Revamped!

[Happy Endgame Day! (If we can even call it that.) The movie was accidentally spoiled for me because I was watching a Cloak and Dagger promo and some asshole decided to spoil the movie in the comments. So, yeah, I know what happens. I know the ending, I know who dies, and I'm bittersweet about it.

Also, the last chapter was when this story hit 200,000 words so that's exciting!

Pay attention to the timeframes because we're getting closer to the present day (aka when we first saw Sigyn and Apollo in the story)].


Chapter 123: What Happened in Asgard Part Eleven

Months Ago - Asgard

Sigyn stands on the balcony, looking towards the kingdom. Her eyes teeter towards the Bifrost Bridge. The many colours draw in her interest. Despite having the power to make portals and go where she likes, she enjoys using the Bifrost as transportation. There was excitement when soaring through a kaleidoscope of colour and light. It represented travel more than anything, making each of the Nine Realms feel more connected to one another.

It makes her past seven years in the palace more nauseating.

Something on the Bifrost catches her eye. Sigyn squints to get a better focus, leaning over the balcony's railing. She doesn't think about what she's doing and falls over.

-o-

Apollo sits on the edge of the Bifrost with his legs dangling over the edge. As much as he doesn't want to go to Midgard, he has an urge to do something. He wants to fight against Ragnarök but all that's standing in his way is the friends from Midgard that he misses when he takes some time to think about them, his parents, Sigyn, and his life. Not to mention the biggest factor: he doesn't know how to do it.

Apollo thinks back to that dream he had with Hela. He has never seen Hela before so her appearance in that dream spooked him, especially since she already knows him. How could he possibly imagine her if he doesn't know what she looks like? The Norns said he shouldn't protect Sigyn because she was planning something against him. Hela said that he should bring Sigyn to her for protection.

But can he trust someone who has an antagonistic role in Ragnarök? Someone who said to have protected him and his mother when he was born? Don't The Norns and Hela both have antagonistic roles from his eyes?

A noise from above disrupts his thoughts.

Apollo looks up and sees a portal opening. He scrambles to get back on his feet as Sigyn falls through. By the looks of it, she would miss landing on the Bifrost. Apollo stands on the edge of the bridge so he catches her arm once she passes. He puts her back on the Bifrost and she dismisses the whole event, brushing her torso.

Maybe Hela was right. She needs protection.

"Are you heading somewhere?" Sigyn asks him.

"Are you?" He asks back.

"Where would I go?"

"You were the one who fell out of a portal."

"Touché." She takes a few steps, circling behind him. Apollo turns around to keep his eyes on her. "Want to go to Hel?"

It couldn't be a coincidence that she asked. Apollo knows he has to say yes but wants to see how willing and desperate she is. If he says yes immediately, she might catch on that something is up since he's been screaming no in her face this whole time. Maybe if he said yes today, this is what Hela meant by seeing them soon.

"No," Apollo replies.

Sigyn folds her hands, holding them up for him. "Please, Apollo, it could help. Hela sends her fleet when Ragnarök begins so maybe we could convince her not to. It could change the outcome in our favour if she steps down."

His dream said it won't be in their favour. His dream said that Hela would take care of Sigyn for him. His dream said that Sigyn was as fragile as a bomb.

"It's a trap," Apollo says, continuing to play his act. "You're trying to get her to start Ragnarök so you could get what you want."

Sigyn's left eye twitches. "That's something you dreamt for the past seven years. I can't ignite it because only you can."

Apollo studies her, still not convinced to take her there. He could sneak out and face Hela by himself. Who knows what would happen if Sigyn went with her underlying intentions?

"If you don't trust me," Sigyn starts, "I'll bring Freya and we'll both handle it."

"Like hell, you will!" He screams.

Sigyn smiles and it wasn't because of the pun, but knowing that she poked his weakness with a stick. "I promise on my life that I'm up to only good." She raises her hands, levelling them with her head to show her innocence. "I would never harm Freya since I like her more than you now."

Apollo takes a few breaths before nodding. He agrees since he likes Freya way more than Sigyn now. At least they still had that in common (the other factor being destined to die at Ragnarök). Even if Sigyn was out to get him for Ragnarök to happen the way it was written, he knows in the bottom of his heart that Sigyn will never do anything to hurt Freya.

"Alright," Apollo confirms. Sigyn jumps out of joy. "Let's go to Hel."

"You get Freya," Sigyn says, "I'll inform Jane."

She disappears in her magic. Apollo exhales, hoping he won't regret this.

-o-

Apollo found Freya in her room and he told her everything: from the dream he had months ago Hela. He informed them of what she said about Sigyn, and how Sigyn happened to appear right when he was thinking of it and offered to go to Hel again. And now, he'll go to Hel with her.

Freya nods, taking in that large amount of information. She puts her hands on her hips. "I'll go sharpen my sword."

Freya leaves but Apollo stops her by grabbing her arm. She looks at him.

"I don't want you to come," he tells her.

"Why would you bother walking in here and telling me all that if I can't come?" Freya asks.

"So I could tell Sigyn that I told you and you refused. I'm not a liar."

"But I'm not refusing so you would be a liar."

Apollo whines a little as he takes her hands with both of his. "Freya, please say no and tell Sigyn that I tried to convince you. I don't want you getting involved in this."

Freya yanks her hands back. "What am I supposed to do? Wait here for your valiant return like some damsel?"

"Not like a damsel, but yes."

Freya glares at Apollo who only smiles back. Freya rolls her eyes as she continues her way out to suit up. Apollo runs a little and stops in front of her.

"Freya, I can't ask you to come," Apollo says. "I won't."

"You're not asking, I'm inviting myself and you'll escort me," Freya replies. "You and Sigyn need me now more than ever. I love you, Apollo. You're the best man I'll ever know and Sigyn is the closest I'll ever have as a sister. I may not have the answers you're searching for but I'll have your backs as you find them. It's the least I could do for everything you and your family have done for me my entire life."

Apollo's love for her is buried so deep in the muck of Ragnarök that he may never be able to bring it to the surface. Freya told him that she loves him and he's unable to say it back no matter how much he wants and needs to. Lucky for him, Freya already knows how he feels about her.

"Have you informed your mother?" Freya asks.

"Sigyn has that handled," Apollo replies.

Freya nods. "Are you scared of going to Hel?"

"I was born there."

"You had to be told you were born there."

Apollo scoffs. "Don't worry. We've got this. We're well-trained, stubborn, powerful, and devout Asgardians."

"Hel is the Realm of the Dishonourable dead," Freya says. "Do you want to be alive in a realm where everyone else is an angered spirit?"

Apollo grins. "As you said, my dear Freya, I was born there."

-o-

Months Ago - Hel

Armed and ready, Apollo, Freya, and Sigyn step out of the portal and enter Hel. They exhale, needing a moment to look around and absorb the realm. This is one of the few realms that they have never been to nor had an intention to go to before today. (The births don't count.) Nobody takes spontaneous trips to Hel because it's a realm of unbecoming rot, decay, ruin, and misery.

"Follow me," Sigyn says, running ahead although she has no idea where to go.

Apollo and Freya follow until Sigyn stops. The distant sound of metal hitting metal could only mean one thing: battle. They spare the briefest glance over the horizon, letting the sour air pass them. Through the mist, they see shapes that resemble people fighting. They don't understand how that could be possible since they're in the Realm of the Dishonourable Dead.

Sigyn lights up her hands and clears the fog, revealing an open space. Inside, there are two lines of armoured skeletons that go in the opposite direction for miles. The two skeletons in the front face each other and fight until one crumbles into a pile of bones. Then, the next one steps up to the plate and battles. In the centre, sitting on a giant dark green almost black throne in none other than Hela herself.

"Oh my god…" Sigyn mutters, looking at Hela with awe in her eyes.

Apollo notices and doesn't like that reaction. "Do you think she noticed us?"

"Doubt it. Can't you see how amazed she is?"

Sigyn points and sees Hela engaged in watching the fight between her skeletons - The Dishonourable Dead. Hela's face shows complete boredom.

"We have to claim guest rights," Freya tells them. "In certain realms, claiming guest rights could save you from being slaughtered."

Before they could negotiate how they should make guest rights, Apollo uses his axe to summon all the thunder and lightning he could and aims it straight ahead. It obliterates all the skeletons in their way. From behind his might, Hela rises from her throne. She didn't look shocked but angered. When the show ends, all that remains are charred bones, seared armour pieces, and weapons piled on the ground. Hela stares at the Asgardians.

"Interference!" She screams, pointing at them.

Hela charges over. She wasn't walking or running but taking long strides. It looks like she's sprinting. Freya takes out her sword but Apollo holds her back, keeping his eyes on Hela. Sigyn is fascinated by seeing her in person.

Hela stops once she's in front of them and says nothing. She hovers a few feet in the air. Her face softens a little as if she's studying them but focusing more on Sigyn and Apollo. She lands on her feet and her dark hair rests on her shoulders.

"Explain yourselves," Hela states.

"We claim guest rights," Apollo replies.


[I'm sorry, but Apollo in that last part is me]. [2020: I love how I apologized. How Canadian of me].