If I didn't upload this now, then I would've forgotten.
Year Four: The Not-Final Final Exam Part Three
Nine Years Ago - Muspelheim
"And here, within an inhabitable stretch of unbearable heat and fire, lying within the tongues of flames is the home of fire demons and giants," Apollo recounts.
He stands at the edge of their fire-proof canoe, looking outwards. Nothing surrounds them but molten rocks, flames, and soot. He wipes sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He turns around and sees Freya sitting in their canoe. Strands of her long dark locks cling directly to her sweat-coated face. It glistens as much as her sword which sits on her lap. They're both in their armour with their weapons as they traverse the realm they're definitely not allowed to visit.
"I'm aware," Freya responds since she's grown up with these stories told by people in the palace and the Learning Hall, "ruled by the infamous Surt."
"One day, at the end of all the realms, he will set fire to them. One final battle with all the vengeance he can muster."
Freya perks a little. "Do you think that will happen in our lifetime?"
Apollo shrugs. "I do not know. As much as I want to be there, I don't want to watch my homes burn."
Apollo can't name anything he's scared of. He can name things that are scared of him. But there's something deep within him that he can't find the word for that will keep him up at night one of these days.
Freya nods. "Understandable."
Apollo grins as he looks ahead at the realm, squinting his eyes to get a better view. The giants tend to blend into their habitats; that's how creatures so large remain stealthy in their own home.
"I just thought you, of all people, would be keen to fight a fire giant," she says.
Apollo grins. "Oh, I am. That's why we're here. Come and see this."
Freya stands in the canoe and walks over to stand beside Apollo. Perched like him, she looks ahead to see the lava waterfall they're approaching slowing but surrounding them on the banks are sleeping fire giants. Freya's jaw drops and Apollo smiles at her excitement.
"Don't scream," Apollo whispers.
Freya frowns. "I'm not scared. I have a sword."
"I know you're not. I mean don't scream out of thrill."
Freya purses her lips. "Or we could make this fun. I do have a sword and you now have an axe."
Apollo thinks it over before nodding. "Oh, oh I get it now."
Freya smiles before clearing her throat. She cups her hands around her mouth. "Wake up!"
Apollo summons his new axe, a gift from the Norns. Lightning crackles and thunder rumbles as it flies into his hand. His newfound power runs through his veins as he grips the handle.
"Rise and shine, giants!" He yells.
Freya laughs maniacally as the giants stir. They're grouchy as they rise, looming for the source of their awakening. Once some spot their tiny selves in their canoe in the lava stream, they start stomping towards them. The lava stream shakes, increasing its speed and changing its current. Apollo and Freya jolt along with the wave.
"Shall we take a trip down the falls and let them chase us?" Freya suggests.
"Hold on," Apollo responds, taking her hand.
-o-
Present Day - Academy Training Archipelago - 12:16 PM
Not all agents have nerves of steel, especially in mentally unnerving situations. Although they've hurt each other and made many mistakes, they'll always have each other. The special thing about their friendship is that although it hasn't been easy after many revelations, secrets, and changes, they've learned to stand by each other through the tough times. They're each other's strengths and weaknesses.
If her friends weren't trapped in this hotel-turned-closed in fish tank, then Iqadi would've screamed so loud underwater and let the elements save her. Lightning be damned, she'd blast herself out. She can't even scream now or else she'd have no air. At this point, she's shaking so much that she'll just surrender and sink if need be. Imanu could think of a way out. She knows he would've already.
Angela holds Iqadi's arm to keep them both afloat. She and the others watch one another since they can only communicate with arm motions.
Xavier circles his arms around, extending them out and bringing them back to himself. It takes them a moment to realize he's trying to say something and not just tread water. Angela exaggerates a shrug so everyone knows she's not just swimming and holding onto Iqadi, but then she perks up and mimics Xavier's arm motions with her arms after handing off Iqadi to James.
Emily and Daniel glance at each other with blank faces. Twin telepathy bullshit.
Angela points at James and he's taken aback for a moment. He kisses his hand and presses it to her lips, grinning. She narrows her eyes as she grabs his wrist and points at his glowing fist. James, still confused, looks at Xavier who's throwing his arms out. Then, it hits him so he passes Iqadi to Merida.
Explosion.
James looks at Emily and Daniel who are nodding and copying the explosion gestures.
Merida draws a question mark in front of her with her finger. She looks at Iqadi who's spaced out and is happy someone's on the same page as her.
As Xavier points at everyone and in a different direction, James hands out Pym discs to them. They all separate and head to different points in their fish tank. Angela and Xavier swim to the floor as Merida and Iqadi head over to the nearest wall. James swims across from her and takes the extra one as Emily and Daniel clip a Pym disc on the roof.
Once they're stuck on and glowing, they can't hear anything to start a countdown so James starts shrinking their fish tank. The walls and ceilings start squishing them all around them. The group starts swimming closer towards each other since the space is decreasing. The water builds pressure in the walls, and water starting to spurt out of the cracks forming. Once the tension becomes too much to hold in them and the water, as planned, it bursts.
Their fish tank comes apart and they fall, to the ground, water pouring out all around them and sloshing throughout the island.
Everyone, especially Iqadi, starts gasping for air. Her eyes whiten and the clouds swirl above them before relaxing along with her. The front desk's bell floats over to them and Merida whacks it repeatedly with her bow.
"I love the sky," Iqadi says, smiling up at it, "no wonder my mother soars in it whenever she can."
"You good after all that?" Angela asks.
Iqadi's silent for a moment. "Boysenberry pie sounds nice."
"Let's get some after," James suggests. "There's definitely some pie place back home. Let's get pie and get wasted."
"Britney would've drowned in that," Emily says.
Merida laughs a bit. "Apollo would've laughed. I mean, you and I would too."
Daniel sighs. "Great plan."
"Thanks," Xavier says. "I'm about to pass out."
"Get up," Vander orders.
They turn around and see their SOs standing at the edge of the forest where it starts. Clearly, they avoided the sudden near-flood and walked over when the tides settled. Nobody rises, though.
"That was entertaining," Nine says happily.
BV shakes her head. "All the money spent could've been good research for me."
"This was research," Iyu argues.
BV rolls her eyes. "You would think so."
"Since you four are busy, I'll be the one to congratulate you all," Bonnie says. "After you dry off and report back to us, you're dismissed."
-o-
Arcata, California - 18:21 PM
The moment they got dismissed from their "exam," the first place they wanted to go to was Arcata, California. It's a random destination, but it apparently has the best boysenberry pie since it's the State Pie.
"You think it's true that boysenberries are extinct everywhere else except here?" Daniel asks as they all take forkfuls out of the one pie they're sharing as a group at a decent-looking restaurant.
"I've been meaning to ask, what the fuck is a boysenberry?" James asks.
"Think of a love affair between a blackberry and a raspberry," Angela responds.
"Our parents did shawarma," Xavier remarks.
"So that was fun."
"Real missions would probably be easier than that crap."
Merida scoffs. "Please."
"Future agents, right here," Emily says. "Iqadi and I are on our own yacht."
They click their wine glasses before taking sips.
"Minus the entrapment, I had fun today," Iqadi says.
"Yeah, it was great," James adds.
Daniel shrugs. "I guess it was fine."
Emily squeezes his hand. "Future agents."
"Shit, we'll be agents in a few months," Merida mutters, pausing mid-bite. "It's almost Christmas break. Four months till we're sent out on more bullshit like this."
They raise their pie bits and cheer before going back to their pies.