CHAPTER 9
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except my own. The characters belong to MARVEL.
CHAPTER 9 Goddess
Hel watched over her new subjects. The tacticians and science department were making remarkable progress on their plans to move against Thanos. And as it turned out, Drax was quite adept at teaching the others new tricks in hand-to-hand combat. Loki on the other hand had more than one argument with his new students. Apparently Doctor Strange just assumed he had the upper hand between them because he mastered astral projection within just a few weeks. And fought Thanos.
"I am not going to tell you again," Loki narrowed his eyes at the other man, "do not assume you have the high ground."
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "If I recall correctly, I bested you once before. You ran from Thanos to save your own life. You tricked your brother more than once. How are we supposed to trust you?"
Oh, Odin's beard, please don't. Don't challenge him. Dad is not the most reliable mentor, even if he likes his students...Hel pinched the bridge of her nose. Idiots with illusion of grandeur surround me.
Next to her, Bucky furrowed his brows as well. "That seems counterproductive."
"You don't say." Hel paused. She took a deep breath. No sense in losing her temper now. Not, if her father was short of losing it as well. No one wanted to see Loki in a foul mood. "Know what? You would really help me, if you checked what the Tacticians have come up with. Hope and Fury promised me a status update. Have a look at it. Maybe train for a bit with Drax, if I'm taking too long."
Bucky looked her up and down. Hel had a feeling, he saw someone else standing in her place right now. Probably someone with blond hair and dangerous, righteous fury burning inside of them.
Finally, he took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll see, if I can poke some holes in their plan of attack that Hill and Sam haven't pointed out." Bucky tipped his head at her in an almost salute, turned on his heel and left.
Hel turned back towards the magicians. Wanda, Mantis and Janet were training by themselves with Janet taking on the role of supervisor as well as giving constructive criticism on their techniques. The older woman seemed intent on keeping their attention away from Strange and Loki, who were by now staring each other down with energy crackling between their fingers.
Hel groaned. Great. Just what I need... The others are getting along so well. But no, the alpha males have to clash. And they aren't even the most alpha males around!She ran a hand through her hair, letting her magic tie it back in a simple French braid. Well… Let's get this over with.
With an obviously fake smile hefted onto her lips, Hel strode towards the men. The closer she came, the more of their argument she could hear. It was by now spiralling into the realms of petty accusations and idle stabs.
"Hello, father," Hel said in a sing-song voice just loud enough to be heard above their argument. "How is the training going along?"
Loki and Strange turned to look at her. Their faces told her, they knew they were in trouble with the goddess hosting them. Surprisingly, Janet came to their rescue. "We are working on our technique," she called. "Wanda is making wonderful progress with her target practice. Just a couple days more and I am sure, she will be able to best you in a magic-based fight."
Hel's eyes glided over to the women. Wanda was blushing profusely at the praise. "I… I wouldn't bet on that," she said calmly. "It didn't go well the last time I unleashed my full power."
"That is why you are here and training," Hel nodded her head, "To gain control over your resources." She paused, taking the time to examine Wanda's energy signature without the prejudice she had held against her on their first meeting. She is very powerful for a mortal. With the right training she might even be able to take it up with Thanos himself.
Aloud Hel merely added, "I'd be honoured, if you fought me again some time soon. I need the exercise."
Janet gave an approving smile. She knew the compliment was directed at Wanda as much as it was at her for training the woman. Loki after all did seem to have to focus all his attention on the over-confident magician.
"You could always fight me," Loki offered with a winning smile.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly. You seem to have your hands full with training Strange." Hel's voice dripped with honey. "I wouldn't want to interrupt your lessons."
"I can train by myself," Strange announced crossly.
"Of course you can, darling." Hel barely resisted the urge to pat his arm. True, Strange was quite powerful and prone to learn a vast number of tricks in a short amount of time. However, he still carried a certain air of arrogance from his years as one of the best surgeons with him. Strange tended to use magic for everything. As if he needed to prove to himself and others that he had it. It wasn't a tool; it was a symbol of power. He'd rather teleport than walk. That needs to change. And I might just have the idea to do it.
Ignoring the discontent frown, Hel turned back around towards the women. "Say, have you ever trained with one another?"
Mantis stopped in her exercise to let a plant grow with her empathic manipulation. "Wanda, Janet and I have. Sometimes Loki gives us tips. Strange never joins, although it's so much fun." Her big eyes lit up at whatever memory played in her mind's eye.
Hel raised an eyebrow. "So, Strange has never participated? Did you try to intervene, father? You must be aware of what the idea of this training is." She started towards the centre of the chamber, letting her magic melt her clothes into a light tunic tied at her waist and soft pants ideal for jumping and twisting. "Maybe it's time, I do a check-up on our new recruits and their progress in mastering their abilities." The gleam in her eyes was menacing.
Janet moved slightly in front of the other two women. Understandable, considering how Hel had treated Wanda at their last standoff that first day they met. It still brought a light smile to Hel's lips. Wanda could twist me into whatever form she desired, if she put her heart to it. Though I doubt, she would actually go through with it right now. And she isn't my target at the moment.
"How about we start with you, Doc?" Hel stretched her muscles as if preparing for a physical workout. "I have to assume, you are quite the enemy, if you refuse training with the others." With a sigh, she rolled her shoulders and neck. "I'd love to see that Earth magician thing in action."
Loki narrowed his eyes at her. Her father obviously sensed that something was up. He would be unable to pinpoint the exact reason why he thought that but he could still tell that Hel had plans of her own beyond testing their magic abilities. They both were tricksters at heart after all.
"Come on now," Hel said after Strange had not moved for a few moments, "Don't be shy. We're all friends here." The smile she threw him was slightly too wide to be considered friendly. Strange still didn't move a single muscle, only staring at her as if trying to figure out her ulterior motives. "Either you come here and show me what you learned, or I could snap you out of existence. Your choice."
Strange moved. Chin held high, cape billowing out behind him, he strode up to meet Hel. "So," he said with a forced bored tone, "What now?"
From the corner of her eye, Hel noticed the barrier shimmering into place around them. Loki seemed to at least want to protect his other pupils against any possible harm Hel and Strange might cause. A crooked smile curled her lips. "Now, you show me how much you learned about fighting with your powers." Hel shifted her feet apart, balancing her weight on the balls on her feet. With a slow nod for Strange to do the same, she lifted her hands slightly.
Strange observed her change in stance but did nothing to copy her. "I don't see, why I should do this. I have nothing to prove to you."
"No?" Hel tilted her head to the side. In quick succession, her eyes scanned over the rest of her magic trainees. Janet and Loki watched them with the focus of masters observing their craft and training in practice. Mantis stared with bright and unblinking eyes, unwilling to miss a single moment. Wanda seemed wary of what was going on. She's still afraid of her powers. Although she gained control over more and more aspects of them from what I heard the others talk about. Janet seems to take really well to her. Even Dad complimented her concentration during practice.
A fiery spark caught Hel's eye seconds before a wall of a portal raced towards her. With a smile, she threw herself through it. Cold wind pressed against her cheeks and stung in her eyes. Not very creative.With a wave of her fingers, she warped the portal, redirected it back towards her original location.
She grinned broadly at Strange's stunned expression. "Interesting move. But two can play that game." Without waiting for an answer, Hel pushed off the ground and leapt towards Strange.
He barely had time to bring up his shield to block her knives. His cloak on the other hand did react fast. It wrapped around Hel's hands as she clanged against the shield. "Not bad," Hel praised with a short nod. The cloak let her go and Hel twisted out of their reach. "But not good enough."
A portal opened behind Strange's shoulder. A single knife sailed through the air.
Beyond the barrier, Hel caught her father's eye. His lips were curled in a subtle smirk. Either Dad's really confident in my victory or knows, Strange has something up his sleeve to thwart my attempts.
The subtle shift in energy was all the warning Hel got, before Strange wrapped an energy whip around her ankle and tugged. She tumbled to the ground with an undignified sound. He ducked, and her knife sailed right over his head.So Strange did have something up his sleeve.
"Not bad," Strange looked down at her without any emotion, "But not good enough."
Hel snorted. Yeah right. If you think, I'm done then you don't know me at all.
Strange visibly relaxed his muscles, his energy whip fell away. With Hel on the ground he seemed to assume, the battle was over. Which might be true, if he had fought with one of the other pupils in his magic group. But Hel was a goddess. She had a temper and currently with the knowledge of him resisting her orders, Hel was not in a very good mood. Top it off with the overall lack of contact I could form with whoever Asgardians are still up and about and lack of finding Hela… This might be just what I need.
"You don't honestly think you could beat me that easily, hm?" Hel leaned back on her elbows, grinning. And just like the cat in the Midgardian children's book, she disappeared.
Hel loved seeing the sudden shock in his eyes. Not every day you see someone dissolving into air, huh? Well, welcome to the fun part of this.She calmly stood. Let's teach you a little something about fighting.Hel rolled her shoulders, stretched her back. It has been some time, since I could fight with someone who didn't want to kill me. Her eyes strayed beyond the barrier.
Mantis leaned against it with splayed hands, eyes wide. She said something under her breath, too faint to hear inside the barrier. Janet seemed to look directly at Hel, but didn't react otherwise, her hand resting on Mantis' shoulder in soft reassurance. Loki and Wanda on the other hand were quietly discussing something. I bet, Dad is explaining the methods behind my tricks. Her powers are similar enough to ours for it to need the same mechanics. This fight might just help both Strange and Wanda to gain a better understanding of their powers.
"Where are you?" Strange stared around, searching for an indication. His eyes slid over her unseeingly. "Are you giving up already?" The cloak loosened from his shoulders and floated in the space around his back. It might just be searching for Hel as well. And that cloak is a lot better at detecting energies…
Hel touched her hands to her throat. Mumbling a spell, she began to speak. "If you think, I'm giving up this easily, then you don't know me." She watched in glee, as Strange spun around. With her voice reverberating all around the room he had no chance of locating her. The cloak returned to his shoulders.
"Let's make it a bit more interesting."
To Strange's credit, he didn't jump away as the rocks and bushes popped up throughout the training area. "What is this supposed to mean?"
"Magic, like anything else, is a weapon. You need to know how and when to use your weapon." Hel crouched behind one of the boulders and dismantled all of her illusions. She looked down at her blue skin. "Try to defeat me without your magic. Only deliver the final blow with it."
"Why would I do that?"
"To prove to me, that you are powerful even without your magic. All the others are making progress not only in utilising their powers but also hand to hand combat and weapon training." Hel pulled her braid under the hem of her tunic. "You on the other hand defy my orders at every turn. I am your host." Hel peered over the stone towards Strange. "I am the goddess of death." He stood stock still in the place she left him. "I saved you from the soul stone." Strange didn't move to protect himself, neither did the cloak. "I can just as easily send you back there." Hel ducked back behind the stone, dissolving her last spell. Let the game begin.
In the back of her mind, she knew that seeing her in her true form for the first time might be enough to startle the magician into shock. Well, he has to get used to it. Thanos is going to attack with aliens and they surely are no sight for sore eyes.
After another glance out from her hideout, Hel rolled behind a bush close by, but closer to Strange. By now he was at least looking around since Hel's voice didn't make another announcement and the man seemed to have at least some kind of self-preservation. Good for him.
Hel slid over the ground, meticulously taking care of not touching anything that might give her location away. And despite her very obvious skin colour among the grey boulders and green bushes, Strange appeared to be completely oblivious to it. He looked in her direction several times but never acknowledged her presence. There's something not right with this. He has to see me. I'm not exactly subtle. Maybe he uses his magic against my instructions.
Crouched behind another boulder off to the right of Strange, her back towards the barrier, Hel picked up a smaller stone. Her eyes scanned the hiding spots she had arranged. Strange was still not taking cover. Hel rolled her eyes. Kill-joy. This would be so much more fun, if Dad played with me. We would actually throw knives at each other right now. Or maybe just stalk one another like predators. But no, Mister Magician Supreme has no need for such trifle.
Hel threw the stone in a slight arch in the opposite direction of her hiding spot. Sure enough, Strange turned along with it. He even moved towards the noise. She slapped her hand against her forehead. Does he have any kind of self-preservation? I could throw knives right into his back right now and he would be none the wiser. Well, if he doesn't want to play, then I won' play.
With a single knife pulled from one of her pocket dimensions, Hel bounded over the boulder. She didn't utter a sound, her footfall silent from training. Death did move quiet as a shadow.
Strange spun around, blocking the knife with an energy staff of his own.
"Oh, so you did know where I was?"
"Sometimes not reacting is the best reaction."
"Where did you read that? Some fortune cookie?"
"I think you said that once."
Hel laughed. She almost forgot she had dropped all her illusions. Strange seemed not all that perturbed by it. But even so, she had something to prove. Strange might have used his magic to locate her and might be capable enough to use it effectively in a fight, but there was much more he needed to learn.
With a slight smile, Hel twisted out of their lock hold. "I told you to not use magic and here we are." She danced a few steps back. "You just want to prove your worth with magic. It's the only thing you can do, isn't it?" Hel tilted her head ever so slightly. "Fine then. Show me."
The cloak floated away from Strange, beckoning Hel with its ends, as if challenging her to fight. Hel grinned. "Wow. Need your magic cloak to help you?"
Strange formed his shield while pulling up the energy whip with his free hand. "I thought you said I was not a team player?" A slight glint came to his eyes that had Hel's hackles rising. "Well, then you should have nothing to worry about."
Hel didn't bother to answer the obvious dare. He and the Cloak of Levitation are a worthy enemy from what I can tell. How that damned cloth latched on to him is a mystery in and of itself… I cannot let that distract me. This is about teaching Strange a lesson.
Slowly, Hel lowered herself into a crouch, ready to launch herself into any direction at a minimal notice from either Strange or Cloak. If her theory was correct, the cloak would attack her first and Strange would deliver the finishing blow. It might damn her entire reason for beginning this fight in the first place.
And truly, the cloak shot forward too fast for Hel to react in any way. The air rushed around her face – a cry cut through the air. Something crashed through the magical bushes and directly into the cloak. With a whirl of growls and rustling fabric and tentacles, the cloak disappeared.
Hel blinked. Millie?She slowly got to her feet. True enough. Her loyal cat sat on the ground, licking her paws in faked innocence. Over the past years, Hel had noticed the changes in Millie. First, growing from the size of a regular housecat to a half-year-old lynx. Then, Millie had begun changing her fur colour as well. By now she was indistinguishable from a Eurasian Lynx cub. Except for one thing.
"So you developed into a Flerken, hm?" Hel shook her head lightly. Millie merely blinked lazily at her.
"A what?" Strange stared at the cat in surprise. "She ate my cloak."
Hel looked at him thoughtfully. His posture was relaxed, his magic nowhere in sight. "We're not done here," she announced. "Get in position."
And again, Strange relaxed his posture before moving into a new sequence. Hel saw the opportunity and acted. With a nimbleness rivalling a cat, she spun around him and kicked Strange in the back of his knees.
With a satisfying gasp, Strange collapsed.
"You should really learn how to use your magic to protect you even when you're distracted," Hel told him sternly. "It might be your salvation. Loki could surely give you some pointers on that. Or Janet. She is really good with the healing magic." Hel walked around him to look Strange directly in the eye. "And don't forget to train your hand to hand combat. You never know when you might need it."
Strange stared up at her. He jumped to his feet, aiming a hit for Hel's head, but Hel was faster. With a light chuckle, she twisted his arm behind his back, forcing him to his knees. She leaned in closely. "I think, you still have to learn," she whispered. "How about you let Loki and the others help you. Their magic might be different from yours, but you pick up the one or other thing after a couple thousand years. Can you do that?"
Strange remained stubbornly silent.
Hel pulled him back, until she knew the others could see his face. "Very well then. I guess this is goodbye. I have no use for subjects with god complexes." Her eyes flickered up. All, but her father, stared at her in shock. Loki on the other hand looked thoughtful. Doubtlessly already mapping out his next steps in either the training or using the demonstration of power to his own advantage.
"No," Strange croaked. "I'll work on mastering my powers. I'll accept their guidance and training."
Hel calmly backed up. "Good decision."
Millie came towards them, purring loudly. Hel looked at the Flerken. "And now, Millie, spit out the Cloak of Levitation."
The cat tilted its head with a "mroww?".
"You heard me just fine. I don't know, where you came from and frankly, I don't care," Hel stared at Millie sternly, "You were supposed to go to the kids. Not check in with me."
Another cat noise.
"Yes, I know you like him. But he isn't with me right now. We all have our duties to fulfil. Now, spit out the cloak."
For a moment, it seemed Millie would refuse. Then, the cat convulsed, retching. In an unnatural display of tentacles inside a cat's skull, seemingly splitting it in half, Millie brought out the Cloak of Levitation. Hel grasped its edge. With a flick of her hand, the magical clothing item was back in pristine shape, as if it had never been swallowed by a Flerken in the first place.
"Here you go." Hel handed the cloak over to Strange, who looked on in surprise, intrigue and disgust. "Take good care of it, but don't always rely on it."
She didn't wait for another word from Strange. With Millie hot on her heels, Hel spun on and stalked towards the barrier. With a flick of her wrist, she forced the barrier down and let the hiding spots disappear. There's no need for that anymore.
"That was impressive," Janet said with a small nod. Her eyes first strayed to Millie, then roamed over Hel's body, taking in her sunset eyes and blue skin. "It suits you. You should show this side of you more often."
Hel offered her a rueful smile. "You're the first to think, this looks better than the other form." With a flicker, her illusion slid back in place. Hel looked down at her pale skin and took another deep breath to change her clothes into a formal tunic with her hair piled in small ringlets atop her head. "Still, thanks. Keep up the hard work."
"I'll get back to you for our little training. And I promise, I'll fight fair, okay?"
Wanda's eyes still roamed over her face, as if trying to find a trace of either the blue-skinned woman she had seen before or to bring this softer version in synch with the warrior she met in her first encounter.
Mantis was already making cooing sounds at Millie. The Flerken was purring contently at the attention. She bumped her nose against Mantis' hand, which made her giggle.
"I'm looking forward to it," Wanda finally replied. Her smile was genuine. "I'd be honoured to learn from you."
"I explained some of the mechanics to her while you sparred with Strange," Loki chimed in with an insufferable grin. "I would say, we have a good chance of getting dear Wanda to a magnificent power to be reckoned with."
Hel nodded her understanding, gave Mantis a wave and left the training area of the magicians with Millie by her side. Well, at least that dissolved some of the tension. She let her back crack. With Strange more willing to cooperate, it might be time to focus back on the other problems. Ugh, at least the magicians are sorted out and probably soon may be ready to fight.
A couple hours later, Hel stood at the edge of a windy cliff. Mh, the wind really helps with putting things into perspective. I wish I could come to Midgard more often. There are so many beautiful spots I have never set foot in before.
With the calm of a cat, Hel stretched her body out as she settled onto a stone near the edge of the cliffs. In the distance she could just make out the stranded ship and beginnings of a village. Houses in construction, a harbour dotted with small fisher boats. It might almost be idyllic if it weren't for the fact that Hel knew the inhabitants of this small settlement just had survived several traumas. Well, it can't always be perfect.
Grass rustled behind her. Rustled, not in the wind but with the steps of an approaching person. Hel straightened her posture slightly. Not enough to seem threatening but enough to give her a regal aura. "I'm glad you could make it."
The person snorted. "Yeah, right. What do you want?"
Hel turned around. Amidst the lovely scenery stood none other than Val. Her dusty, damaged armour looking out of place compared to Hel's tunic and boots.
"Getting right down to business? Okay, fine by me." Hel stood from her rock. "I know what happened with Thanos. How much do you know about what happened with Hela?"
Val shifted her weight to one foot. Hel almost scoffed when she also crossed her arms across her chest. "I know that she isn't dead. A goddess of death, no matter how fake, can't be killed by fire. Not even the fire that destroys Asgard."
"Very good," Hel nodded her head. "I'm glad, we're on the same page. I have tried to locate her before Thanos fulfilled his dumb plan. Unfortunately, even with my knowledge and eyes spread all over the universe with all the death happening, I still couldn't find her."
"Bummer."
Hel glared. "Yes. Very much. Considering she killed your lover and friends as well as half of Asgard, it might be even more of a tragedy. Or maybe I'm just bitter, because she almost killed me. And stole some of my power. And might be working with Thanos for all we know and considering I cannot seem to locate her."
With a huff, Val relaxed her posture. She came forward, sitting down on the stone Hel previously occupied. "Okay, you got my attention, Goddess. What's your plan?"
Hel settled next to Val. Well, that was the easy part. Getting her to listen is one thing. Now I have to get her to get to cooperate.
"Just to get it out of the way, I have the dusted Avengers. They are down in Helheim and training and planning to overthrow Thanos and reclaim their places in the real world." Hel paused to allow Val to catch her drift.
The warrior nodded once. "You need a connection in this world to line up the plans of both Avenger teams. And who better than a Valkyrie to do the job? The two of us are the link between the living and the dead." Val rubbed her hands along her thighs. "It makes sense. We both need allies when the inevitable comes. Death and Life need to work together to overcome Thanos and Hela."
"I'm glad you understand."
"Don't get me wrong. I hate the idea."
"Yes of course. I am not a big fan either." Hel ran a hand over her hair. "But it is the only way I see for this to work out in some way. If we keep each other updated on the on-goings in each world, we might just be able to line them up appropriately to lead the mortals to success."
Both women turned to stare out at the sea towards the newly forming settlement. Despite the distance, they could see small figures running around. They worked tirelessly to assemble houses, built boats to bring in food and some seemed to even light fires to cook whatever they caught. The wind swirled around them, blocking out any other sound.
Val was the first to break the silence. "I hope it's worth it." She rose from the rock. "They need my help to rebuild Asgard."
"I wish you luck," Hel replied.
With a nod, Val disappeared back towards the village along the cliff. Hel stayed on the rock overseeing the sea and village. It might just work out. It just might.