Observatory

Thor arrived last to the Observatory to find Heimdall waiting with Loki, Sif, the Warriors Three, and his mother Frigga. He entered causing all eyes to turn to him, everyone had their battle equipment on and was clearly ready for a fight. Thor approached his mother first "You shouldn't be here" he said looking over the old Asgardian armor and sword which was still in its scabbard on her left hip.

Frigga shook her head "Asgard needs all the warriors it can get this day, and you need your mother out there with you" she replied as she cracked her neck and began to stretch her muscles.

Thor thought to continue arguing when he saw the determination in his mother's eye, sending her away was not going to work and if he left her behind she would find another way to come. "Very well, but please only get involved if you absolutely have too" he requested as his mother stopped stretching and stood to meet his eyes.

"No" she said emphatically without even a hint of raising her voice. "Mangog killed my husband, and I intend to inflict the same level of pain on it that it has inflicted on me and my family" she said as she turned and walked towards where the portal would open.

Thor watched Frigga walk past Loki who turned to watch her as well, Thor could tell that Loki wished to speak with her but chose against it as he once again turned his gaze back to Thor.

Thor went to Heimdall who was standing in the center of the Observatory "What's happening?" he asked so he could figure out the plan.

Heimdall didn't look at Thor as he was clearly focusing on Mangog, "Mangog is close to his destination and will soon jump to Nidavellir if we do not act quickly" explained Heimdall.

Thor thought for a moment "Can you time pulling him through to Svartalfheim with it entering the portal?" Heimdall looked at Thor with confusion, "If it believes it is on its way to Nidavellir it may be less inclined to fight and pull itself here to Asgard" explained Thor as Heimdall thought of the suggestion.

Heimdall nodded "It is worth a shot."

Thor smirked and nodded "Alright send everyone but me to Svartalfheim to wait for my arrival with Mangog and then we will finish this" ordered Thor who got a nod from Heimdall.

"Be aware my King, Svartalfheim is extremely unstable, I do not know how long the planet will last under the circumstances and I am quite sure that the battle between you all and the monster will further deteriorate the planet and hasten its destruction" Heimdall theorized.

"Good to know, and that's a good thing. More likely the planet is to explode the more likely Mangog is destroyed today…one way or another" Thor remarked and he headed off to see the Warriors Three.

Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun were checking their weapons as Thor approached "Good day to die eh?" stated Volstagg as the rest of the group smirked and nodded like a group of people who have accepted that death was probably coming for them and there was nothing to do but spit in its face and fight every inch as it dragged you to Valhalla.

Thor put his hands on the shoulders of both Fandral and Hogun who stood on the outside with Volstagg in the middle. "My friends…" he started not sure on how to proceed. "We have been through so much together, and here we are on the brink of yet another battle that needs fought. So, what say you?"

Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun smiled as the four friends looked up to the sky, closed their eyes and screamed "TO GLORIOUS BATTLE…TO VALHALLA…AND TO RAGNAROK!" The Warriors Three and Thor completed their pre-battle ritual with a hug knowing that they may very well never do this again. The Warriors Three went to join Frigga was finishing her warm up as the group approached.

Thor smiled as the group left and went to see Sif who was simply watching Frigga intently "She should not be coming" she stated simply and coldly. Thor knew that Sif was still upset with him for spurning her advances earlier and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I would rather her not come…but who am I to deny her vengeance?" Sif turned to look at Thor who had a deeply serious look on his face. "I feel that the only thing I know for sure about what is about to happen is that some of us won't be coming home…if me, my mother, and Loki…" Thor paused as his emotions rose up, "If none of us return…you need to become the new Queen of Asgard and lead our people."

Sif's eyes grew large as Thor spoke "I can't possibly" she said.

"You must…Asgard needs a leader and as much as I love the Warriors Three, but none of the three are built to lead and even if they were…you still are the best possible Queen Asgard could ever ask for" explained Thor as he looked at Loki who at this point knew that Thor was getting final moments with everyone and Loki simply decided to wait his turn.

Sif was about to argue when she saw the same determination that Thor had seen in Frigga's eyes, she sighed "Very well, if all three of you fall in battle…I will claim the throne and lead Asgard" she stated getting a smile from Thor who pulled Sif in for a hug.

"Thank you" he whispered as he turned his back to her and started walking to Loki.

Loki rolled his eyes as Thor approached, he hated when his brother would do this before a massive fight was about to break out. Heimdall began prepping the portal to Svartalfheim. Loki was standing apart from the rest of the group and Thor stood next to him as they stared at the others.

They simply stood in silence as Heimdall worked with neither really being sure what to say, Loki flashed back to the last time they stood together before a fight. It was over a year ago now since Loki had spoken to Thor before he entered the arena for the spectacle of the people of Asgard. Loki remembered their brief talk of their helmets, and Loki's horns joke. A part of Loki longed for those simpler days, but they were long gone now.

The portal opened and Frigga led everyone but Loki and Thor through the portal to Svartalfheim. "This isn't probably how you pictured this is it?" asked Loki getting a questioning look from Thor. "The final battle…the battle that ends all battles…the battle where we will most likely perish from either Mangog or a planet exploding." Thor smirked and nodded in understanding "Must have never pictured standing next to me when it all was finished" stated Loki.

"This is how I always pictured it…you and me fighting side by side…great heroes of Asgard…defending it from all manner of monsters and enemies. I always thought we would be on the same side you and I, but obviously things change and we all grow up. I don't know what went wrong with us brother or where or when but I wish I could go back and fix it. I truly mean that…but in the end…I'm me and your you. Our paths diverged somewhere along the way and I accept that" explained Thor as he nodded at Heimdall who still holding the portal to Svartalfheim open.

Loki was stunned as Thor spoke and did not know how to respond "I thought the world of you Loki. Now I need you on Svartalfheim with the others so we can finish this. After it's done I am allowing you to leave Asgard a free man, consider it your reward for standing with us on Alfheim and on Svartalfheim."

Loki was unable to speak as Thor gave him a light shove toward the portal, as Loki stood on the precipice he thought of looking back but didn't dare too, there was no way he could look Thor in the eye. Loki stepped through leaving Thor alone.

Thor took a deep breath as Heimdall realigned the Observatory to Alfheim where they would cut off Mangog and transport it to Svartalfheim. Thor thought everything through in his mind as the portal was about to open. Everything that had happened up to this point had led to him becoming king and facing one of the greatest threats Asgard and the Nine Realms had ever faced, doubt still rung in the back of his mind as Heimdall told him he would open the portal in a moment.

Alfheim

Mangog had reached its destination as it looked to find the unassuming cave that led to Nidavellir. Mangog turned to look at the now quiet and peaceful landscape of Alfheim as it planned to lay waste to Nidavellir. It soon returned its gaze to the cave and entered as it felt the Bifrost envelop its body as its final destiny was approaching.