helplessly into the water below.
"Loki!" Thor's face was pale under his tan as he beheld the creature who was prophesied to be his death. His fingers clenched so tightly around Mjolnir's handle his knuckles turned white. To the shock of those mortals present, they realized the god of thunder was afraid. "Call that monster off!"
Green eyes flashed with rage. "In case you have forgotten dear brother, that monster is my son," if possible the orbs narrowed further. "And you are threatening his baby sister." It was true that Loki's children did not always get along. What group of siblings did? However, there was one thing they all understood. If they did not protect each other, no one else would.
Eye of the Beholder
Yes, Thor is a douche
Have pretty much decided their will be eleven parts total
Next one will be up soonish. How soon depends on all of you.
I will make a deal 15 reviews and it will be up in a week.