I'm not finished writing this arc, but I wanted to publish something on the anniversary of when PNG first started.
MojoWorld Season 2: Part One
"The Great Hunt"
MojoWorld, The Great Hunt
Apollo doesn't know exactly where he is.
He's standing in the middle of a forest on a sunny day. Everywhere he looks, there are trees that go up to the sky and dirt and grass at his feet. Birds chirp and the wind whistles past him, but nothing is as loud or as fast as his heartbeat.
A well crafted environment, if anyone asked.
When he looks down at himself, he's dressed in all camouflage with a vest and cargo pants with sturdy boots. His axe is in his hand. He looks at his reflection in the blade and sees his face covered in smudges of army-green face paint. His blue eyes pop so much that they nearly startle him.
A speaker crackles above him. He raises his axe and wields it over his back, ready to strike.
"Prince Apollo of Asgard, Welcome to The Great Hunt!"
-o-
Producer: So, Prince-
Apollo: Please, just Apollo.
Producer: As you wish. So, Apollo, now that we're filming our holiday special, tell our viewers your original pitch idea. Give them some context.
Apollo: My mother suggested that I take a break from my devising a plan to escape fate. She suggested that I do something that I don't even have to think about like watching some television. So I thought I would do one better and be on television.
[Apollo waves and mouths 'Hi Mom' at the camera]
Producer: And your pitch?
Apollo: Right, right. While growing up on Midgard, I always had a fascination for watching those hunting shows. You know, the ones that would be rerunning in the middle of the night?
Producer: No, not really.
Apollo: I always tried to watch some before Britney would wake up and watch some reality trash. Anyways, it's where this usually big and burly bearded guy is out in the wilderness with his weapon, trekking forbidden paths looking for a prime animal or monster if you're Asgardian like me. Now you get it?
Producer: … sure?
Apollo: So I pitched that concept except starring yours truly. But where's the fun in doing this all alone? This is The Great Hunt after all.
-o-
MojoWorld, The Great Hunt
Apollo was trekking through the woods but changed his path when he started hearing running water. A river always leads somewhere. Once he approaches a calm and narrow stream, he crouches. He sniffs the air, catching whiffs of fresh water and grass, nothing of use.
Sweat trickles down his temple and he can taste the metallic paint on his face. Apollo peers ahead, squinting his eyes as he grips his axe. The trees blur together like lines, swaying amongst themselves.
He doesn't hear anything. He senses it. Something's out there.
Apollo smiles as he leaps over the river and runs into another section of the forest. He raises his weapon but lowers it when he sees Iqadi crouched on the ground ready to attack him with her claws. They stand down.
They pause, looking at each other's matching camouflage ensembles.
"Didn't think you'd be here so soon," Apollo greets.
"What is this?" Iqadi asks him rushed. "I never agreed to be a part of this ... whatever we are in. I awoke in the woods, dressed the same as you with war paint on my face."
The speakers crackle again. Apollo looks up but Iqadi opens her hands and her Panther claws extend again.
"Princess Iqadi of Wakanda, Welcome to The Great Hunt!"
Apollo looks at Iqadi, watching her. Her lips purse into a circle as the rest of her face relaxes. Her frown becomes stoic. He knows the gears in her head are turning: she's in an unfamiliar place in new clothes but still has her claws. She's with Apollo who is dressed similarly enough but he has his axe and seems to have some idea of the situation.
Then, Iqadi grins, licking her bottom lip as she exhales a laugh. She twists her hair into a bun and rolls her shoulders back.
"I do love a good hunt," she tells him.
-o-
Producer: So, why the Princess of Wakanda?
Apollo: I knew Iqadi would love it here. We were catching up recently while our friend James was in the hospital and mostly talking about the royal crap we both have to do.
Producer: What do you mean by 'royal crap?'
Iqadi: The little things we do for our kingdoms to ensure longevity. For instance, I did need a break from 'royal crap.' My husband is now in charge of restoring and managing the mines and finding a place in New York for us since I'll be helping the team out more. Also, the question of the heir.
[Apollo laughs a bit]
Iqadi: You already got asked, didn't you? Well, I'll have you all know that regularly scheduled sex can still be fun … sometimes. Conceiving is difficult and I have to take tests to see if I'm ovulating. Imanu knows my schedule. So, Apollo, how soon after your engagement did you get the heir questions?
Apollo: Immediately after.
[Iqadi glances at the Producer]
Iqadi: See?
Apollo: They asked me if I proposed because she was already pregnant.
[Iqadi laughs]
Apollo: For the record, she's not. Don't start any rumours, Asgard.
Iqadi: And for the record, my latest pregnancy test was negative.
-o-
MojoWorld, The Great Hunt
"Were you at home?" Apollo asks as he and Iqadi continue walking through the forest.
"Looking at a place in New York," Iqadi responds. "There's a condo where we would be close neighbours with Stark."
"Not bad."
"So what's the point of this?" Iqadi points up to refer to the forest. "What or who are we hunting?" She grins excitedly when Apollo shrugs. "Even better."
They pause their walk when they see an explosion in the sky up ahead. Apollo swings his axe as Iqadi summons the winds and they fly over together.
They land beside each other and it's quiet except for a ticking sound. Apollo and Iqadi glance at each other for a second before an explosion in the foliage beside them knocks them over. Tree branches fall and they dive out of the way. They're barely steady on their feet when metal projectiles spin and fire at them from every direction. An arrow sticking out of the ground with multiple rods sticking out of its shaft spins around and shoots spikes at them.
Iqadi throws herself to the ground, covering her head as Apollo crouches on top of her. She looks up at the sky and her eyes whiten. Apollo holds up his axe and joins her in calling lightning. The ground around them cracks as lightning sparks around them.
When their storm stops, a pink and puffy spongy substance lands on them. Iqadi shudders as she tries to pick it off of her while Apollo licks it to taste. He gags since it doesn't taste like bubble gum.
They look up and see Merida jumping out of a tree. She lands in a bush and rolls out, pointing a loaded bow at them in a crouched position. When they see that it's her in similar camouflage, she lowers her weapon and stands. Apollo helps Iqadi up and she finishes removing all the pink putty from herself, even removing some from Apollo's hair.
"Okay, good, you're here too," Merida states. "Is everyone else coming here or being dropped here?"
"No, just us," Apollo states.
"What? How do you know that?"
"Half a Present Romance reunion!" Iqadi exclaims.
Merida groans. "Oh, son of a—this looks like Camp. Where's Xavier?"
"Mojo couldn't get him on board," Apollo explains. "Something about Hela owning him because he's married to Sigyn and she owns Sigyn. Mojo's terrified of Hela but he said he would try to work a deal with her, whatever that means."
Iqadi nods. "Owns him by association through marrying Sigyn. Makes perfect sense."
"That makes zero sense." Merida shakes her head, holding her hand up to stop them from talking since too much information was told to her at once. "Wait, who?"
"Hela?" Apollo asks.
"No, the other guy you said."
"Mojo?"
Merida stares at him, blinks, and screams. "This is MojoWorld?!"
Apollo cheers. "Welcome back! I loved your episode, by the way. Sigyn and I were making bets on it when we saw it for the first time."
"Agent Merida Barton, Welcome to The Great Hunt!"
Merida screams again, staring up at the trees and the sky so she can crane her neck all the way back. "Good god, why are we here?!"
-o-
Merida: This is like a stupid debriefing.
Producer: So, why Merida, out of all the people and beings in all the realms?
Merida: The *bleep* is that supposed to mean? I'm right here.
[Merida turns to face Apollo, eyebrows now raised in curiosity]
Merida: Do enlighten me, Apollo.
Apollo: Cause you're my friend and didn't mention that you were on Mojo's most viewed episode of MojoWorld. You know how much I enjoy this show.
Merida: You never mentioned Mojo once in all the time that I've known you.
Apollo: Maybe I might've if you mentioned you were on his show.
[Merida rolls her eyes]
Merida: I thought we killed Mojo.
[Apollo gasps, nearly shrieking]
Apollo: Merida! How could you?
[Merida shrugs]
Merida: There was this thing he did called kidnapping me and Daniel, drugging him, and forcing us to fight to the death against other aliens in his gladiator wrestling ring.
Apollo: I know what happened. I watched the episode.
Merida: Oh my god—
Producer: We might have to cut that part out for ethical reasons. But just to let you know, Mojo wasn't dead but merely injured. Nothing a few repairs couldn't fix. He went on hiatus for a bit for rehabilitation but now he's back with a bang and with an Asgardian with his friends.
Merida: … prep your space lawyers.
