Years Ago

“I do not understand…” said a young boy, a confused look slowly turning to annoyance in his blue eyes. “Show me again, Loki.”

“Thou never could keep track of mine tricks,” Loki said, a vaguely mocking though still friendly grin upon his narrow face. “Thou may be the warrior born Thor, but thou art not the most swift in the ways of the mind. But of course, dear brother, I will show thee again.”

With that said, Loki held out his hand, a golden coin set on his palm which bore the likeness of the All-Father Odin. He held the coin between his thumb and forefinger before beginning to tumble it over his knuckles slowly. Before him Thor sat, watching with bright blue eyes. Loki held the coin out to him with a slight tilt of his head. “Go on then, mine brother, check it again and again…t’is just a coin, bearing our father’s face, aye, but just a coin.”

“Thou made it vanish. No ordinary coin can vanish, Loki,” Thor said, leaning in closer to inspect the coin before grunting a vague acknowledgement that it was just a coin. He leaned back and raised a brow. “I think thou intends to fool me, t’is magic and not…a trick as thy said.”

“What makes thee think it vanished? T’was under the cup you did not pick…not a magic trick, just a trick,” Loki said, once more rolling the coin across his knuckles, “We will go again, and this time thou shalt catch the trick.”

Loki quickly set up the trick in question, which consisted of three flagons, set upside down with the coin being placed under one of the cup. He made sure that Thor saw the coin before he placed the cup down.

“Ready, mine dearest brother?” Loki asked, and with a nod from Thor whose eyes were locked on the cups began to swap the cups quick and nimbly. His green eyes narrowed slightly and a smirk half-formed on his young narrow face. “Quickly they move, around each other and back again… where is the coin? Keep thy eyes on the flagon that hides our father’s most handsome visage.”

For a minute or more Loki moved the cups before stopping and sitting back with his eyes on his brother. Thor studied them closely, his finger hovering over one than another before finally settling on the middle cup. “I choose the middle one.”

“Are you sure? Doest thou wish to re-consider thy choice?” Loki asked, a thin brow arched. “Always time to change thy mind before the cup is lifted.”

“I have chosen the center cup…I know it to be that one as I knew it to be the other cups I chose before,” Thor answered, crossing his already strong arms across his chest. “If I am wrong, then thou must be using magic. A coin cannot disappear without it. Lift the cup.”

“Of course, of course,” Loki said before lifting the center cup to reveal… no coin. “Brother…thou eyes perhaps art not as strong as thy thought.”

“Loki! Thy sorcery pervades this very exercise!” Thor yelled before with a hard backhand he sent the cups away with a crash. The coin was nowhere to be seen and this angered the young God who rose to his feet. “This trick, t’was all a jest brother?! To make a fool of me?!”

“Calm brother, calm…t’is only a trick, no jest upon thee…look…t’is all sleight of hand!” Loki said quickly, his tone calm as he sought to rein in his brothers rising anger. He held out his hand and within it he held the coin. “T’was never under the cups, that is the trick…see? Quite the little deception!”

Thor studied the coin and then his brother before his anger dissipated and his fists opened slowly. With a nod, he once more sat down before Loki. “I see…t’is something I could learn then?”

“Could thou learn this trick?” Loki asked, a slightly surprised look on his face and in his emerald eyes. His tone was more pleased than anything else, for after all Thor rarely showed interest in such skills of the mind. “Aye, brother, thou can learn this. T’is only a quick hand with no magic involved.”

“Then let us begin the lessons. I look forward to showing father mine skill in games,” Thor said, leaning forward to get a closer look. “Now when doest thou remove the coin?”

Over the next few hours, the two young boys practiced and discussed the trick until finally Thor was able to carry out the whole trick without completely tipping someone off. Loki held his tongue on the clumsy way his brother managed the little trick, for it was not his place to undermine Thor’s success.

“Hah! Father will surely fall for this,” Thor said, a broad grin crossing his face as he studied the coin in his hand. After a moment he looked back to Loki and patted him on the shoulder. “Thank thee brother, t’was a good lesson learned….now t’is time I taught thee to better handle thy blade.”

“On this, Thor, I think we come to disagreement,” Loki said with a roll of his eyes. “T’is a pointless exercise…”

Thor studied his brother, a slim tall boy with long raven black hair, so different than himself. He knew full well that the other children treated Loki with disdain based partly on his lack of skill with the blade. His brother was a thinker and a worker of runes but still… to earn the respect of his peers he would need to master the use of a weapon. Thor was determined to teach him the way of a blade, for after all, was not Thor a warrior born?

“Nonsense, brother, thou let thy doubters hold sway on thee, thou art an heir to the throne of Asgard… a true warrior of the eternal realm,” Thor said his voice true and strong. “Thou base thyself on the words of others.”

“Doubters? Dear brother…they openly hate me,” Loki answered, looking downward as he stood up. “I am blamed for every turn of ill luck suffered during our little games and practices.”

“Words brother, only words…and those will change as thy skill and focus increases,” Thor answered, turning and walking toward and then opening twin glass doors before stepping out onto the balcony. Loki followed behind him and soon both looked out over the golden city of Asgard, glittering in its majesty. “But none of that truly matters, Loki.”

“Does it not, Thor? Mine own peers opinion of me means nothing?” Loki asked, raising a slender brow as he took a seat on the wide marble railing, his legs kicking absently.

“Aye, t’is nothing really…thou hast no need of them. Thou hast me,” Thor answered, resting his hands on the railing and looked down at a coming procession of warriors. “Loki, thou will always have me at thy back.”

“Then, brother…that is all I will need,” Loki said, a genuine smile crossing his face. “Two brothers against Nine worlds entire.”

“With mine arm and thy mind, we will be unstoppable,” Thor said, grinning wide as he studied his brother. After a moment Thor began to laugh, loud and hardily, the sound clear in the silent hall. He was joined moments later by Loki and the sound of the children’s laughter rang out to the city.

The Present

“Why must things be this way, Loki…?”

“What, my Lord?” Axe asked, tilting her head slightly as she turned to study the mighty God of Thunder.

“Hm…? No, t’is nothing, fair lady Axe… t’was only quiet musings on mine part,” Thor answered, his deep blue eyes clearing as he pulled himself from memories of the past and focused on the young woman before him. Young only in appearance, for though his companion was slight of frame she possessed the manner of a trueborn warrior and, though quite comely with long raven black hair, was nearly as old as he. “Nothing to concern thyself with…naught but memories of times long past.”

Turning away from the Captain of the Valkyrior, Thor surveyed the land before them and what met his eyes was different than expected. For last he remembered the realm of Hel had been one of crimson, flame and jutting rocks that stuck out like spires. It was plain that things had changed between then and now as the realm of Hel was a frozen plain of ice and snow which surrounded a vast city of black stone.

“Much has changed since last I was here…” Thor said, studying the massive city. “T’was nothing of this here before… Hela hast changed much.”

“Aye, she has,” Axe said as she moved to stand beside him, her spear draped across her shoulder behind her neck. “Mistress Hela felt it was time to give her charges a home of sorts in the manner of the realm eternal…though of course it to responds to her moods. On days where she is in higher spirits the whole of the city is gold. T’is quite breathtaking to see such a sight in as grim a realm as this.”

“Aye, I suppose it must be…” Thor began before an explosion of golden energy flared up in the city, bright and writhing as if it had a life all its own. They were not so far from the city that they could not see the broken bodies which were so akin to puppets without strings and the shattered black stone fragments laced throughout the burst of energy. The blast taking only seconds to die before everything thrown into the air by it fell to the ground. Thor looked to Axe for a moment and then back to the city.

“It seems thy brother hast met the army of Hel,” Axe said, her blue eyes flashing.

“Aye, so it seems,” answered Thor. His eyes narrowed and he let his grip on Mjolnir slacken, the warhammer sliding free slowly only to be caught by the leather strap. “Doest thou still wish to aid me, noble Captain Axe?”

“Aye, I do,” the Valkyrie answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Then let us go see to mine foolish brother,” Thor said before he grabbed hold of Axe about her waist and began to whirl the wondrous mallet, Mjolnir, in a circle by his side. The warhammer whirled faster and faster before he swung it forward as if to throw it but without letting go. The mighty Mjolnir was launched up and toward the city and, as his grip was strong, it took both Thor and Axe with it. They arced up and over the city with Thor guiding their direction through his mystic bond with the warhammer. The city itself came more clearly into view and its massive size paired with its gothic style of building made for an impressive sight. Tall spires of smooth ebon black stone stuck up above the many buildings. Much thought had gone into the creation of this city and as if to enforce the identity of the creator, stained glass windows contained intricate images of Hela in her various choice of raiment were set prominently on the buildings Thor and Axe passed.

It only took moments for them to reach the scene of battle. Pausing in midair, hammer whirling above him, Thor took in the whole of the battle.

There, in a veritable sea of blades, was Loki surrounded by a dome of seemingly impenetrable golden energy. The pale, gaunt warriors clad in green and jet armor battered on the shield with a fanatic’s fervor, causing ripples to flow out over the dome continuously. Within the dome Thor could see even from where he hovered that Loki was at ease, his manner suggesting that all this was below him. With a motion of his hand the dome seemed to pulse and without warning expanded out to smash aside the massed army, crushing them into buildings with punishing body pulping force or tossed them back into their comrades. As quickly as it expanded, it retracted and Loki began to laugh.

“Mine brother hath grown in strength it seems,” Thor said, his face grim and his voice hard. “Though without number can Hela’s forces contain him long enow to prevent whatever foul goal he has?”

“Aye, perhaps they could, but… perhaps not, my lord,” Axe said, her eyes narrowing. “Given time, the all-consuming horde of Hela can overcome all but thy twisted brother is very strong.”

“Aye, thou art correct… T’is not something I will leave to chance,” Thor said before willing Mjolnir to draw them away to a buildings ledge, on which he let Axe go. “Join me quickly, Captain… T’is time we assisted Mistress Hela’s army in dealing with my brother.”

With that said, Thor rose up quickly into the sky, soaring up above the tallest of sky scrapers but he kept Loki in sight. Once high enough he launched down toward Loki, once more in his hand Mjolnir led the way before him. As he flew straight and true he bellowed, “LOKI!”

Hearing his name gave Loki a warning just in time for he looked up and saw his oncoming brother and though sudden surprise crossed his face he drew the dome in and up shaping it quickly into a shielding disk. Hammer held in both hands Thor struck the shield with the force of a comet. The impact of the blow resulted in a wave of force of such magnitude as to send the nearest already weakened buildings falling over to collapse against the next in line and shattered the stained glass windows for a mile around. The gaunt dead warriors nearby were thrown back by that same wave, once more rebuffing the horde.

IN HEL, ONLY BATTLE AWAITS

By Kristi Manchester

Elsewhere

It had been only a few short hours since Magni had gone to the halls of Idunn to rest and heal before the voice of the All-Father called him to the throne room. Though he had only been able to rest for such a short time he felt refreshed. The apples of Idunn brought strength to his limbs and to his spirit. He rose from the bed, stretched his back, and dressed himself in newly-delivered armor, sleeveless and black in color. It matched closely his father’s current chosen armor with four silver disks set into the chest, gleaming as if forged moments before. Around his waist was a gold and silver belt, with a large circular buckle engraved with crossed fists. The pants were close fitted, and were tucked into the gold and black boots, with gold and crimson bracers around his wrists. The armor allowed him ease of movement as it left his broad shoulders and thick muscle corded arms free.

Once he deemed himself presentable he quickly took his leave, pausing only to speak to Idunn once he saw how empty the hall was. Only the most seriously wounded still remained in the hall it was beside one such man he found Idunn.

“Fair Idunn,” Magni said as he bowed slightly before her. “How is he?”

“Noble Sif fairs poorly, his wounds were grave indeed…I hath done all I can though t’is little but mine apples may yet save him… given time,” Idunn said with a heavy sigh. “We hath been lucky on this day for few hath been beyond mine help.”

“Yes… lucky indeed,Lady Idunn,” Magni said as he stepped back, and looked around the hall. “I see none but the gravely wounded remain…the others are fit for battle?”

“Aye, fit and gone to prepare…” Idunn said, turning her gaze to him and quickly looked him over. “Thou were asleep when the call went out to begin preparation for the attack.

“I see…Though I must move with haste…can you tell me of the Lady Sif and noble Tyr?” Magni asked, concern in his voice mainly for his mother but to avoid any possible suspicion he included the God of War in his inquiry. “Were they fully cared for? I do not see either in this hall.”

Before answering Idunn studied the young God, her blue eyes studied him carefully as she heard the notes of concern in his tone and knew immediately whose fate he truly wished to know about.

“Worry not over thy kin, mighty warrior. Tyr’s wounds healed quickly under mine skilled touch thus allowing him to begin preparation of our warriors for battle… Thou may find him shouting commands,” she said, tilting her head slightly, her long golden blonde hair falling gently over her shoulders. “The lady Sif also fairs well, her wounds though graver were no less mended and she left with fair Baldur the Brave.”

“This news calms my nerves Lady Idunn… Thank thee for such good tidings,” Magni said before bowing in a hasty manner with a broad genuine smile that betrayed his youthful age. “Now I must make haste, good day, m’lady.”

Quickly leaving the healing hall, he ran toward the palace, passing the growing crowds of armored and armed warriors of Asgard who had recently returned home at Odin’s command. There was none of the women or the children with them as they had been kept hidden. It was a wise move as far as Magni was concerned; the Trolls and Giants had brazenly attacked them and could be planning to do so again. Though he knew haste was in order he paused to watch as the armed warriors of Asgard, now hundreds strong moved into loose formations. All were clad in armor of varying styles and types, some in full iron black plate while others in lighter leathers but all wore ornaments, hides and furs of some type in some way. They followed the directions of the God of War who deftly moved them in an orderly fashion. Tyr himself stood on the broken pedestal of a formerly majestic statue, dressed in golden armor with an intricate fist inlaid in blue sapphire on his chest. In his right hand was a great sword and his long black hair tied into two braids draped over his shoulders. He looked wholly healed and Magni was glad for it, for whom better to lead the Asgardians into battle besides the very god of war himself.

Sparing no more time he ran toward the palace, dodging as best he could around the constant movement of siege engines and quickly gathered horses. As quick as he was able, he reached the palace and ascended the stairs. The great doors lay on the road where they had been thrown with clear force and rubble was strewn about on the stairs. The hole torn into the front of the palace was massive and surprisingly unsettling to the young god for even though the palace was different then what his memory recalled he had never seen it damaged in such a way. It was the home of the All-Father and was beyond reproach but here it stood, wounded and damaged and he knew this would lead somehow to his treacherous uncle, Loki.

Quickly he ascended the stairs, racing toward the throne room and through the open doors of blackened wood. Before him was the glory of Asgard’s palace. The throne room was vast and seemed massive to the eyes of the godling. The room itself was lit with golden light and it was nearly empty save for the throne of gold set atop a set of stairs. Upon it sat the All-Father, clad in his armor and holding in his hands the shattered remains of a weapon. Magni walked to the steps and as he did he scanned the room, they were as far as he was able to tell alone. Once he reached the steps he knelt before them, his head lowered and his fist to his heart. “You summoned me, All-Father?”

“Aye, Magni, I hath summoned thee to me for counsel and to grant a mighty boon,” Odin said, his voice echoing out throughout the hall. Standing up, his eye glowed a deep blue as he held up the shattered weapon in his hands. “In mine hands I hold a weapon forged through the power of the Odinforce and designed through mine own wisdom unmatched in this cosmos.”

“What mighty weapon is this?” Magni asked, for he had no knowledge of such a weapon. He was aware only of the mightiest weapons being forged by Dwarfs and not by his Grandfather.

“Kin to the mighty mallet Mjolnir, wielded by mine own hand and then thy father’s. This weapon so like that enchanted hammer was known only as the Thunderstrike, a mace of nearly equal power. Crafted by mine hand for the noblest of warriors, Eric Masters, who t’was born mortal but gifted the power of a God,” Odin said, studying the shattered mace before looking to the young man before him. “It was destroyed but there is a need for such a weapon in the coming trials… if what Loki plans comes to pass, then darkest times come upon noble Asgard.”

Before Magni’s eyes, Odin focused his will, his mind and his all mighty power upon the item in his hands. Unfathomable energies flooded into the broken mace and radiated out around Odin in waves. Quickly the golden energies surrounded him and within moments he was impossible to look upon. Magni shaded his eyes and looked away, seeking only to avoid being struck sightless for the light was truly blinding. The blaze of energies ended as quickly as it had begun, revealing Odin with the restored Thunderstrike in his hands. The weapon was perfect once more with nary a hair line crack in its silver uru head.

“Mine son Loki seeks to release what must never be released. A horror from before the birth of the nine realms bested by mine father Bor, myself and mine brothers Villi and Vey,” Odin said studying the weapon in his hands before looking to Magni. “If thy father fails to stop Loki’s mad quest then a warrior worthy must once more wield the Thunderstrike.”

Odin walked down the steps to stand before Magni , towering over the young god.

“Doest thou swear to protect fair Asgard against all that would do her harm?” Odin asked, the mace pointed toward Magni.

“Aye, All-Father, this I swear,” Magni answered, looking up at Odin with steel in his voice.

“Doest thou swear to be the protector of all the nine realms and to hold back the coming doom until thy dying breath?” Odin asked, running his gaze over his grandson, studying him for any trace of falsehood.

“Aye, All-Father, I swear to protect the nine realms till death claims me and even beyond death,” Magni answered, fist clenched tighter still held to his chest.

Odin’s eye flared a brighter cerulean blue and he seemed to look deep into Magni’s soul. He took stock of the determination and sincerity within the boy’s voice. His gaze stretched beyond the young Godlings recent deeds extending to his life in the Asgard of cycles past. He saw the battles his Grandson had fought, the deeds he had accomplished and the sacrifices he had made. What Odin found was a noble and profoundly brave if not reckless warrior. Magni was so like Thor was at that age in both manner and bearing but was more humble. All this influenced his choice.

“Rise, Magni Thorson, I deem thee worthy to wield Thunderstrike,” Odin declared as he held out the mace to the rising wide eyed Magni.

Upon taking the mighty mace from Odin Magni felt an infusion of power unlike any he ever experienced before. The power surged through him and he could feel a nascent connection, a new born bond to the very power of the storms itself forming. The air smelled faintly of burnt ozone and electricity played out over the Uru metal head of the mace and through his eyes. Clenching his fist tighter around the leather wrapped grip he fell to one knee, a surprised awe on his face.

“It is so very like Mjolnir, Grandfather,” Magni said in a soft voice. “Is this what my father feels when he holds the mighty Mjolnir?”

“Aye, t’is power beyond imagining,” Odin answered with a nod. “In thy hand thou doest hold a weapon of which there be only two others of its kind in existence. The mighty Mjolnir and the Stormbringer wielded by thy father and by the noble brother to our people, Beta Ray Bill.”

“I… All-Father, I am not worthy of such an honor,” Magni managed to stammer out. He held the mace tight for a moment, sure in the belief that Odin would see the fault in his choice, but Odin only put his hand on the young god’s shoulder.

“Nay, Magni… I hath looked into thy soul, into thy past and into thy heart and thou art worthy.” Odin said his voice surprisingly gentle. “Let thy deeds from this moment on show all what I already see within you.”

“Thank you, All-Father,” Magni said, his tone and manner solemn. “I will prove myself worthy of the Thunderstrike.”

“Aye, thou will. Now let us go,” Odin said, his voice growing ever more grim. “War calls and we shalt answer its summons.”

Meanwhile in Hel

“Dear brother…I am so glad that thou couldst join me,” Loki said, his tone bitterly sarcastic as he rose up slowly to his feet amid the floating the shards of his shattered shield. The dim light of Hel shined through the shards and cast rainbows throughout them. Loki waved his hand with feigned nonchalance, causing the shards to flow away in streams of energy back into the ether. “T’would seem our dear, dear Father, Odin the one-eyed bastard sent you, for when hast Thor ever been able to keep up with clever Loki?”

“Arrogant King of Lies and mocking fool… never doest thou change, Brother,” Thor said as he rose to his feet. He stood before the god of mischief with Mjolnir held in his hand and a grim look on his face. The Thunder God had been sent back twenty feet away from Loki by the combination of the impact of his attack and the explosion of Loki’s shield. Thor cracked his neck and took a step forward without a single glance around him at the horde of the dead that had ringed them in. “Always doest thou think thyself more clever than all others, always doest thou believe that he is above the All-Father in all things and always is thou wrong. Odin hast discovered thy scheme and now has come the time to end thy game. T’is time for a reckoning.”

The two gods faced off with the surrounding army of Hel standing finally finding their footing. The army was made entirely from all the men who had died of old age and sickness, but not bravely in battle. They were gaunt and gray but none looked truly dead. Though their eyes were a frozen pale blue and though all wore the emerald and jet armor, it was of many different makes and ranged from heavy plate to layered leathers and iron. The force of Thor’s attack had rebuffed them and still the effects of it were all around as the buildings finished collapsing, shattered and strewn across the city, long broken ebon scars marking the majestic city. Dust filled the still air and the only sound was the settling of the rubble.

“Think mineself more clever? No mine boorish brother I know I am above our ‘father’ in wisdom and intelligence. He is nothing but a brut’ish fool who hast failed to use the power given to him with any skill or finesse,” Loki said, his voice dripping with hate mixed with his well accustomed arrogance. “With the power he hid away, power that surpasses even the vaunted Odinforce I will ensure Asgard reaches its true potential and is once more the focus of all the universes worship and fear. How thou could stand in the way of the glorious age I will create has always screamed of insanity to me brother. But thou didst not come here for word play, and when hast I been able to convince thee of the truths thou so willingly avoid?”

“Aye, Loki… let us finish this and all thy mad schemes, once and for all,” Thor said, his grip tightening around Mjolnir. Shifting his weight forward, the Thunder God launched off, running forward hard with the mighty mallet drawing back and, as he reached Loki, he brought it down with as much force as he could. Loki in response quickly, with deft movements of his fingers, weaved a new shield of translucent energy. The hammer slammed down into the shield with thunderous force, cracking it but not destroying it, and Thor swiftly drew back Mjolnir to drive another blow down. The makeshift shield shattered under the barrage of savage blows, and the force of it launched Loki back a step. Thor kept in close to his brother in an attempt to keep the God of Lies from summoning up his dread mystic arts. He launched a hard right punch that snapped Loki’s head back and followed it with a savage cross swing of Mjolnir that, if it had not been pulled, would have shattered the god’s jaw. Loki as a result was thrown to the side but, before he could land, he was caught by the Thunder God’s mighty hand. Thor yanked him forward and twice headbutted Loki hard and fast, sending Loki to his knees with Thor holding him by his throat.

For Loki’s part he was remarkably aware and even somewhat calm as he held out his hand palm forward and, with a bloody smirk, shot a destructive blast of energy that sent Thor flying into and through the mass of the dead, the bodies of the gaunt warriors pulping under his weight. Loki stood up straight and strode forward, hands surrounded in nearly blinding liquid-like auras of energy. Thor recovered quickly and, with a heavy cross swing of Mjolnir, cleared the area around him of enemies which let him rise to his feet to meet his brother. Around them the dead decided finally to swarm in and deal with the intruders themselves. The sudden appearance of Thor had held the army of Hel back, but they had been tasked with ceasing the God of Lies’ assault on their Mistress’ Kingdom of Hel. None took issue with attacking the Thunder God, and it was then as the army of the dead drew blade against the sons of Odin did Axe arrive.

“Hold, dread army of Hel!” Axe cried out as she ran forward to stand before the coming horde. “The Thunder God is not thy foe on this day! Only the foul Loki seeks to attack Mistress Hela’s domain, and only he should face thy wraith.”

At the Captain of the Valkyrior’s command, the gaunt warriors parted like the sea around Thor and quickly merged once more into one army whole charging in from two sides at Loki. Loki, with a hateful glare at Axe, tore though the servants of Hela, who seemed without number began to send blast after blast of energy into the mass of long dead warriors. A haze of heat edged each blast and they burned through the dead, sending charred limbs falling to the ground as bodies were incinerated. Already Loki began to weave a new shield around himself and, with an angered battlecry, Axe tested the nascent shield with her spear, launching herself forward and driving the point into it. The spearpoint pierced through but stopped short of puncturing Loki’s chest. With a half-snarl he pushed the half-formed shield out, repelling her back a step, but only a step as she managed to stab her spear into the ground and stop her flight. Behind her, Thor held Mjolnir up above his head and with a flash of lightning across its Uru head summoned a mighty storm of rain and lightning. The lightning bolts struck the golden shield and the electricity played over it, but the shield could not hold against such a powerful barrage as the striking bolts hit faster and faster until the shield shattered. Into this onslaught did Hela’s undead soldiers launch themselves and, due to the constant attacks by Thor and Axe, they were able to close in and wound Loki.

Loki screamed out in rage as blades cut into him, though they were shallow little biting wounds that barely passed his robes, the very idea that these loathsome things could hurt the God of Mischief angered him beyond belief. Gathering the rememnants of his shield he formed a golden blade which he slashed out around him, quick and cleanly slicing all around him into two bloodeless halves, save for Axe who leapt back to land by Thor.

“Vile dogs, sick and ancient slaves of Hela! None shalt touch me!” Loki yelled, his deadly blade slashing apart any who came close to him, littering the ground around him with limbs and bodies. “I will have my prize!”

Meanwhile: Hela’s palace of Helheim

“Mistress Hela… thou may wish to see this… there is a new development.” A tall not unattractive, yet gaunt and pale woman, clad in jet and emerald plate armor said. She stood before a circular portal within the throne room watching the battle taking place in the center of the city. “The much sought after object of thine devotion hast arrived to take thy father to task.”

“Hast mine father brought help?” Hela said, rising up from her throne and striding down the steps quickly. She had replaced her flowing gown with form fitted armor, emerald and jet. Upon her shoulders was a cloak of emerald, black as night until the light played over it and on her head she wore the tall helm that had rested beside her throne. The helm left her mouth uncovered and from behind the viser her blood red eyes burned with a constant soft glow. Upon a well-wrought obsidian black belt she wore a sword, an ornate basket hilt guard and a black rose for a pommel. Upon reaching the floor she walked to her favored attendant. “I seek no one who wouldst aid my lying Father.”

“Of course, my Mistress, but this is not an ally of thy scheming petty vain father but an enemy. Come see,” the servant said and again gestured at the portal. “Thou will be pleased with this turn of events.”

Hela stepped close to join her loyal servant and studied the battle that was currently occurring in her realm. There was Loki cutting apart her endless army with words, blade and spell which she had expected but there alongside the Captain of the Vakyrior was the mighty God of Thunder, Thor. Thor was here, Thor who she favored nearly above all was within her lands and within her grasp. Her blood red lips curled up in a smirk and she studied the trueborn son of Odin with a desire in her red eyes. “I see…this doest please me. I will honor mine oath and fulfill my heart’s desire. My army will deal with both my father and Thor and in doing deliver Thor to my side.”

“As you wish, M’lady,” the servant said with a nod. “Would it not be wise to send stronger warriors as well?”

“Hm… the dead are numberless but perhaps…” Hela said with a thoughtful tone more to herself than anyone else. “Send my strongest servants… in fact, send Durok. Loki and Thor will know him well and mayhaps he will do what his namesake claims… mayhaps he will demolish them.”

Hela laughed soft but clear in the throne room before she turned and strode up the steps to her throne. She took a seat and crossed her legs, lounging almost casually as she watched the battle unfold. All seemed to be going her way for once and it was a change she quite enjoyed… It was enough to make the Goddess of death quite pleased.

Outside Helheim

Loki was thrown back through an ebony stone wall with a harsh grunt, Mjolnir was the driving force behind his momentum and forced him through a taverns set of sturdy tables. Buried slightly in the wreckage Loki could only watch as the mystic mallet flew back and away to the hand of Thor. The Thunder God had approached the hole and was flanked and passed by the warriors of Hela who sought to reach the God of Lies. Loki recovered well and, with a whispered word, he used the shattered tables as projectiles, shooting them out in a wide spread and the impact of each tore a warrior apart. Thor backhanded away a wide, jagged section of table and passed through the body and limb covered ground in a swift charge. He brought Mjolnir down in a one-handed downward swing, but it was blocked by the debris in the room that Loki had shifted in front of himself. The God of Evil narrowed his eyes, a flash of golden light flooding them as he forced Thor back and out of the building by releasing a repelling wave of force. Thor was launched out and through a statue of Hela, uninjured he rose quickly to his feet from the wreckage he had landed in. Within Thor’s blue eyes crackled the fury of the storms for the now the God of Thunder was tired of being so quickly tossed away by his brother.

It was at this moment he was joined by Axe once again, who had begun to rally the disorganized army of Hel, an army not known for discipline but for its dependence on numbers and savagery. More of the gaunt, pale warriors charged in once more at the emerging Loki who, with a series of words that even he found strange to pronounce, began to pulp every warrior who came within reach. Each word, a twisting writhing thing seemed to echo through the air, and Thor could sense the ancient innate wrongness of them. The bodies now crushed and mangled fell to the ground and it was then that the army of Hel suddenly stopped surging forward and paused as if listening to something. All three, Thor, Axe and Loki stopped themselves and looked around at the horde. An eerie silence took over the corpse-strewn battle field and none could say why the battle had virtually ceased.

“Something is wrong, noble Axe…” Thor said as he looked around, the strange event forcing a cease fire between the sons of Odin. He looked to Axe with a questioning look to his eyes. “What doest this mean?”

Axe stood beside him, head tilted slightly as she attempted to hear what she knew the warriors around them could hear. While she focused, the army of Hel began to retreat at first and reformed up in a now full ring around the now devastated area. For a short few seconds she listened, and what she heard shocked her.

“Thor Mistress Hela takes notice of us… we must make haste. We hath been declared…!”She shouted as suddenly the dead saw them once again and a spear was thrown through the air barely missing her. Turning to face the horde she finished her alarming statement. “…Enemies!”

Barely had the words passed her lips that the lone spear was soon followed by nearly hundreds of black bladed spears. They fell like rain upon the Asgardians, peppering the ground around them and would have impaled the three if not for quick action. Thor smashed the spears from the air with Mjolnir, hard wide swings protecting him easily from the attack while Axe danced between. Swift and agile were her movements, and her own spear sliced through the air to bat aside and to cut through any that fell in range. Loki had managed during the brief pause in battle to repair his broken shields. Glowing golden disks flittered about him and interposed themselves between the falling spears. The assault lasted for mere seconds before, with a thunderous battle cry of “For Hel, for Hela!” the dark army of the dead of age and sickness charged forward.

Warriors born were Thor and Axe, while Loki had learned much in his life in the making of war, so all three met the charge. Not as one, but were they not gods? Thor flung Mjolnir straight and true through the ranks of berserkers, and the hammer smashed them aside as if going through nothing but air. The mystic mallet returned swiftly to his hand just as he crashed into the wall of metal and blades. Savage swing after swing of his hammer smote foe after foe and threw aside the crippled and shattered warriors who flew through the air to land among their brethren. A short distance away, Axe matched his pace but not his more brut’ish tactics as her spear spun and cut, parrying away attacking steel while countering with quick slashes and jabs. Armor was rent, slashed clean through or punctured clean through. Bloodless bodies littered the ground. Beside her, releasing dazzling blasts of energy was Loki, each blast of mystic power incinerated whole rows of men and rent long channels in to the ground. Smoking limbs fell to the ground as whole portions of bodies were suddenly gone. Though the resistance was mighty, the gods were surrounded in moments though the numbers seemed to matter little even then. Thor continued to demolish every enemy he faced and with a rallying cry of “For Asgard and for the All-Father!” he began to rain down lightning, shredding the massive army and sending his foes upward in explosions of rock and dust. His cry was echoed by Axe. A mocking laugh was all Loki offered in word, but in action he swiped his hand out across his chest in an arc and ebon edged flames rolled out before him. Only charred bones and destroyed weapons, little more than slag remained before him and it was in this way through hammer, thunder, spear, and the mystic arts was Hela’s army repulsed.

Around them was now an area cleared of standing enemies and the remaining horde, still a mighty army was held back for now.

“Hela! Answer my call!” Axe cried out, looking toward the towering Helheim in the distance. “Thor stands with me in defense of thy land against thy father the trickster Loki. Why hast thou commanded thy army to attack us in this way!?!”

Thor and Loki stood apart from each other but they watched each other as well as the dead warriors around them warily. Loki for his part took a moment to repair his robes and re-weave his shields of protection.

“Loki… mine brother, heed mine words…Turn from this path that thou hast set thyself upon before it t’is too late.” Thor said as he turned to Loki, perhaps foolishly turning his back on the dead warriors. “Thou hast brought war to Asgard and must pay for thy crimes but if only thou wouldst surrender here and now the inevitable final battle between us may be avoided.”

“Surrender, Thor? Thou asks me to surrender to thee? Doest thou really think when I am so very close to the very power that willst enable me to dethrone our dear dear father that I will simply give up?” Loki replied with a raised brow and soon a sneer on his lips. “Ever did I believe that the mighty Thor, God of Thunder had little to no sense of humor but here we stand and thou thinkest I would hold myself back at the very door to absolute power. Power enow to change and lead Asgard to its true destiny under mine command. I say thee nay boorish lap dog of the All-father. I will never relent.”

Before Thor could respond, Axe’s repeated calls were finally answered as Hela, Mistress of Hel and Goddess of Death appeared before them on the remaining base of her statue. In her hand she held her basket hilted blade of ebon and a pleased smirk was upon her full blood red lips.

“Thou hast called for me, Captain Axe? Doest thou wish to discuss why you continuously stand in the way of my loyal army achieving the goal I hath set out for them?” Hela asked, cocked slightly to the side and her gaze roamed over her all three. “Doest thou not understand that what I do is to protect something so very precious that Odin left in mine care? My dearest father seeks to cause me to fail my duty to the All-Father and this I will not allow, nor will my faithful army allow. Stand aside and let this be done.”

“Aye, t’is a noble goal and truly one that must be accomplished but thou hast turned thy horde of the dead against not only thy treasonist father, but mineself and Odin’s true born son Thor,” Axe answered, her grip on her spear tightening as she watched the Mistress of Death warily. “Doest thou plan to say this is all a sad bit of happenstance? Or doest thou wish to draw the ire of the All-Father Odin by assaulting the God of Thunder?”

“Though I serve the All-Father, he hast no power here,” Hela responded, a hard edge to her voice now. “It matters not what he believes to a proper strategy to stop mine father. T’is the strength of mine will that will hold him back. Thor’s presence here is a happy coincidence, a reward I think for mine service to his father and I hast decided to claim him at the same time.”

“Tread carefully corpse wife, whore to the dead,” Thor growled out, his grip tight on Mjolnir and his icy blue eyes narrowed. “Though well-known is thou wish to make me thy consort…n ever will this happen, not on this day or any other. I will overcome all that thou seek to put against me and I will stop thy father as well. Call thy army back, let me do what I hath come to do and then I and mine companion will leave thy realm of the dead.”

“Corpse wife? Whore? No, thou should tread carefully,” Hela said. “Thou art not needed to stop mine father’s plan. This falls to me and as to thy wish to leave…once thou art dead and in mine hands then thou will wish only to stay at mine side.”

To this Loki simply laughed, shook his head and said to himself but also loud enough to be heard by all. “Oh mine dearest daughter hast truly come into her own, such an ambitious goal but one that thou doest not have the power to accomplish…thy paltry horde, numerous as they art…trouble us so very little.”

“Doest thou doubt mine army and mine ability to claim my prize as well as destroy thee?” Hela said, her smirk widening as she shifted back a step and let her cloak fall back off her shoulders to leave them bare. “I hath power enow to do all this and more but I hath found a champion, a powerful warrior that thou hath abandoned like an old trinket and it t’is quite willing to serve me.”

“What castaway of mine hast thou found? What weapon of mine doest thou think strong enough to let you do such grand things?” Loki said, a tone of anger edging into his voice at the sheer thought that someone even his own daughter would have access to a weapon of his. “Nothing thou hast will give me pause. Perhaps it will be enow to hold mine brother and his little dog of the all-father but never me.”

Hela laughed, clear and loud in the still air. It was an oddly sweet melodious sound and it echoed cleanly around them. “Braggart and fool! So enamored with thy own power that thou forgets thy greatest creation. He is absolute power in a form indestructible to all thy magicks and all thy strength of arm Thor. He will be thy death and the deliverer of mine true desire.”

Behind her, the horde flowed apart to allow a massive warrior through. Before his arrival could be reacted to he fired from his hand a straight beam of astonishing concussive force that struck and threw back Thor. A warrior’s quick reflexes enabled him to raise Mjolnir up in time and to use the hammer to block much of the blasts force. Before them strode into view the massive form of Durok the Demolisher, a being who was power incarnate.