GotSIS Ch.35: Tale of Thunder

13th December 2008

Asgard

Harry’s eyes opened to the golden palace of Asgard rising above clear waters, shining splendidly in the sunlight as white fluffy clouds drifted in the blue skies above. Despite the wonderful weather, the city below was shrouded in a tense hush, the celebrations Harry had seen before nearly non-existent.

Soldiers patrolled the streets, their golden armors and long spears standing out amongst the quiet bustle of the crowd in the market below.

Watching from the Astral plane, Harry floated above them for a moment before drifting to the golden citadel that stood upon the rainbow bridge stretching to the edge of the city, floating over the clear waters.

“I was wondering when you’d come seeking answers, Sorcerer,” Heimdall’s voice rumbled as Harry entered the citadel.

Harry raised an eyebrow, drifting closer to the god. “One of Asgard’s finest and most powerful weapons is lying in the middle of a desert on Earth. The weapon that belongs to your Prince— now King of Asgard.” Harry glanced over his shoulder. “The public didn’t look very happy today. Did Thor pass some stupid new rule?”

“You think so little of him?”

“It won’t be the first time someone new in power does something stupid.” Harry snorted. “Well, the new part of it isn't often relevant either. People in power tend to do colosally stupid things, like, say, denying the return of a very dangerous dark lord.” Harry paused, shoving the anger he had of Fudge’s and the Ministry’s stupidity from his old world. “So, what’d the new King do?”

“The new King hasn’t done anything for there isn’t a new King,” Heimdall reported in a bland voice. “Lord Odin remains to be the All Father, admittedly through no small amount of… recklessness upon… Thor’s part.”

“So, Thor did something stupid and Odin cancelled Thor’s coronation,” Harry deduced, and Heimdall slowly inclined his head. “And since celebrations are cancelled, everyone’s upset. That still doesn’t explain why Thor’s hammer is on Earth.”

Heimdall looked away, his gaze going to the stars. “Not only his hammer, Sorcerer, but the Odinson himself is on Midgard, where Lord Odin banished him for his actions. Thor is no longer Prince, nor is he the god of thunder.”

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor,” Harry whispered, and the amber eyes snapped to him. “I got a read on the hammer. It did some weird stuff and tried to judge if I was worthy— I wasn’t.” He omitted mentioning the spell the Soul Stone had gotten from the hammer, deciding to hold onto it till he actually knew what it did. “So, Thor’s mortal and now on Earth, no more divine than a normal human is.”

“Indeed. And he shall remain so forever, unless he can gain his own hammer back.” Heimdall let out a long breath. “Even if he does, he may not be allowed back upon Asgard.” 

Harry’s eyes widened, and he felt his heart twist. “Blimey. So Thor’s… not allowed back to his home ever? That’s… awful.” Harry shuddered. “What’d he do that was so horrible?”

“Truth be told, nothing the Allfather might not have done once upon a time, when he was younger,” Heimdall said. “The tale starts during Prince Thor’s coronation. You see, as Lord Odin was to announce him King, a group of Frost Giants invaded one of the most secure vaults of Asgard, intending to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters. They had slipped in, having avoided the guards and even my gaze.” Something cracked in Heimdall’s voice. “Thankfully, the Destroyer stopped them, and the All Father became immediately aware of the breach. He halted the ceremony to investigate.”

“Thor probably didn’t like that, did he?” Harry mused.

“Prince Thor took more offense to the invasion itself than their interruption. He was unhappy and of a mind to declare war upon the Frost Giants, wishing to march upon Jotunheim and demand answers from Laufey himself.” Heimdall replied, his gaze fixed on the thousands of twinkling stars visible through the citadel. “Lord Odin forbade it, stating that it was the actions of but a few and not a Kingdom, but Prince Thor disagreed with his philosophy.”

Harry winced. “Another war breaking out between the Nine Realms won’t be pretty. The last Frost Giant war lasted for over a couple of thousand years and redefined the divine world. I’m guessing Odin didn’t want a repeat of it.”

“Lord Odin did impart this upon him, yet, Prince Thor wasn’t content. He had taken the breach as an insult to his coming rule, seeing it as a declaration of war upon Asgard because they thought him weak.” Heimdall’s gaze turned distant, as if he was seeing beyond the stars. “Prince Thor has many virtues, but he has an ego to match his strength. He couldn’t let this idea stand and be seen as weak by a race he deemed as monsters.” Heimdall smiled sadly. “So he disobeyed his father’s orders and, with his brother, the Warriors Three, and my sister, marched upon Jotunheim.” 

“Shit.”

Heimdall bowed his head. “I allowed them to pass through the Bifrost because I felt guilty and vengeful. None have slipped my gaze and entered Asgard since I first took watch. No one. And I wished for answers too.”

Harry put his hand over Heimdall’s shoulder. “Slipping under your gaze to get into Asgard, where you keep an eternal watch, wouldn’t be an easy task. To get into a vault unnoticed should’ve been even tougher. This suggests that they had the help of a magnitude beyond the usual. So it isn’t your fault. They went out of their way to avoid your gaze.”

“It is my fault, but it is far more worrying that they nearly succeeded. They would’ve stolen the Casket had the Destroyer not intervened.” Heimdall’s eyes flashed. “I do not know how they slipped my gaze, but I will. And it shall be remedied.”

“Let me know if I can help.” Harry let out a breath. “So, what happened? Are Asgard and Jotunheim and war?”

“Not yet, but Thor’s actions might as well result in one soon,” Heimdall said, and Harry tensed. “I should’ve never let them pass.”

“You thought it was a good idea at that time. Sending a message, for all you know, might’ve been the right thing to do. The Ancient One and I took on N’Gabthot to send a message that we weren’t weak.” Harry shrugged. “The way I see it, Thor didn’t do things much differently— except, you know, challenge a kingdom instead of a singular god.”

“A kingdom that has one of the most feral armies across the Nine Realms and a King whose power once equaled that of the All Father,” Heimdall’s knuckles whitened against the hilt of his sword. “If Laufey still possessed the Casket of Ancient Winters, war would’ve already been upon us.” A grimace creased his face. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Laufey declares one soon due to Thor’s action. Actions I should’ve anticipated and acted on, to stop the Prince and his companions.” 

“What exactly did he do after going there?” Harry asked. “Attack Laufey?

Heimdall gave him a sardonic smile. “Had he done so, I doubt the Prince would’ve survived without tenuous injuries. Laufey, even diminished and weakened by peace, is one of the strongest beings in the Nine Realms. He can freeze oceans with a thought, and has the strength to crumble hills with a single blow. No, the Prince merely confronted Laufey for the truth, demanding answers for the threat of war.” 

“Oh,” Harry said. “That was less… violent of him than I honestly expected. I’d have thought he would’ve settled for introducing Laufey’s face to his hammer.”

“Indeed. I feel that Prince Thor has matured enough to not let his hammer do all the talking for him and listen to his brother’s counsel at times.” Heimdall nodded. “I was equally surprised when he didn’t let himself get provoked even when Laufey claimed that the House of Odin was full of traitors and called the Allfather a murderer and a thief.”

“I would’ve definitely cursed the hell out of him if he spoke that way about my dad,” Harry muttered before his brow furrowed. “He accused the Royal family of helping someone infiltrate their own kingdom? Why would any of them do that?”

Heimdall looked at the stars. “I do not know. But to his credit, Prince Thor stayed his hammer despite such words from Laufey, who then told him to return while he still could. Prince Thor wasn’t inclined to accept it, yet his brother stepped in and smoothed the situation.” The god grimaced. “As the princes turned, one of Laufey’s lieutenants mocked Thor. His exact words were, ‘run back home, little princess.’”

Harry winced, knowing it was not the best thing to say to anyone, let alone someone who was the Prince and to-be-King of Asgard with an ego to match. Especially not after the provocation that Laufey had put him through.

“Thor lost his cool, didn’t he?” Harry asked, a part of him already fearing the answer.

“Yes. Prince Thor went on a rampage, slaughtering Laufey's guards within seconds while his companions followed his lead. He tore through some of Laufey’s greatest followers while mocking Laufey, relishing the battle, and demanding a challenge. In response, Laufey unleashed a Frost Beast upon them— a creature that even a battalion of Asgard’s finest soldiers would struggle to contain, let alone kill.”

“I know about those. Impenetrable skin, unmatched strength, magic resistant, and a mind enough to be of real trouble. Not to mention, a size bigger than a Mammoth.”

“You’re correct, Sorcerer. The Frost Beast is a fearsome creature.” He smiled. “Prince Thor killed it with one blow.”

Harry felt his eyebrows rise. “One blow?”

“Aided by the power of Mjolnir, there are but a few beings in the Nine Realms who could truly stop him,” Heimdall said. “Within a span of a few moments, I saw him slaughter over fifty of Laufey’s finest guards, and he only retreated when he saw his friends were in danger of being eaten by the Frost Beast, killing it to protect them.” 

“It seems like he could back up the threats he made to demand answers.”

Heimdall’s eyes flicked to Harry. “Perhaps not. By then, Laufey had summoned his army and surrounded them, aided by his best generals, the ones who’d cause even Thor trouble. He intended to finish the battle permanently. I suspect if the All Father hadn’t intervened, they wouldn’t have returned.” Heimdall sighed. “Prince Loki had the foresight to send a guard to fetch the King before they left, hoping to put a stop to the expedition before it began. The guard failed to get him in time to stop them. ”

“So, Odin went down to Jotunheim?”

“He did, and he pleaded with Laufey to let the matter go, seeing them as the actions of a boy. When he refused, the All Father summoned the Bifrost to bring all of them home just before Laufey could attack, saving their lives. Upon their return, the All Father and Prince Thor got into a heated argument, leading to Thor’s… banishment.”

Harry nodded slowly. “I see. How bad will it be if Laufey seeks out Thor right now to get revenge?”

“That’d be a fearsome prospect. Midgard may have advanced in weaponry, but for all their resilience and adaptability, they lack the weapons and knowledge they once had to battle the armies of Laufey. They may defend against a few giants, but if Laufey shows up with his army, Midgard would have some troublesome years ahead.” 

“We Sorcerers are still there, and we know exactly how to kill Frost Giants.” Harry’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll not let them wage war on Earth again.”

“I loathe to say this, you lack the numbers to truly make a difference.” Heimdall turned to him. “The Sorcerers would be outnumbered a thousand to one, Harry Potter. You’re but a few, and even with Midgard’s army, the Frost Giants would overrun you without an intervention from Asgard.”

Harry felt his heart twist as he drew himself up. “We have ways to ensure that they are stopped before they can truly attack. If they show up on Earth, we’ll wipe away the Frost Giants as a whole if need be.” His fists clenched. “It is not the first time we Sorcerers have vanquished an entire species to protect humanity. With me there, I assure you, we wouldn’t even need a god this time to fuel the spell.”

Heimdall’s eyes went colder, not with fear but with an old, measured sorrow. “You’d wipe away an entire species to protect your own, Sorcerer? A species not only of those who seek to battle, but also of innocents?”

Harry nodded slowly, his lips thinning. “I’m not that cruel. No, I can limit the spell or tweak it the way I wish, to render them powerless. But yes, if they invade Earth, the Sorcerers won’t show any false mercy.” His eyes hardened. “I’ve sworn an oath to protect Earth just like every other Sorcerer. I’ll not let a single innocent human die because Laufey and Odin have a feud, and Laufey can’t limit it to the perpetrator. The last time they came to Earth, they caused carnage to more than humanity, redefining the course of Earth’s history. If they seek to do the same again, I assure you, we won’t let it stand.”

Heimdall met Harry’s eyes and nodded in understanding. “I see. But let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“That’s always the hope. Anything else I should know about Thor?”

Heimdall closed his eyes. “You must know the history of gods, Sorcerer. You know that this isn’t the first time a god’s been turned mortal to pay for their sins. It is seldom done, and the worst of punishments bestowed, but it isn’t the first.”

“Right. So it is a test for Thor and a lesson.” Harry scoffed. “This lesson better not bring trouble to Earth, though. As for the rest, I’ll see to it that I at least find him and go on from there.”

“That is all I can ask you for. Prince Thor is a friend to me, like you are, Harry Potter. He may be brash and reckless, but he has a heart of gold just like yours. Look out for him, please.”

“I will. I just hope doing so doesn’t bring danger to Earth.” 

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13th December 2008

Crater Site, New Mexico

The newly formed SHIELD base bustled with activity as Harry carefully navigated through the corridors that the agency had erected in the crater, forming a structure to protect and contain the hammer. Coulson had said it was a structure they created when dealing with biological and/or radioactive weapons, which others may be interested in. 

Agents with automatic rifles patrolled the corridors, most giving Harry a searching look as he made his way back into the base, pushing through doors to arrive at the center.

Coulson stood the closest to Mjolnir, his hands clasped behind his back, while a team of scientists in white Hazmat suits prodded around the site with beeping equipment. 

An agent blocked his path, and Harry blinked. “Whoa, whoa, sir. You need clearance to approach—”

“He’s the specialist, Triplett. Let him through.” Coulson called from behind, and the agent took a step back. “”

“Sorry, man. Didn’t realize,” he told Harry, who gave him a small smile, making his way to Coulson.

“I see you let your science team in,” Harry said. “I thought I told you that science wasn’t going to unravel much of anything before I went away to make the call.”

Coulson nodded. “We cannot always leave things up to mysticism, divinity, and magic, can we? It is a physical object, so we’re bound to get something from it. Maybe a clue as to what it is made from, to what it does. Perhaps even replicate some of its properties. A metal that we cannot even scratch is a rare find.”

“What it does is summon lightning, storms, and tear through whatever it is thrown at.” Harry snorted. “And good luck with that metal bit.”

“Why do you say it like that? Like we couldn’t even do it?” Coulson frowned. “Not twenty-four hours ago, you saw a new metal being created. I think we can definitely replicate one.”

“Let me save you the trouble. That thing is made from a metal called Uru and is forged in the heart of a dying star. A literal star. Now, I’m not sure of what temperature those things burn at, but I’m sure that nothing on Earth could achieve that sort of thing. And… let’s not forget the powers of the world tree that run through the forge.” Harry scoffed as Coulson quirked an eyebrow. “Science isn’t going to decode it, believe me.”

Behind Coulson, a bang echoed through the crater, and smoke poured from a bulky device as the scientist holding it dropped it with a shriek. 

Harry smirked at Coulson, who sighed. “We’ll still try anyway. Even if we can’t decode anything, we may get some insight, because as you said, to a point, science and magic can be the same.” He turned to the scientist. “Get whatever you need to replace that. If anyone asks, say you’ve got my complete approval.” 

The scientist shuffled away while Harry shook his head. “SHIELD shouldn’t really look into stuff like this directly, even if you can get some sort of insight. Magical relics, especially powerful ones, can be tricky and can cause horrible things to those who touch them. Mjolnir is not an artifact that’ll take extreme actions, as far as I can tell. But you never know. Horrible things happen to those who mess with magic beyond them, Coulson.”

“Then it is a good thing we have you on our payroll, isn’t it?” Coulson smiled. “What’d you get off the call you made? Any sign of the owner or a clue as to what has happened to him?”

Harry looked around, and Coulson quietly shuffled further out of the earshot of the agents around, putting a hand on his back. Harry quietly waved his fingers, covering them in a bubble of magic. 

“Thor has been banished to Earth, rendered mortal by his father as a punishment for instigating a war on Jotunheim— the land of the Frost Giants.” Harry’s voice echoed in the bubble while Coulson paled a little.

“What’s their threat level?”

“A single frost giant? Alpha, maybe.” Harry replied. “With the right weapons, like a rocket launcher to the face, you could take one down. But they don’t travel alone. And their leader would be a solid Omega. If he shows up with an army and isn’t stopped, Earth’s done for. He’ll purge the world into eternal winter within hours if he really wants.” 

“That sounds bad. Very bad. Do the sorcerers have a way to take them down?”

Harry steeled himself. “We… or more appropriately, I do. It isn’t one I necessarily like, but I could stop them dead as a whole. Literally.”

“I see. I would like a description of them and their powers, beyond what I assume are obvious.” 

Coulson waved to the agent who had stopped Harry, who hurried toward them. Harry subtly took down the bubble of magic as the agent neared. 

“Triplett, see if the SHIELD vanity van’s here. If not, get it here, and connect it to the Triskelion, specifically Agent Thirteen’s office, over a secured channel.” Coulson ordered. “And also see if the ground team is ready to head over to the scientists who predicted this. Report with confirmation.” 

“Yes, sir,” the agent said and rushed away while Harry frowned.

“What is it with these scientists?” Harry asked. “You’ve been after them since I got here.”

“They made some predictions and calculations about this crater and what led to it, from what I gathered. They’re astrophysicists even if one of them, Jane Foster, is very young— barely a year older than you, perhaps.” 

“I can tell you what made the crater. It was the hammer. And the Bifrost. I’ve never traveled by it, but the energy should definitely leave a mark. I doubt she could tell you more about it than I can.”

“Yeah, but that’s not all.” Coulson switched on his tablet open. “We checked the records of everything within a hundred miles after you left to make your call. A patient by the name of Thor was admitted late last night to a hospital about fifty miles from here. He was flagged as dangerous and unstable by the doctors, but also escaped today morning. What’s more is that Jane Foster was the one who had him admitted. Can you recognize him?” 

Coulson flipped the tablet, showing the image of a blonde, muscular man strapped to a hospital bed. A man whom Harry had seen before. 

“Yeah, I think that’s Thor. I haven’t really met him, but I have seen him from afar.”

“We’ll track him down then.” Coulson typed something on the tablet before pressing a finger to his ear. “Alright, thank you.” He turned to Harry. “I need you to tell everything you can to Sharon about the Frost Giants, Thor, and the hammer. I’m going to meet with the scientists and see what I can get from them in the meantime. I also want you to prepare for any contingency you may need if the Frost Giants invade Earth. If Thor’s here, they might want to get him first.”

“Don’t worry, I will. I need to pay a visit to the Sanctum Sanctorum to brush up on some things and have a word with the Sorcerer Supreme first. Maybe even go to the library to get some spells that work against the Frost Giants just in case.”

“You think they’ll attack Earth?”

Harry grimaced. “There’s a chance they’ll go after Thor for revenge now that he’s mortal. He killed a lot of Frost Giants from what I hear, and Laufey— the King of the Jotuns will not take it lying down.” Harry sighed. “Not to mention, Earth is a target for most conquering forces on any day, let alone one where the Crown Prince of Asgard is down here, rendered powerless. Had we sorcerers not been around, I’m sure someone would’ve already come knocking, wanting to take Thor out.”

“I see. We’ll try tracking him down then and maybe help find a way to either get him back to his planet or get him someplace safe enough. Can you magic him back to Asgard if we find him?”

“I can try,” Harry said. “But I’m not sure if he’d be allowed to set foot there. Asgard is a higher realm, and it has a layer of magic, the type that Earth doesn’t have. If Odin has willed it, neither Thor nor I could enter Asgard, being mortals. I might, but since Thor’s been banished…”

“All bets are off.” Coulson sighed. “I understand. We’ll see if we can track him down or if Ms. Foster knows something about him. Meanwhile, we’d like some debriefing on the potential threat of these frost giants and the preparations possible. And even some things about the hammer and Thor, if you wish to share, would be useful.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “I will point out a book or bring you one if it pleases you, but first, I need to let the Sorceress Supreme know about what’s happening and the fact that Thor’s been banished to Earth. Not to mention the whole thing with the Frost Giants.”

“Good luck with that. You can go and come back using your magic from the van Triplett is bringing. And do not forget to brief Sharon too, alright?”

Harry let out an explosive sigh. “Yes, Coulson. I will.”

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13th December 2008

Kamar Taj, Kathmandu

The portal collapsed in a shower of sparks behind him as Harry walked into the inner Sanctum of Kamar Taj, waving his hand to shut the doors and windows. With a flick of his wrist, golden lines crisscrossed the walls while his own magic rolled over them.

Despite all of it, the Ancient One continued to meditate, the Eye of Agamotto shining faintly on her chest while candles flickered around her.

“I suppose you’ve come to discuss the situation with the Hammer of Thor Odinson,” she spoke, her eyes closed calmly as ever, the candles casting shadows across her face. “Is it far too hopeful of me to think you’re not rather worried?”

“Shouldn’t we be concerned?” Harry snorted. “The hammer doesn’t worry me much. Nor does Thor, really. He may be here, but he cannot do anything about it, nor is he personally causing harm. But he’s a target, and he has caused a rather delicate situation to arise with Jotunheim of all realms.”

Her lips twitched. “I’m not concerned. My best sorcerer is handling the situation.”

“I’m flattered. But that’s not really the point. My concern is another Frost Giant war breaking out. Eternal winters, massive carnage, giants trampling all the buildings in their path.” Harry shuddered, imagining a great blue giant the size of Grawp bowling through the buildings in Manhattan. “They’d run over us. Not to mention, the other powers will love such an opportunity to see Earth under siege and take a run for themselves too.”

“Your concerns aren’t invalid, Mr. Potter. But the Frost Giants no longer have the weapon that proved so troublesome during the last war. The Casket is locked away in Asgard, now under more security than ever. If they come, I’m certain SHIELD and you will make short work of them.”

“SHIELD?” Harry raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she smiled. “They’re more capable than you give them credit for, and so are you. With the right tools and help— your help, they could take down any assault the Frost Giants can currently muster upon Earth. They may be a Kingdom out for blood, but they no longer have the resources or the means to instigate a true war. Without the casket, they cannot bring an army to Earth, Mr. Potter.”

“But they can still get a few giants here to kill Thor through one of the rifts between the realms.” Harry tensed. “I’ll have to work to locate any such rift and seal it then.”

The Ancient One gave him a serene look before standing up. With a wave of her hand, the candles extinguished, and she smoothened the creases on her yellow robes. “You’re thinking of helping the son of Odin, too.”

“I am. Heimdall told me to keep an eye out for him,” Harry said. “And the faster he takes his hammer and returns to Asgard, the better. It will get us out of the way of any war the Frost Giants and Asgard want to fight.”

“You cannot help him much, I’m afraid. The quest is for Thor, and only he can help himself regain his powers and the mantle of the God of Thunder.” She snapped her fingers, and a pulse of golden energy swirled between her fingers. “You’ll soon meet him, for he seeks his hammer, which is where you should be in the coming hours.” 

“Will he lift it?”

She gave him a smile, flicking her fingers, and a bolt of jagged energy tore toward Harry, who reacted on instinct, smoothening and pulling the power into the palm of his hand before crumbling it like a ball of sand. Golden sparks spilled between his fingers as he looked at the Ancient One with bewilderment.

“What you must be aware of and alert for are forces who see an opportunity to take down Asgard’s crown prince while he’s mortal,” The Ancient One said. “The greater world knows that this is naught but a lesson disguised as a cruel punishment. If it wasn’t, Odin wouldn’t have sent the hammer with the enchantment that he has.”

“There’s a chance that someone else could lift the hammer. I think I almost did.”

“If you had truly wished to lift the hammer, with the Stone’s aid, you could have,” she said, nodding approvingly. “The will of the hammer can be influenced, and unless it opposes someone completely, any person with enough will and the right power could lift it. But the fact is that sentient relics are a tricky thing, and Odin knows how to take advantage of that.”

Harry pinched his nose. “Which means no one but Thor could really lift the hammer in the near future, giving him enough time for a bit of reflection and change. I can almost appreciate the sneakiness, but still, it is over the top.”

The Ancient One laughed. “The gods have a penchant for dramatics, Harry. They all do.” She sobered, her smile fading away. “And it is a lesson Thor must learn if he is to one day rule the Nine Realms. A King who doesn’t understand the pain of war or the value of life, will make a poor king.”

“Ah, that’s what Odin wants to teach him.”

“Yes. Yet, it has left a rather glaring vulnerability for Asgard. You see, Asgard just banished its strongest warrior and crown prince. For the greater forces, Asgard has just cut off its own arm. And there are forces who’d seek to obliterate it before it can be reattached.”

“Meaning Thor can and will be attacked if someone thinks they’ll succeed. And if they do, Asgard loses its son and one of its mightiest gods, shaking up the order of succession unless Odin is willing to put Loki on the throne. Which many won’t see as favorable for Asgard.”

She nodded. “But that’s not all. The act of using the soul-fire to take away a god’s power will have left Odin weakened. To do so is no small feat of power, and it is an act only Skyfathers can accomplish. Right now, the strongest amongst the royal Asgardians are Loki and Frigga.”

“They aren’t weak gods, really,” Harry muttered. “They could fend off things until Odin regains his strength or Thor gets back his powers after learning whatever lesson Odin wants to teach.”

“I agree. Their strengths do not lie in a war, though, and if the worst happens, there will be trouble.”

Harry narrowed his eyes and slowly nodded. “Worse as in you’ve seen a future where Thor dies and Odin… follows?”

Her silence was perhaps all the answer he needed as he felt his heart drop.

“Mr. Potter, as I said, there are forces who’ll see an opportunity in this.” She spoke after a few moments. “An opportunity we must prevent coming to fruition. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“You want me to protect Thor in case someone attacks him,” Harry said. “Yeah. I’ve already promised Heimdall I’d look out for him. But this complicates it a bit. I’ll first have to find him, though, so let’s hope Coulson has a lead by the time I get back.”

“I’ve faith in you, Mr. Potter,” the Ancient One said, and Harry smiled, before creating a portal back to the van. “Oh, and Mr. Potter, come what may, do not use the Stone. Eyes shall be on Earth, and you never know when the most noble and protective actions could turn into a ripple that brings a tsunami. Take heed.”

Harry nodded. “I understand.”

“Excellent. I wish you luck, Mr. Potter. And have faith in yourself and believe all will be fine.”

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes, I am, as usual, raising the stakes. The story is about Sorcery, magic, and divinity, so when divine events come to pass, there’s obviously going to be more than meets the eye :). 

Also, you may not feel that a lot has happened in the chapter, but if you read between the lines, it has. Yes, I’m setting the stage for deeper divine-level conflicts, dominoes of actions, and, of course, the coming thing, which I’m not going to tell you about. But there is more. There’ll always be more.

Remember, this is me playing dominoes in 4-D, which is all the hint I’ll give. ;)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

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