Revamped!


Chapter 116: What Happened in Asgard Part Four

Six Years Ago - Asgard

Apollo walks through the palace hallways heading towards Odin's Treasury. Once there, he welcomes himself inside (one of the perks of being the prince and heir to Asgard is that nobody questions him) and closes the door behind him. He walks past the displays of miscellaneous artifacts and valuables, stopping right at the end of the row in front of the Serpent Crown.

For the past year, he knew about Ragnarök and that he dies after killing Sigyn to save the Realms from complete obliteration. As the days went on, he kept on thinking about Ragnarök, about what details happen at it and The Midgard Serpent. If the Gods planned the final battle perfectly and are using him, then he should have the right to see it. Besides, if he was the starter of Ragnarök, he should at least see how it happens so he could avoid it at all costs.

Apollo shakes the longer he stares at the Serpent Crown because it looks like it's staring back. He dreads wanting to go closer to the crown than he already is but he knows that Sigyn saw Ragnarök when she wore it and he doesn't want to talk to her about it. Apollo takes a quick yet deep breath to calm himself down as he takes the crown off its pedestal and puts it on his head.

For a moment, nothing happens but then he feels as if someone has taken out of Odin's Treasury in a blur and brought to a boiling land of fire. It's destruction, it's chaos. With every step he takes to try and gain any information he can about Ragnarök, he can only hear the Norns echo in his head. "The land you walk will become a blazing territory."

Apollo brushes past several flames, walking right through them because he knows that this is only a projection of Ragnarök. The Old World burning so a new one could be born - if The Midgard Serpent doesn't eat it all up.

"Apollo…"

Apollo turns around and sees Sigyn emerging from the smoke. Her corset and pants are torn and covered in dust and ash, stained with blood that is likely her own. Her face is tired, pained, and covered with soot. Her chest heaves heavily the closer she walks to him, her steps seem sluggish as if they're difficult for her to do. She's drained.

But then, she smirks a little from the corner of her mouth which makes him feel uncomfortable.

"See you in Hel…" She mutters before falling over.

Apollo watches her fall and doesn't have to check if she's dead because he knows that she is. He's currently in a vision of Ragnarök and that is what the prophecy said will happen. Still, seeing her death brings tears to his eyes. It just felt so real.

Then, Apollo turns around and sees his death right before him and he almost drops beside her. The Midgard Serpent: this larger-than-life snake-like creature with dark emerald scales. At its full size, Apollo looks like a mere speck. It opens its eyes which are glowing red spotlights with intense irises that burn Apollo's skin. The forehead is ridged and the snout is tapered.

The Midgard Serpent opens its mouth and hisses at him, droplets of its saliva hit Apollo's skin and corrode it. Its long and skinny tongue in a shade of pale pink drips an unknown poisonous substance. It bears out rows and rows of perfect, white, and sharpened teeth, ready to eat him right up.

Apollo screams - Your screams will turn to pitch - as The Midgard Serpent lunges right for him.

Apollo knocks the Serpent Crown off of his head and is back in Odin's Treasury. With the image of Sigyn's corpse and The Midgard Serpent now ingrained into his mind, he knows that he can't and won't go through with Ragnarök.

Apollo walks out of Odin's Treasury and attempts to continue his day but he can't. Every time he blinks, he sees what the crown showed him. Every time he sees a light, it's Ragnarök's flames. Every time he feels something nearby him move, he flinches at the possibility of it being The Midgard Serpent. All that continuously winds up until he just stops and releases a guttural scream - Your screams will turn to pitch - and he slams his fist into a wall.

Apollo stops there, falling against the wall, pressing his forehead against the dented plaster. When his breathing becomes manageable and the horrors return to the back of his mind, he turns around and wants to cry from anger, vengeance, desperation.

He sees someone approaching him and for a moment, he thinks that it's Sigyn from the Ragnarök vision ready to drop dead in front of him, but it's his mother which makes him feel relieved. Lucky for him, she seems to have not seen anything that he did for the past five minutes.

"Have you ever had a dream that felt so real that it was scary, but then you found out it was real the whole time?" Apollo asks her. "And although you're well aware that it's real, you still can't process it as reality because it became a nightmare."

Jane smiles a little. "Basically, my entire pregnancy with you … and for a bit after you were born."

Apollo stands up, his eyes never leaving her. "Mother, you can't fathom how happy I am to see you -"

Jane nods and hugs her son as if he was a small child and stands on her tiptoes to kiss his forehead. Ever since they found out about Ragnarök, he became used to this treatment. He wasn't treated like a prince or as Ragnarök's champion, but a child needing protection.

-o-

"Apollo is losing his mind," Jane says as she walks into her bedroom where Thor is already pacing back and forth. She fidgets with her sleeves as she waits for her husband to say something, but when he remains silent, she continues the conversation. "I can't bear seeing the way he goes on. It's terrible. I'm a mother who can't do anything for her son. It reminds me of when he was born."

"Does he want me to replace him?" Thor asks.

Jane looks at Thor, not sure if she heard what he said correctly. " … what?"

"Does he want someone to take his place?"

Jane did hear him right but she wishes she didn't. She looks up at Thor with puffy eyes, understanding why he would say such a thing but it still being painful to hear.

"Ever since the Norns came and shared the prophecy, I've been searching for a flaw," Thor explains. "Sigyn saying that Apollo being the champion was a flaw got me thinking. I've been trying to figure out if someone else can take Apollo's place, namely me because I'm his father and the King of Asgard. I tried, but the prophecy says it has to be my son and the Norn did address him as the Prince and my son. Even if I try, it will be trouble for his side - for our side. I see the pain and horror on his face and I want to take it all away from him."

Jane nods, wanting the same for their son. Thor's gruff and intimidating exterior shielded a loyal and loving heart; his unfailing love. He would give his life to save Apollo's if he could.

-o-

Sigyn can't believe whom she's seeing in the mirror. It's her but she doesn't understand how it's her. Those green eyes and sharp bones in her face suggest a strong will, but her hollow cheeks indicate a will easily surrendered. It was so accurate but not at the same time. Sure, she doesn't want to fight against Ragnarök for the Realms, but she never considered it as giving up.

She's been on Asgard for a year now and feels a dreamy nostalgia, a vague yearning for her long-lost life back on Midgard. She and Apollo only came to Asgard after graduation to expand their lives here, learn and become more with their Asgardian heritage, and find a way out of their prophecy (and not dig a deeper grave). Maybe it was all a mistake because if they were back on Midgard with occasional visits to Asgard, they would've never known about Ragnarök and, as of now, that seems like the better option.

Sigyn sees Apollo coming her way and she runs up to him, ignoring how scared he seemed when he saw her. Maybe it was her coming out of nowhere that spooked him for a second.

"Hey, I have an idea," Sigyn says.

"What?" Apollo asks.

"I was thinking that because everything is so tense and serious here, maybe we could take a breather and go to Midgard to visit everyone."

Sigyn expects Apollo to be on board and running across the Bifrost, maybe even racing her there and the loser has to pay for whatever they decide to do on Midgard, but he looks appalled at that decision.

"No," he states with no hesitation.

Sigyn takes a moment to process that he declined that idea. "What? Did you just say no to Midgard?"

"I'm not going to Midgard. The you know what is there."

"Well, they're our friends and not only do I miss them but they're living on top of a giant snake that will eat them and their families! We have to tell them! It's been a year since we saw them and if Ragnarök hasn't happened then or ever, then it won't happen now. And, not to mention that we miss them and said we'd be back after a year. They'll start worrying."

She can't help but wonder when was the last time she spoke to Apollo normally. It was almost as if he forgot he had friends there - a life there. He probably didn't even know that an entire year in early paranoia went by.

Apollo almost instinctively covers his ears at the mention of that. "No. The more we say it aloud, the truer it becomes. And if we go to Midgard, the Serpent might come out and make me start Ragnarök."

"That's ridiculous and it doesn't work like that. You're the one who makes The Serpent comes out. You've lived on Midgard your whole life! Your reckless driving should've started Ragnarök."

"Stop saying that!"

Sigyn pauses, realizing what's happening to him. He isn't joking around with her. Ragnarök is messing with his mind. For someone who wants to win by defeating the Midgard Serpent, he sure doesn't want to talk about it. She remembers the Norns saying that those who declined their destines often lost their minds and Apollo is currently living proof of it. She knows that because she's been like that her whole life. Sigyn knows why she isn't going haywire now and the real reason why Apollo wants to win.

"You coward," Sigyn spits at him. "You goddamn coward. You just want to cut your losses. You don't care about the greater result of this! If we go forth with Ragnarök, we'll be heroes."

"We're not heroes," Apollo says, "we're sacrifices."

"We can't cheat a prophecy."

"We're not cheating, we're helping ourselves. I can't believe you're breaking the one promise we had with each other before leaving Midgard."

"That was before a giant snake came into the picture!"

"Exactly, it's just a snake. What better display of strength and power is there than being able to do whatever we can during Ragnarök? Whatever power we have, it's potent. I can end Ragnarök and you're the most powerful sorceress in all the Realms. It means that we're the strongest there is, that we'll endure and survive. All we can do is try, Sigyn. That will make us conquer which will increase our chances at victory. Don't want that?"

Apollo looks at her with a vigorous sparkle in his eyes that makes her feel queasy.

If only Sigyn knew at this moment that this was the last time for six years that she saw an innocent hope in his eyes.

"We can't fight against Ragnarök…" Sigyn whispers. "It's stronger and scarier than both of us. Once Ragnarök comes, we'll die. That is the only way we can win. We'll become ashes and end up in Hel. If you refuse that, then there's something wrong with you being the champion. So is the way I am now not fine? Tell me how I'm not fine. What I can do, while I'm still alive, is to enjoy the time I have left and enjoy it all. I had that philosophy ever since I learned as a child that you were my demise. You should do the same and not doom the Realms for your pride."

"I won't allow you to die at my hand," Apollo argues. "I won't allow myself to die by The Midgard Serpent. Neither of us deserve to die. The Gods made Ragnarök and I'm a god so, therefore, I should be allowed to change it."

Sigyn sighs. "For a child of Thor, you think too much."

"And you, daughter of Loki and Amora, listen too little."

Sigyn claps her hands together once. "I heard you. You made your choice. You made it a year ago. Tell yourself whatever version of Ragnarök you need to, Apollo, and we'll all pay the price when you decide to start it."

"I don't want the same thing to happen to us. I won't cause pain to myself or to you."

Sigyn nods cheekily. "And in that order as well. You know, Apollo, there are billions of other lives at stake here. What is to come will come. I won't say more because you already know how I feel about this. We should and have to do what the prophecy says. Do what you like - explode at me in the wildest rage you can muster. I'm so glad to be a part of your tragic downfall, but let me tell you this: nobody wants a lunatic as a champion."

Apollo stares at Sigyn with furrowed brows, breathing heavily. Sigyn stands there with her arms crossed across her chest and a cocked eyebrow with one hip jutted out. She's waiting to see the best he can do since she knows that she did much more than strike a nerve. She looks into the eyes of the cousin she loves and sees nothing but pure unadulterated rage and, sadly, she couldn't help but feel guilty on the inside because this all leads back to her. She's never seen him this livid before.

"You're banned from going to Midgard," Apollo grumbles clearly and angrily.

Sigyn's taken aback from not having seen that coming. "What?!"

"Effective immediately."

"You can't enforce that!"

"I'm the prince and I just did."

Apollo storms away. Sigyn's mouth is left agape in disbelief. She isn't sure whether to cry or scream, but her breathing is heavy and steamy. She watches Apollo walk away and has to hold back her fist from blasting magic at him. She grinds her teeth together. She isn't mad - no, she's angry, outraged. She wants to do nothing more than punch him in the face and, if he was lucky, his beard would cushion the impact.

-o-

This is only the start of what became their life for the years to come. Any life before the word Ragnarök is now nothing more than an elaborate dream.

The weight of shared grief can either bring people together or drive them apart because fear is so powerful that it can only take seconds for it to break someone. Any situation that dehumanizes its heroes and victims is asking for trouble. It plays to the worst of everyone. Despite Sigyn and Apollo having intertwined fates, Ragnarök is wedged so far in between the two of them that they could barely have a conversation that didn't result in arguing.

Ragnarök pushed Apollo too far to the edge and once he started to fall and cry for help, a demon - maybe The Midgard Serpent - crawled out of him only to pull him back up.

As for Sigyn, she tried to talk to Thor and Jane about Apollo's ban and they did nothing about it because they had the same impending fear of it being a catalyst for Ragnarök. They knew that if she went behind their backs, Apollo would go to Midgard just to drag her back here. It could anger him so much that he kills her in a blind rage so he wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. Besides, after some thought, what would Sigyn do if she saw everyone without Apollo? What would she tell them? That her cousin didn't come because he was afraid of a snake that's currently underground and will come to eat them at any time? That the Realms will burn because of his fear? That he banned her and she listened because she became scared of him? That he became the cousin she feared before she knew him?

So Sigyn stayed on Asgard, as they told her to, and her life started to feel like an enveloping regime where she had no will or freedom to leave.


[That answers the question as to why Apollo banned Sigyn from Midgard, and why the two of them weren't seen or heard from in seven years].