The old man and the young woman looked at the three children and vice versa and then suddenly the woman ran forward to the children and hugged them and all her fear that she had came out in both tears and her words.
" Oh thank goodness you are all right,We have been so worried for you!"
The old man went forward and joined the hug too
" I,m so glad you kids are safe"
" We are glad that you both are safe too,Uncle Scrooge" Webby said with her usual chippy tone.
" We have missed you so much" Huey said with a sniffle.
Louie didn't said anything but instead just cried now that they were reunited again.
Everyone else stood and watched the reunion without making any sound.
Soon the hug ended and the two adults pulled away from the children and then the woman began calmly:
" I am so happy to see you, but I have one question".
Then her anger came out:
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?, WE TOLD YOU KIDS THAT YOU COULDN'T GOING COME ON THIS ADVENTURE ,THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS ALONE,SO WHY ARE YOU HERE?!".
Everyone (Expect,Kratos,the witch and Scrooge) jumped back at the volume of her voice.
Then Louie quickly gave a answer.
"We are your children,Mom, wasn't this something that you and uncle Scrooge really didn t 'expecting would happen?".
Scrooge put a hand on her shoulder and slowly said " Breathe Della,just breathe okay?"
Della took some deep breaths then asked: " How did you find us?"
Webby answered that question by pointing behind her and saying:" We got little help"
Della and Scrooge now noticed the three people behind them,and looked a little confused.
" Wait who are those three?" Della asked.
Webby once again answered,but also once again without thinking:
" Oh this is Deimos,Atreus and Kratos( Kratos gave a angry grunt when his name was spoked) and they have helped us through this unknown land even if they are on a personal journey to..."
She didn't get to say more until a voice screamed out:
" Quiet,Girl,don't tell anything about that!"
She immedately stopped,realizing she had said to much,but this time she didn't get upset about that or Kratos tone.
Della gave Kratos a glance and thought that was enough.
Deimos and Atreus walked forward and greeted the two new adults.
Deimos began:"Hey I'm Deimos and I'm very glad to meet you!"
Atreus's reponse was much calmer" It is a honor to meet you."
Della and Scrooge wasn't sure how they would react to this,but then their's lips formed two little smiles.
" Nice to meet you lads" Scrooge said with the smile still on his face.
Della looked at them with a thankful look,she went forward and embraced the two boys (which Kratos reacted defensely to),and thanked them.
" Thank you so much for helping them,you both are so good boys"
" Don't mention it" they both said.
Suddenly the witch asked" Well now that everyone is to again,do you want to rest,or contiune on your journey?"
" We three are leaving" He pointed to his children.
" Hey wait,but what about us?" Webby quickly asked.
" Yeah are you dumping us?"
Kratos looked at them with a steady look and answered:" I said that you would join us for a very little while,and your Family are found so our paths together ends here"
The trio couldn't believe it,sure they had only traveled with this little Family in some hours,but felt like a big connection had formed between them mostly with Atreus and Deimos and something told them they needed to finish this journey together because they were heading to the same goal and they had to finish this together.
" No please, we need to finish this journey,we are heading towards the same place just take us to the mountain" Webby pleaded,like her life was hanging on it.
" No you kids are staying here, I and uncle scrooge will go" Della quickly said,but the kids didn't let this put them down.
" Mom we are inolved in this too now,and we are adventures so we will finish this journey together". Huey answered his mother with a clear tone that showed he wasn't going to change his mind.
" Yeah Della we are finishing this journey" Webby quickly added.
" I never thought I say this but I agree with those two" Louie said which finished the kids arguement.
And this made the woman deseperately look to her uncle for aid.
" Uncle Scrooge please talk some sense into them!"
The old man quickly took off his glasses,cleaned them,put them back on and answered:
" Lass I don't really think we could stop them even if we tried,they followed us from the beginning and they will without a doubt countinue to do that so we don't really have a choice here"
She gave up and with a big sigh,she said
" Okay you can come with us"
" Yes! All three and even Atreus and Deimos cried out.
Kratos still was aganist it
" I said no,I and the boys will finish this without you"
His sons stood up for their new friends
" Father,we will need help,Just think how many enemies we have meet under just the beginning,how many more will we meet that we maybe can't defeat alone?" Deimos said as his defence.
Atreus quickly followed:
" Like their uncle said we couldn't stop them even if we tried to,they will follow us how much we try to stop them so we don't really have a choice and they only want to go to the mountain so we can at least take them there"
He thought about it for a little while and then rectually answered: " Fine,they can join us"
"Thank you!" The family quickly said.
" Let's leave" was his answer to their thanks.
" Not without thanks the witch said and gave them food,water and even some lantern that could wouldwarm them on cold nights.
She then held two glowing fingertips but Kratos quickly grabbed her wrist,which made her let out a short laugh and she asked:
" You want solitude?" She then continued:
" This mark will hide you from those who will make you journey diffucult"
With a grunt,he allowed her to do it,so he touched his right side of the neck and said:
" Leyna"
A little sunlike symbol covered the part she had touched and she did it to rest of the group and when shr got to Atreus she cleaned off some dirt on his face.
Della felt she had to thank her for all she had done.
" Miss,thank you so much for everything you have done for us,that you let us stay here".
She looked at her and said " I just wanted to help"
She then loudly said" Heimil!"
The house moved underground again and suddenly the door was opened towards some kind of cave.
" There's a shortcut below the house that lead safely out of these woods, follow this path down and head towards daylight".
Atreus looked at her and asked " Will we see you again?"
She crouched to his level and answered:
"As much or as little as you like".
Deimos said his goodbyes" I hope that we will meet you again"
Webby had her concerns,"I hope that your friend will be better".
" Goodbye"Louie simply said,that was enough for him.
" Good luck with healing him" Huey said and tipped his hat.
Then they ventured out through the door to countinue their journey.
Suddenly Huey turned around and asked "Wait do you have a map we can borrow?"
"Of course" she quickly went inside and came out with a map that opened itself and revealed everything they had walked through like little footprints the witch's area.
" Just so you know,this map have kept track on where you have bern and if you are lost it will show where you have to go,and depending where you are it will change too for example if you travel to another realm it will show that area, and here a compass too.
" Oh thank you so much!"
He packed it in his backpack and they began to walk down a wooded walkway to continue their journey.
They walked down the walkway and came to a more open part of the cave and then they saw a dock that had a boat that was small but was as long as a viking boat so they all could place in it.
" Do you think the witch turned the boat like this?" Webby asked.
" I think so" Atreus answered as they climbed in the boat and Kratos started rowing down the river.
Deimos felt very happy that they were on the right path " Finally we are on the right path to the mountain" He said with a hopeful tone.
" You sound very happy,kid" Della said,which made the boy turn to her with a sad smile.
" I just can't believe I'm here,doing all this" (He then turned to his brother)" right Atreus?"
" Yeah there's was a time I thought we never leave our woods" he said with a excited tone.
His face suddenly got a sad look as he continued:
" Or even my bed sometimes"
His father's reacted to that:
" You were not to blame for your sickness"
" Oh I know,I guess I'm just saying,this is great"
This made everyone (expect Kratos) to smile at him.
" It's seems like you and your brother have a adventours spirit,lad" Scrooge said with a smile.
The two boys looked at him,and said at the same time:
" Thank you!"
Suddenly Webby pointed out to a hole in the cave wall
" Look there's the mountain!"
Everyone looked at her direction and saw the mountain much closer but still a bit to go.
" Yeah we are so much closer now." Deimos said with some sadness in his voice
" We flow into sea water" Kratos suddenly said.
" How do you know?" All the children asked.
" Do you not smell it?"
Atreus plugged his nose " Well if that is how the sea smells,it stinks"
They reached the cave exit and saw the top of some statue sticking up through the water,and only thing that was shown was a hand holding a big hammer.
" Hey wait,isn't that Thor?" Huey asked while he grabbed his book.
" Yeah you're right that is the statue of Thor!" Atreus exclaimed just as excited as Huey.
" Thor,god of thunder"
Atreus looked surpised at his father
" That's right,I never thought you listened when mother spoke of the gods"
" I selom did"
He quickly asked a question that he realized could clear something from his mind.
" Did she speak of one that could feel no pain?"
Deimos answered this time
" Oh that was Baldur,I think"
" Baldur"
Huey,Louie and Webby looked scared at each other,no words were spoked but that wasn't needed,they all knew what they thought:
" Was he the one we meet in the woods,and who fought Kratos?"
Huey suddenly seemed to remember something" Wait isn't Baldur a Aesir god?"
"Yeah you are right,son of Odin and Frigg" Atreus answered.
" And Odin is King"
" That's right,why do you ask?"
No answer came,he just rowed
They rowed away from the statue and came out on a big empty,forevergoing lake which confused some a little.
Webby spoke first " Well where are we gonna go now?,There's nothing here"
Deimos followed
" It must be something that can give us directions"
They looked for anything that could be to help and suddenly Atreus pointed:
" Look,there's something!"
They looked at his finger's direction and in the distance they saw something sticking up through the water,it looked like a very tall person with a helmet and spear.
" Could we take a closer look?" Webby asked and the others ( expect Kratos nodded)
" Yeah I think that could be the best to do,after all nothing's else is here" Scrooge said.
They rowed to the statue and saw that there was some runes on his chest.
Kratos looked at Huey and Atreus and commanded:
" You two,read it"
Della's mother's insiects quickly lighted up" Hey don't talk to my son like that!" She said clearly and firmly.
Kratos just grunted at her,but didn't say anything.
" It's okay,Mom I actually wanted to read it anyway" Huey said to calm her,which it did at least a little.
The boys looked at the runes and translated them at the same time: "Sacrefice your arms to the centre of the water,awaken again the cradle of the world"
"Wait,what,are you sure you read that right?" Louie asked very confused.
They looked at him like he has said something insiane
" Yeah of course,I just got the Junior woodchuck badge for rune reading!"Huey said with a haunting look.
Louie was about to ask again about the rune but Atreus quickly answered:
" Louie,I think it means that our weapons are supposed to be thrown in the water"( he turned to his father),"No problem for you".
Della got very curious.
" What do you mean,Atreus?"
"Oh the axe can return to father's hand" he quickly explained.
Kratos sat still for a second,but then got up,pulled out his axe and tossed it far away into the lake which it landed in.
He held out his hand,but something unexpencted happened:
" The axe do not return"
Everyone was shocked,the axe was supposed to always return,and then the water in the lake suddenly began to drop,which rocked the boat from side to side, everyone began to cling to the boat's edge"
" Everyone,hang on!" Scrooge yelled
Louie really began to panic right now "What's happening?" He asked with a voice full of anixity.
Della had a strong grip on her boys,and even Deimos too" I don't know,sweetie,but maybe it's something good!"
Jus as she said that, something rised out of the water, and big eye opened right before them.
" It's the world serpent!" Atreus said in a quiet voice,like he was scared of angering the creature.
And that creature was a snake that was so big that the whole sky seemed to become covered of it,from it's chin,hanged lots of strands aluge like a big green beard.
Suddenly like it was just a toothpick the axe came shooting out of the snake's mouth and landed right before Kratos who quickly picked it up and stood in front of his sons.
" Stand calm,you two!"
But Deimos wasn't afraid," Don't worry,I love this!" He said with a big smile.
" Yeah,this is great!" Atreus said with just as much excitement.
Webby was giddy with excitement
" This is one of my dreams coming true!"
Then without a warning,a deep rumble came from the deepest parts of the snake's throat,which turned out to be a deep,harmonic voice which was a combination of clicking and singing,two simultaneous layers of low and high pitches.
" It speaks?"
" Yes,but I don't understand it"
The serpent slowly crawled backwards,but it's glare never left Atreus,almost like he was a long lost friend.
The water had retrated much more which revealed something very unexpected:
A ornate temple,covered in barnacles and dripping wet,the building dominated by the statue that had managed to wake the creature that now laid on the hills across the big lake,seven towers were also visible around the lake,one each with a different rune on it.
They all looked shocked at the sight before them,and finally Scrooge Mcduck was the first that spoke:
" Bless me bagpipes"
Only those three words,but everyone agreed.
" Huey immedately became excited at the amazing events that had happened.
" All this was hidden under the water!?" His voice rose to a pitch with the last word.
Atreus countined just as excited
" Yeah,and everything was revealed when the serpent rose up of the water!"
Deimos pointed to a bridge which stretched from the temple to a buliding that seemed to lead forward to the mountain.
" Look there's the way forward if we go through that building,we will be on the path to the mountain!"
Kratos began to row to a dock that was connected to the temple and he decided to ask about the snake.
" You know about the serpent?" He asked his son who answered:
"Yeah Mom told me about him,he's one of the giants,and he's so big he's wrapped around the whole world and bites his own tail."
" A exaggeration,no doubt"
" No that's true,the myths say so" Huey quickly explained.
" Myths can be seen or told in many different ways"
They reached the dock, exited the boat and went up a staircase that lead to the bridge but as soon as they were beginning to go to the direction to the mountain, a voice yelled out:
" Well,if it isn't the bearded beefer and his two sac-seeds,the little urichins are still with you and lastly you now have a old goat, and a wild lady!"
They all turned towards the voice which was none other then Brok who pushed up the doors to the entrance of the temple part,his animal stood beside the door and ate some fish that laid around.
" Brok!" The children exclaimed all at once.
Atreus tried to ask the question they all had.
" But how did you...?
The dwarf cut him off
" None of yer fucking business,now get in here,I got something for ya!"
He then added
" And don't make pig eyed at my spot,I saw it first!"
They walked into the temple where Brok lead them to a little shop he had set up in there.
The two adults who hadn't meet the littlr blue man before turned to Huey,Louie and Webby and Della decided to ask:
" Have you meet him before?"
Webby was the one who answered
" Oh we meet him under the first hour we traveled with Kratos,and he gave H...
More she didn't say until the boys covered her mouth.
" Don't say that last part!" Louie whispered.
" Yeah they are not ready for that" Huey whispered.
She quickly changed her words
" He gave us directions"
Della and Scrooge didn't seem to believe that,but they dropped it.
" Well that dwarf could use some soap in his mouth" Scrooge added,not approving of Brok's use of language.
" Hey that's just how he is" Webby quickly defended.
"And by the way Uncle Scrooge doesn't you techincally swear too,just in different words?"
He opened his mouth to protest,but then closed it again without saying anything.
Meanwhile Atreus asked Kratos about Brok's intentions
" What do you think he wants?"
Deimos came with his own idea
" I think he just wants to help"
Kratos grunted at that.
Brok started to talk loudly about his shop,soundly really proud of it.
" When word gets out about my own shop,folks will finally come of hiding,they will be clawing all over each other just to catch a whiff of my wares!"
He went inside the shop which was like a real blacksmith's place: tools everywhere,weapons and shields ready to be used,and a big fireplace in the back that was cracking wildly and must be where Brok use to melt materials.
Brok quickly grabbed 8 blue stones and threw them to each member of the group.
Scrooge was confused" What is this supposed to do?"
Brok pointed behind them
" Look over there,ya old fool!
They turned around and saw a pile of rocks,that suddenly moved and was creating something that looked like a door,which was just what happened, a wooden door was created which had a tree symbol on it.
" What is that?"
" That,my thick lady is a magic door that leads to the branches of Yggdrasil,a shortcut between realms,and you all can use it to get back to me quick.
" Thanks Brok"Deimos
" Whatever,but remeber,it only one way,straight back here and nowhere else, and whatever you do,never ever never Ever throw yourselves off the path,unless you want death".
" Yeah I don't really see wanting that" Atreus joked which made some laugh a little.
" ImNice to meet you Brok" Della said and held out her hand.
Brok took it and shaked it.
" Likewise,even if you seem like a big stuffed duck if you ask me"
Della let go,but looked at the blue man and came with her own friendly insults.
" Well I can really see why you don't have manners,must have bern the lack of that,which cursed you to be blue like a disfigured fish!"
Brok looked at her,and busted out in a big joyful laughter
" Ha,ha! I like this chick!"
" Let's go" Kratos said,clearly wanting to keep moving.
They left the temple and walked over to the other side of the bridge,and Kratos opened the door to the tower that with luck could lead them to the mountain.
Inside the tower they saw a pathway to the right which was techinally opened but also blocked by poles that was shooting out poison,but Kratos quickly tossed his axe at one of the poles which froze instantly and stopped the poison at the same time,when they gotten past that the process started again,threw the axe and walk past,soon they were past everything and came to a wall.
Kratos turned to Della and Scrooge with a obviuos question:
" Can you climb?(They nodded) " Good"
Once again a rope was thrighted around Deimos's waist,and Atreus rode on Kratos's back,which inspired Della and Scrooge to do the same thing, the boys rode on Della's back while Webby rode on Scrooge.
" What were those things? They smelled awful" Atreus suddenly said
" Your mother called them scorn poles,she was the one who showed me how to disable them"
Two pair of chuckles left his sons
" What?"
"It's just funny to imagine that she taught you something"
" Yeah That's just sounds so weird" Deimos said while trying to contain his giggles.
But instead of a grunt Kratos answered with a:
" Yes"
They went for a door ahead of them but the door was opened,Atreus went to his father, and whispered:
" When we reach the mountain can Deimos or I carry her?"
" No"
" But.."
" I said No"
The boy sighed
" Okay"
" She meant more to us than what she did to you anyway" He thought and was close to say it when the door was openef and they all went through the doorway.
They entered the shadow foothills of a pass and saw a path leading to their goal, but ahead of them was a small man working on some kind of machine in a open clearing off to the right side of it,the man was no taller then the children but much more older and muscular,he wore a golden chest armour that was very clean, and also sporting forearm-length metal-working gloves.
He looked and noticed them,but then his eyes fell on the axe which captured his stare.
" Excuse me,but how did you happen to come by that axe?"
"That is my concern alone"
The small man immedately blocked his path.
"And while I won't dispute that,I know that blade,but it wasn't made for you"
He didn't have time for this
" Step aside,dwarf"
" My name is Sindri"
And he didn't move he stood his ground,and suddenly got some anger in his voice.
" I can't,you see that woman we made it for, I was,well I AM quite fond of her, and I would be very... displeased if it turned out that( he raised his fists,almost like he was prepareing to fight) you did something to her"
Deimos quickly went forward and held out his hands calmly
" Don't worry,that axe was actually givined to him"
Atreus immedately defeded his father too:
" Yeah our's mother left that axe to father... before she died.
Della and Scrooge gasped at this news now they realized what this little famliy's goal was.
Sindri lowered his fists and got a heartbroken look on his face.
" Faye's dead? I'm very,very sorry to hear that,she was a fierce warrior and a good woman."His voice threated to turn into a sob,but he managed to stop it and instead continued with:
" Okay I will make improvments of the axe."
" Why do you want that?" Webby asked
" Yeah nobody asked you to" Atreus contuined.
He answered with something unexpected
"True,but knowing your mother she would have inested that I repaired that act of vandalism perperated to her axe by my brother".
Everyone reacted to that last word.
" I knew it,you are Brok's brother!" Atreus said excitery.
" So you and Brok made that axe together?"Deimos asked
" Yeah through my talents are more superior,of course"
Scrooge suddenly whispered: "Lass I think I like him better he might be just as bigheaded as his brother but at least he seem to have manners"
" The blue one is your brother?"
" Yes,but again my talents are better,no boast,swear to Freya"
Kratos thoguht about it for a second,then he pulled out the axe which made the man gasp in fear.
" Do not undo his work,improve upon it only"
The man eyed the weapon with a look like he had seen something horrible.
" Yeah but can you put it over there that handle is..."
" No"
" Filthy"he finished.
So instead of grabbing the handle he grabbed the very end of the axe and carried it to the workbench.
Atreus decided to question about what Sindri just worked on "So what were you working on earlier?"
" Oh that I call it the "Sky Mover he pointed to a gondola not long from his shop, and continued,
"Just up that mountain waits a treasure trove of rare resources"
Louie heard this and rubbed his hands mischevosuly
" Did you say a treasure trove of rare resources?"
Sindri looked at him and answered
" Yes I did,and once I mine it,I just need a way to bring it down"
" Oh please tell me that you know how to fix it!" Louie said with hope.
"No,not even a little" ( The boy's hope died at once with that sentence).
Sindri put down the axe and hit it once with a hammer and it sparked with energy,Kratos picked it up.
" Let's go"
Atreus waved goodbye" Nice to meet you,Sindri"
" Yeah, thanks" he answered not really paying attention,but then Louie suddenly whispered
" Hey when you fix that thing,can you spare some resurces to me?"
" Uh,sure" hel felt a little creeped out both of the reqest and that he was very close.
" Should you please back away a little?"
He backed away and noticed that the others already had walked away a little.
" Hey wait for me!" He ran after and waved to Sindri just like Atreus.
They began to walk up a long path when Scrooge and Della stopped and when they reached the top, Atreus asked his father once again this time louder:
" Do you think that the last leg up the mountain that I and Deimos can carry her then?
" I have already told you no"
The anger began to rise between the boy
"Fine",he muttered " But she meant more to us than to you anyway"
Deimos looked shockingly at his brother and the others couldn't say a word.
Kratos stopped at once.
"What did you just say?"
Atreus realized what he had said and immedately tried to change what he just said.
" I just meant,we spent more time with her,you were off hunting so much"
" It would serve you to stop talking"
Atreus quickly stopped to try to avoid anymore arguments and Kratos went forward to open the door that would lead to the mountain.
" Lad that was a very wrong thing to say" Scrooge berated
" Yeah I'm pretty sure that your mom meant much to him also" Della came with her words.
Before Atreus could answer a big roar was heard and they saw that the door that Kratos was going to open,had been brusted open and the bleak man was in the grip of a big ogre.
" Father!" His sons yelled in fear,and Atreus quickly ran and managed to stab the ogre in the eye,but he just got pushed back and grabbed himself.
Deimos quickly reacted,ran forward and aimed a attack to the ogre's leg but no big damage came from that.
Webby and Louie and the remaining adults rushed forward with their weapons( Scrooge had a special cane that should became a axe and Della had a big mace) which at least managed to get the ogre on it's knees and then,Huey knew what he had to do he clutched his necklace,and his weapon appeared in his hand.
I must control it this time,focus he concreated and the energy his anger had let out before now traveled up the weapon and a beam of red energy came out and pierced the ogre's forehead which opened up in a fountain of blood but the enemy fell dead to the ground and released the prisoners.
Della looked shocked at her oldest son but was completely speechless,her uncle managed to get some words out:
" Lad what just happened?"
The boy blushed a little and decided to tell them.
" You know that thing Webby wanted to tell you earlier,well that was this."
The two adults reaction was this:
Della:" I'm so proud of you sweetie.
Scrooge: You did a good job lad,but you kids will never keep a secret like this from us again,understand?"
The three kids nodded in understanding,and meanwhile Deimos checked his father and brother.
" Are you two all right?"
" Yeah don't worry everything's fine" Atreus reasuredd.
The boy nodded and went to check on their friends.
" Is you all okay?"
Della smiled at him calmly
" Don't worry sweetie we are all okay,all thanks to Huey"
Deimos looked at the boy with a thankful smile
" Thanks for saving my family"
" Don't mention it"
Louie interpeuted" Okay this is cute and all but maybe we could keep going since we techinally are at the entrance of the mountain?"
They all looked at him a bit annoyed,but agreed.
Kratos pushed up the gate and now they finally were at the mountain's base, and they saw how majestic it was.
Atreus was impressed" Wow,I can see why Mom wanted us to bring her here"
"Yeah,It really is a amazing mountain"
" Indeed"
They went up a path and appreachod a opening in the mountain and the surroding rock was carved in the shape of a gigantic,howling face,with a opening serving as the screaming mouth.
" Wow look at that!" Webby excialmed.
" Fantastic!" Scrooge said.
Louie was also impressed but he noticed a problem.
"Um,guys there is a obestacle ahead of us"
He pointed at the path to the entrance, and everyone looked to his finger's direction.
A trick black smokelike subtance sprewed from the mouth of the stone face ,smotering the pathway to the entrance.
"Is that smoke?" Atreus wondered and the answer came with a bird flying nearby and when it saw the approaching people it panicked and flew near the mist and seemed to get sneared by the black mist and get pulled in to it.
" Well I think that answers the question" Huey said,his voice barley hearable.
Atreus looked at the black mist and felt a little worried at they wouldn't get past it.
" I wish the witch was here,she definitely would have a way past this."
" What makes you think she have the power to vaquish this?"
" Well my magic is usless against the Black Breath, Odin saw to that long ago,but it would be nice if you didn't disrepect me like that if you please"
They all turned around and saw the witch standing a few steps from them like she had always been there.
" Wait where did you come from?
" I have my ways"
Atreus was more interested why she was here" But what are you doing here?"
She put a hand on his shoulder and expthe reason:
" To make sure you can finish your journey"
Kratos just had one question
" Why wait to warn us?"
" I busy saving my friend if you remember..." She answred with a little authority in her voice.
" The Black Breath is a corropution of magic even I can't dispel.
" So what can?" Scrooge quickly asked.
"Only the Light of Aifheim is strong enough to break through"
Deimos reacted to that name" Wait do you mean the magic realm Alfheim?" He asked with a glime in his eyes.
" Yes that's exactly what I mean, but that road is long"
She then turned to Kratos and asked:
"What does this goal mean to you?"
" Everything" The two brothers answered.
She turned to the adventure family
" And what about you,what is so important to you in this mountain?"
Scrooge and Della glanced quickly at each ithet and the answer came from the oldest:
" A answer to a question we need to know about".
The adventours trio looked at their uncle:
" What do you mean uncle Scrooge?
" Yeah what type of question?"
Della quickly stopped the questions
" Not now,kids"
The witch had a sympathetic feeling with both the famlies.
" Then follow me"
Kratos quickly grabbed her arm.
"Why help us?" Supicion was in every part of the sentence"She know exactly what I am,she had no reason to do this for us" he thought,very unsure what her intentions were.
She inhealed deeply before answering:
" Maybe I see myself in you more than I am willing to admit"
She suddenly got a sadden look as she continued:
" Maybe by helping you,I will atone for a lifetime of mistakes"
Finally she looked at the children and a smile came back.
" Or maybe I just like you"
He realized that she maybe just wanted to help them so he reuctuanly asked:
" Where must we go?"
" To a realm beyond yours own"
His sons looked very happy to have another companion.
" Oh are you joining us?"
"Please say that you are"
"Only for a little while"
She repated Kratos's answer
" Only for a little while"
They turned around and began to head back down the path and saw the gondola that Sindri had worked on earlier.
The witch wavered her hands said a spell( Rotna)and some vines that blocked the gondola got untangled and let them pass.
They entered the gondola when Atreus remebred something:
" Wait,we cannot use this,Sindri said it was broken"
The witch looked interested at him
" Sindri?"
"A dwarf we met at the foot of these hills"
Deimos quickly gave some more information " Yeah,he worked very hard on this when we came by"
"Well,there was no one when I passed by, perhaps he finished?, Dwarves can awfully resourceful"
" And irritating,based on the two we met"
She laughed a little
" Yeah,that too"
Kratos turned a switch and the gondola began to move,everyone sat down to rest for a bit while the witch explained her plan:
" Tyr's temple is located in the middle of the lake,it is from there we will travel to Alfheim,and thankfully it's no longer underwater."
" Why is that creature in the bay?"
" No one knows,he just appeared one day,soon after Thor attacked and their battle could be felt across all the realms,ultimately their exchange ended in a stalemate,forcing Thor to return to his father empty-handed,the creature remained,growing so large it now spans all of Midgard".
Atreus and Huey got a thumipant look on their faces:
" See,told you!"
They just got irritating looks from the gang,expect the witch who continued her story:
" They have hated each other ever since,distined to kill each other in Ragnarök"
Deimos felt amazed that someone actually believed in that" Wait do you believe in Ragnarök?"
" I dearly wish I did not child" was the reply.
The gondola reached the base of the foothills,stopping at a rock platform, that served at their's exit.
Atreus decided to share their interaction with the serpent:
" You know,we actually talked to the World Serpent"
The witch's face showed a pleasant surprised smile.
" An exaggeration"
" Yeah it was he who talked" Huey added.
" I'm good with languages, even those I have heard before,but when he talked,I could nor understand anything"
" Sadly few can,he speaks a dead tongue"
" Oh that's really sad,Webby added
" Yeah sounds lonely" Atreus finished.
The witch entered a rocky cave and quickly unsliging a bow with a glowing bowstring and put a arrow on it" Let me show you something" she aimed at a crystal embredded in the rock wall below the chasm.
" Are you watching?"
Ceartain that everyone watched she released a arrow into the crystal which revealed a bridge of light across the gap,she began to walk over it.
" It's solid!" Atreus said in amazent as he walked over the bridge to.
Huey felt his nerdmeter go up " How is it possible?"He asked with his book in hand.
" Elven architecture,my bowstring was soaked in the Light of Alfheim,it can now reawaken the magic of the elves.
" So it will not disappear,will it?"
" Not as long as the light shines free"
" Huey had another question to the witch
" A question,what was that magic you used on the vines earlier?"
" Vanir"
" Wait from Vanaheim?" Atreus asked
"That's right,you know of it?"
" Just stories,mother told me and Deimos,she rarely spoke of the Vanir gods,just that they are always at war with the Aesir.
" Yesh I guess that compared to Thor,and Odin,they are the good gods" Deimos finished.
" There are no good gods,boy thought I taught you both that."
Just as they left the bridge,suddenly some Hel-walkers appeared befoe them.
" I will protect you!" Atreus yelled as he stood in front of the witch.
" How sweet"
Everyone expect the witch rushed into the battle and thus time it went much quicker,the dead was defeated in just some mere minutes.
"Are you okay?"
She looked at him with a sweet smile
" I am now,my protector,you are very brave,but I must admit, I fear for this realm's future,once the roads and trails was crowded with people,now they hide or hav fleed,save for the reavers that are savage enough to survive such a world.
" But what are those creatures?" Atreus asked
" Someone called them Hel-walkers, what are they?" Della asked with a little mother concern.
" They are restless souls denied their judgment and their peace, a plague caused by a world out of balance.Someone or spmething has meddled with powerful forced.
Exiting through doors at the other end of the passage,they saw that they was back on the bridge that lead to the big temple.
"Who created this temple exactly,and please tell me they put in hard work, and didn't cheat with magic" Scrooge asked, adding that last part as a extra question.
" All the races helped with their construction,it was the last act of cooperation between the realms before peace ended for good,so their was hard work in this,and no they didn't cheat with magic"
" Good"
She guided Kratos down some stairs where she told him to grab a wheel and push the bridge to it's furst position which he did.
They entered the temple where the witch shoot another arrow at a crystal which created another bridge,but the bowstring's glow vanished.
Louie noticed that " Wait what happen to your bow?"
" Its power is now depleted,tiny bits of magic remained in the bowstring and we have used them."
She touched the bowstring which made it disappear and she held out her hands towards Atreus.
" Your bow".
He held it out and with a grand wave of her hand,his own bowstring unstringed itself and she replaced with her own.
" Listen well,once you claim the light of alfheim,you must infuse the bowstring with its power, Do not forget!"
" Wait why are you talking like you aren't coming with us?"
" I will try,but measures were taken to keep me trapped in Midgard".
She quickly added:
" The gods don't care much for me"
They finally entered through the final doorwhich lead into a dark,ornate domed chamber. Inside a pedestal with an elaborate table hovered at the room's center, floating above an inky hole that defied gravityAnd some tree roots created a bridge to it.
" This temple has been asleep, underwater for almost a hundred and fifty winters,but it only needs the Bifröst light to reawake.
She went to the table and picked up a portsable metallic lamp with a faintly glowing crystal in it.
She gave it to Kratos everyone examined it with interest,could this little thing really transport them to another realm?
" It will capture,transfer and hold the Light of Alfheim"
She them turned to the others
" Do you still have the lantern I gave you?
" Yes we do Huey said as he opened his backpack and showed it.
"Good that also can hold the Light of Alfheim"
" How does the traveling between the realms work?"
" Let me show you,put the Bifröst here" she pointed to a slot in the table.
He put in the Bifröst and then a tiny mobel of the temple risef up with seven towers.
" Now I give you the rune to Alfheim,( she touched her hand abd his hand glowned a little) Now turn the bridge to the alfheim tower.
As he turned the wheel the tiny model bridge,turned too.
" Is this turning the big bridge outside?"
"Correct,your father is lining the bridge with the right realm."
Then as the bridge locked in place,the pedestial they stood on began to rotate and some roots moved towards a crystal that they picked up and a beam was shooted in to it but then everything stopped.
" Wait it isn't work,we are still here"
"Follow me"
Kratos examined the Bifrost and discovered that the crystal didn't glow anymore
" The bifrost has gone dark"
" Unfortunate,this trip was it's last use, there is no going back now until it is replenished with the Light of Alfheim.
" Witch are you saying that we are trapped in this realm?"
She looked at him calmly
" Someone with your abilty should not be any trouble getting back to Midgard"
They went towards the doors leading to the bridge and when Kratos opened them,the bridge outside was in the same location as in Midgard but instead of spanning a lake it spanned a jagged chasm,and they became a bit uneasy about the surrodings.
"Witch you have a sword,can you fight with it?"
She shooked her head
" A spell from a angry god prevents me from wielding my blade against any living creature"
Instead of answering she pointed towards the distance,and asked
" Do you think you can spot..."?
She suddenly stopped and got a worried look
" What is it?" Webby asked worriedly
" The light,I can see barly see it,she pointed to a small lightsource shooting up in the sky but barley noticeable.
" See that light column on the horizon? It is housed in thr heart of a ringed temple,we find what we need there.
But them her hand suddenly began to disintergrate which spread to rest if her body.
" No,no,no,no,no! Dammit not yet the witch muttered to herself,Fear anger and desperation swarmed her face.
" What's happening?!" Atreus yelled in panic wantig to help her but didn'y know how.
A unseen powerful force then began to pull her back to the temple.
Della grabbed her hand but just followed her tiwards the temple.
" Mom! Two voices cried out.
Kratos quickly grabbed the witch's other hand waist but then a rift opened which only made the force more stronger,but she managed to say the most important information.
" To restore the Bifrost's magic and power the lantern you need to step into the light,but be very vareful not to get trapped into the...
But she never finished the sentence,the force finallty pulled her into the rift,her prison awaited her.
No!" Atreus yelled as he ran forward but there was not a trace of her.
Della had lost her grip,and thankfully not gone with the witch,her boys ran to her.
" Are you okay,Mom? They asked at the same time.
" Yeah boys,I'm fine"
Deimos looked shocked at the spot the witch had vanished" What happen to her?"
" She said it herself lad,she couldn't leavr Midgard"
Father,what do you think?"
" Come" was his reponse.
He walked forward into a new realm which would have surprises for some of the members,and not nice surprises sadly.
AN
To start,Sorry it took so long to publish this chapter,I have begun to write other stories so sorry if it took a while.
And the reason why This chapter is very long is because I wantes to really getting things moving so again sorry if it is too much in one chapter.