We landed before the largest building in the center of the city. It was a giant golden palace — honestly, it was so tacky. I half expected a couple of Nazis to show up and start looting the place.
Thor landed at the palace gates and helped the girls off the boat. We gathered ourselves and fell in behind the Prince of Asgard as he proceeded at a brisk pace. I looked around and observed the many armored, gold-plated guards carrying spears and shields.
As we walked by, more than a few of them shot us a look — then noticed Thor himself was our escort, bowed, and kept moving. Huh. Cool.
"So much gold," Felicia said. She looked like she was going to die from the blood pressure of it all as she gazed around her.
"Kitten," Jean warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I know — paws to myself," Felicia huffed.
"You, ah... you guys sure do love gold, huh?" I noted as we walked up a flight of stairs toward a set of enormous royal doors with animals and runes inscribed into the metal frame.
"It's part of our legacy," Thor noted. "My father is a fierce warrior who governs the nine realms justly. The tributes come from our many allies."
Wanda scoffed. "Still, this is an ungodly amount of the stuff. And I highly doubt they just gave it to him."
"What are you saying?" Thor asked as he pushed the mighty doors open to the gigantic, hangar-sized throne room on the other side.
"That Asgard is known as the realm of warriors for a reason," I said quickly, defending Wanda. Flashes of the vision my future self had given me went through my head — Ragnarok, Hela, the destruction of Asgard. The bloody truth behind all this gold.
Thor said nothing as we walked into the great room. Several columns lined the sides, and soldiers stood present and on guard throughout. Straight ahead of us sat a large old man with a golden eyepatch and a golden spear.
The throne was shaped like a giant 'U' with a raven carved on either end. King Odin sat comfortably upon it, leaning back with narrowed eyes as he inspected both Thor and me. To his right, in a smaller throne, sat an older woman I knew to be Frigga. The Queen smiled, though I could tell she was curious.
"Father," Thor stopped before the throne and bowed. We all mirrored him, though Wanda's bow was considerably shallower than the rest.
"It seems my words fall on deaf ears," the King of Asgard grumbled. "Did I not tell you that your interest in that realm places Midgard above all the others? Why did you return there, Thor? What good did it do?"
"Father, Heimdall's vision was blocked," Thor began, drawing the King's and Queen's attention. "He lost sight of Jane Foster of Earth, and when she returned, she had the Aether within her."
Odin's one eye widened. "Impossible. The Aether was destroyed."
"You can't destroy an Infinity Stone," I shot back, "not without another Infinity Stone."
Odin raised an eyebrow. "And who is this mortal you bring before me, Thor?"
"This is Peter, Father. An Avenger — one of my teammates back on Earth," Thor explained, shooting me a look to keep quiet.
Odin hummed and finally turned his eye to the others. "And these... women?"
Did that bastard seriously — oh, who cares. He's going to die in a few years anyway.
Thor nodded. "Yes, Father. This is Jane." He smiled as he introduced Foster to his parents. Jane looked like she had just met God — which, I supposed, she had.
"Meeting the parents must be tough," Jean told me telepathically. I stuffed a chuckle and shot her a playful glare.
Jane bowed. "It's nice to meet you." Odin dismissed her with a glance and turned to the others.
"These are Peter's companions, Father," Thor nodded. "The red-haired one is Jean, and the raven-haired one is..."
"Wanda. Wanda Maximoff," Wanda supplied, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, of course. Apologies. And the silver-haired one is called Kitten," Thor said proudly. Odin looked startled as he stared at Felicia, while Frigga giggled behind her hand.
"My dear, surely that isn't your name?" Frigga prompted with a smile.
"No," Felicia chuckled. "It's a nickname. My real name is Felicia."
"Ah, yes. Thought so," Thor nodded.
Odin snorted. "Very well. Tell me, humans — do you know who I am?" He fixed his one eye on me.
"You are Odin, father of Thor, King of Asgard," I smirked. "The eyepatch and the giant throne gave it away."
"We are so going to get kicked out of heaven," Jean sighed to herself, recognizing the smirk on my face.
"Then you would be wise to keep your mouth shut, mortal," Odin hissed. "You have as much right to be here as a goat at a banquet."
I glared. "Listen here, you—"
"Spider!" Thor snapped. "Stop." I grumbled, but sighed and stepped back. Thor turned to his father. "What he says is true, Father. The Aether is here. It was inside Jane, but through great effort, we managed to extract it and contain it." He held out the vibranium lockbox.
Odin and Frigga stepped down from their thrones and walked forward. Odin plucked the box from Thor's hands and looked it over. "I sense nothing from it. You have brought me a rock, boy."
"That's the point," I replied, gaining the Asgardians' attention. "It's built to block the energy signature of an Infinity Stone."
"Oh really? Care to demonstrate?" Odin tossed the box over and I caught it effortlessly.
"That would be a bad idea," I replied, holding it up. "Right now, the energy inside is contained. If I open it, the Dark Elves might be able to track it here."
"The Dark Elves are all dead, boy," Odin hissed. "And while you are here, my word is law. So do as you're told."
I glared at the man. "With all due respect, Your Majesty — a few years ago, Asgard was a legend to my people. We didn't even know you were still alive."
"And that is the difference between Midgard and Asgard. We are far above you, mortal. Now — the box." Odin's fury was building.
"Peter," Thor urged. "Show him."
I sighed and nodded. I pressed my thumb to the cube, channeled my magic into it, and spoke the password. Immediately the box clicked open, just a crack — wide enough for the jelly-like substance inside to cast a blood-red aura over everyone in the room.
Jane freaked out, stepping back several paces, and Thor moved protectively in front of her, hammer in hand. I snapped the box shut and tossed it back to Odin, who caught it with a look of awe and shock. "I-impossible. It should be destroyed."
"And yet you hold it in your hands," Thor replied. "Father, we must keep it safe — if not from the Dark Elves, then from other hands."
"The Elves are dead!" Odin snapped at Thor. Frigga immediately placed a hand on her husband's arm, and the King visibly calmed. "But... you are right." He turned to me. "You, boy. You seem competent enough. Your technology has done something impressive. Can your world's leaders protect the stone?"
"The last time an Infinity Stone came to Earth, Loki brought war on us trying to take it," I snorted. Frigga sighed at the mention of her son. "And Earth already has two stones. Giving it a third to protect will only make it more of a target — more than it already is."
"Two?" Odin's eye widened.
"Yes, two..." I stayed quiet about the one I was carrying. Based on Thor's look of understanding, he approved.
"Very well," Odin snorted. He turned to Thor and passed the lockbox back to him. "You brought this to our doors. Do you have an answer?"
"I do... but in hindsight, I realize my suggestion isn't a very good one," Thor admitted. "Perhaps we can hold the stone until the Convergence is over, and decide what to do with it after."
"The Convergence," Odin snorted. "You take the old stories I told you with far more worth than they deserve, my son. The Dark Elves are gone and they are not coming back. You are afraid of nothing."
Thor sighed and bowed. "If you say so, All-Father."
I glared. I was pissed — royally pissed. Here was a clear sign of an incoming threat, and he chose to ignore it? Seriously?
Thor turned and we walked away. I shot the King one last glare before we left, and from the look he sent back, I'd wager he disliked me just as much as I disliked him. But as the doors shut behind us, I noticed his eye drift away from me and linger on Jean. For just a second, I saw it soften.
My mind started spinning. What was that? Why would Odin — hater of men, father of the century's worst parenting, and reformed warlord — look at Jean like that? Why did he care? This made no sense.
It wasn't love in his eyes. It was pity. Nostalgia. Something — but not love. That much I was sure of. As I turned it over in my head, Thor guided us across the castle grounds. "Come. We haven't much time to prepare for the Elves."
"How? Your dad doesn't believe us," Jane snorted.
"Aye, but I believe," Thor smirked. "And I meant what I said — as long as I'm alive, I'll fight till my last breath to keep Midgard safe. Don't worry, Jane. While the whole of Asgard may not be on your side, I am."
Wanda snorted. "Nice of you to offer, tall, dark, and sexy — but I think we need more than you and your beefcake abs to stop an army." Jane shot her a glare. Oh, looks like Natalie Portman had some competition.
Thor blushed. "Ah — lucky for us, I do have companions who can help. Come, follow me." He guided us through the castle until we reached what looked like a courtyard training ground for soldiers.
Thor motioned toward the yard, where soldiers were being drilled. And there, in the middle of it all, was a woman in red and silver armor — sword and shield in hand — fighting off three men at once.
I was amazed at the way she moved. Her sword flashed, knocking one soldier back and sending another's helmet flying. In five seconds, her last opponent was on the ground with her blade at his throat.
"Sif," I noted.
"That's right! Lady Sif — how did you know that?" Thor asked, surprised.
"We have stories about all you Asgardians back on Earth," I replied. "You, Sif, and the three others... I can't recall their names at the moment, though."
"Well, I assure you, Midgard's legends of our abilities have been greatly understated," Thor said. He motioned to Sif, who nodded and approached. "I'm sure much of it isn't accurate, at the very least."
"I'd think so, considering our legends say you and Sif are supposed to be married," I smirked, watching Thor's eyes go wide.
"What?!" Jane cried out, smacking Thor in the arm. "You're married?!"
"No! I swear to you, Jane, I am not!" Thor stammered.
Jean chuckled. "Like he said, the stories we have of Asgardians on Earth are fairly wrong. They probably assumed you two were married because you're shield brother and sister."
"Yes! Yes, exactly!" Thor cried out.
Wanda sighed. "Another love triangle? Oh God, kill me now."
"My Prince," Sif nodded as she approached. She noticed Thor's flustered expression, then spotted Jane. "Are you alright? Who are these mortals? I don't recognize them."
"I — ah, yes. Thank you," the god smiled before immediately catching himself. He cleared his throat. "Lady Sif, allow me to introduce my friends from Midgard. This is Jane."
The shorter woman glared up at the warrior. "Hey."
"So you are the famous Jane Foster," Sif said, looking her up and down. "Thor speaks highly of you."
"Right. Same here," Jane replied. The tension between them could have cut steel.
Thor gulped. "The others are Jean," — Jean waved — "Felicia," — Kitten gave a nod — "and Wanda. They are companions to my ally back on Earth, Peter. He calls himself Spider-Man."
"Spider-Man?" Sif raised an eyebrow with a trace of amusement. "A curious title. Most wouldn't choose to name themselves after a bug."
"My enemies tend to underestimate me — and my age. That's usually why they lose," I chuckled as I ordered my costume to retract the mask, revealing my face. I bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sif. My people have heard a great deal about you."
"You're a child," Sif said, blinking in shock. She turned to Thor. "Thor, he looks like a milk drinker, let alone a warrior."
"I assure you, Peter is more than qualified," Thor chuckled, patting my back. His enormous hands sent a shockwave through my considerably smaller frame. Damn, that actually hurt.
"I highly doubt that," Sif groaned. "Boy, tell me — how many battles have you fought?"
"I don't know — how many times have you saved the city, Peter?" Felicia stepped in, clearly annoyed by Sif's tone.
"There was that time we saved the president," Jean chimed in.
"And dismantled HYDRA," Wanda snorted.
"Ah... I honestly lost count," I said with a shrug.
Sif scoffed. "A true warrior remembers. Very well — how many enemies have you slain?"
Felicia turned to Thor. "Does the Chitauri count?"
The god nodded. "Very much."
I turned back to Sif. "A lot."
Sif sighed and turned to Thor with a raised eyebrow. "You expect me to believe he's a warrior?"
"I assure you, he is," Thor nodded.
"If you want, you could test me," I shrugged, glancing at the small crowd that had begun to gather around us. "One on one? Anything goes?"
Sif snorted. "Really? I have been fighting for over a thousand years, boy. Do you honestly believe you can best me in a duel?"
"How about this," I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a smaller one the size of a handbag — a newer model I'd made for short trips. "If you win, I'll give you this."
"A bag?" Sif blinked.
"Not just any bag." I smirked, opened it, and snapped my fingers. Telepathically, I summoned a sword from the hands of one of the onlooking soldiers and slowly slid the blade into the bag until it vanished completely. "A bag of infinite storage."
"How come I didn't get one of those?" Felicia frowned.
I shrugged. "Just finished making it a few nights ago. Besides, I brought it so we didn't have to carry too much."
Felicia grumbled. "Fine. You're making me one later."
"Yes, dear."
"Incredible," Sif murmured, her eyes going wide. "Very well. But what if you win?"
"Then I want you to teach me how to wield a blade," I replied, the memory of the Ebony Blade in my mind when I made the request. "I saw you move. It was impressive. So — do we have a deal?"
Sif waited a moment before speaking. "If you don't know how to wield a blade, how do you plan on defeating me?"
"I have other tricks up my sleeve," I said, reaching back into the bag, pulling the sword out, and tossing it back to its original owner. "As you can see."
Sif turned to Thor, who was grinning like a cat. She sighed and nodded. "Very well. You have yourself a wager, Spider. Come. Let us get this over with quickly."
I nodded and followed her. The gathered crowd immediately moved back, forming a ring around the courtyard. Thor and the others stood at the far edge, cheering us on.
"Give us a good match!" Thor called.
"Do your best, hun!" Jean cheered.
"Kick his ass!" Wanda cried. The others turned to her in disbelief. She shrugged. "What? He has a bit of an ego."
Sif and I stood twenty feet apart. She fixed her gaze on me and leveled her sword. "Last chance to back away, Spider. I don't enjoy hurting children, warriors though they may be."
I snorted, my costume sliding back over my face. "Oh please. Could you sound any more like a cliché? What's next — 'you haven't seen my full power'?"
Sif growled and charged. I grinned. People were so easy to wind up.
I waited until she was almost on me before I jumped, clearing her and landing behind her. She spun, her blade sweeping in a wide arc. I leaned back under it and sprang my feet forward — a kick that connected square with her shield. She was pushed back an inch before she shoved back, and I was sent flying through the air.
I regained control mid-flight, spun, and landed on my feet near the edge of the courtyard, catching my breath. "Right. She's Asgardian. Almost forgot."
"Twenty on the badass warrior goddess!" Wanda cried out.
"Shut up, Wanda!" Felicia yelled back.
Sif smirked. "Your reflexes are fast, Spider — but you lack the skill. And a weapon."
"Oh, I have a weapon, my Lady, but using it would hardly be fair," I smirked. "Hell, right now I'm holding back a lot. You wouldn't last long if I took you seriously."
"Ha! Fine then — go on! I'm curious to see you at your best!" Sif grinned, the thrill of battle dancing in her eyes.
"Well, you asked for it." I charged head-on. She rolled her eyes and came at me. She leaped, bringing her blade down from above. I threw my hands up and released my stingers.
SKIT! CLACK!
Sif's blade was caught between my claws. Her eyes went wide. I flexed my arms and wrenched them apart — the metal blade snapped in half, sparks spraying through the air.
CRACK!
"Yeah! Kick her ass!" Jane Foster cried out. "Come on, Parker! Show her what a human can do!"
Thor gulped. "Jane—" One look from her silenced the god.
Sif leaped back just as my kick was about to connect with her side. I pressed the advantage, swiping my stingers at her again and again. She was driven backward, her eyes flicking to the sword rack to her left.
"ERGH!" She smashed her shield into my face, snapping my head back. I paused for just a second — and she dove sideways, grabbed a fresh sword from the rack, and turned to face me.
"Crimson Bands of Cyttorak — I command you! Bind my opponent!" I summoned the energy constructs and flung them at Sif. She grunted and swiped at the bands with her blade, but they immediately wrapped around it and immobilized her arm.
I pulled. The blade flew from her grip. I dismissed the bands, rushed in, and tackled her to the ground — climbing on top and leveling my stingers against her throat. "I win."
She panted, staring up at me in wide disbelief. "H-how?"
"I'm not much of a warrior, but I am a fighter," I pulled my stingers back and dismissed them. "You didn't know what I was capable of. I used that to surprise you — repeatedly." I offered her a hand up.
"Those claws — how?" she asked as I pulled her to her feet.
"Long story short, they were a gift," I smiled.
"That was wonderful!" Thor cheered as he approached, a broad grin on his face. The girls were right behind him. Wanda passed Jean a twenty-dollar note without a word. Ha. Take that, Maximoff.
"I must say, Spider, you've truly grown since we last spoke! That suit of yours is something else — Stark must be furious right now!" Thor scanned my suit with an appreciative warrior's eye.
I pulled my mask back and smirked. "Oh, you bet he is. Nearly blew a fuse when I showed it to him."
"Your armor — did it provide the claws?" Sif asked, still fixated on them.
"Ah, no. That's all me," I said, ordering the claws to retract, leaving only my bare hands — from which the stingers emerged. The faint blue sheen on the steel drew every eye.
"What is it?" Sif whispered. "It broke my blade. Shattered it."
"Right — sorry about that," I gulped. "Well, this is a metal called proto-adamantium. It's supposed to be... almost indestructible."
"Nothing is unbreakable," Thor scoffed.
"I said almost, didn't I?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Where did you get such a metal?" Sif asked.
"There's a world called the Negative Zone. It holds some incredibly dangerous and powerful materials," I explained. "Getting it was... a painful process, to say the least."
Sif nodded as she traced a finger across the blade. A small cut opened, and her blood dripped down. She looked at the wound in surprise. "It's very sharp."
I looked at the blood. Asgardian blood. The blood of gods. If I was going to do this, I shouldn't settle for someone like Sif. No — Thor. I'd ask him. Maybe later.
I withdrew my stingers and turned back to Sif. "So — lessons?"
Sif snorted, licking her wound clean. "I suppose a deal is a deal." She held out a hand and a soldier immediately tossed her a fresh blade. "I will give you one lesson today, and no more. I cannot just teach an outsider our techniques freely. For that, you would need special permission from the King himself."
"And seeing as he and I aren't exactly best friends," I grumbled.
Sif looked bemused but shook her head. "Why am I not surprised. What did you do?"
"I—"
"That really isn't important right now," Thor cut in quickly. "Spider, if you're serious about this, then you might as well make do with a proper weapon."
"Ah, actually—"
"Yes, yes, I know — you have your little claws. But are they truly that practical?" Thor snorted as he took a sword from the rack and presented it to me. "I still owe you a weapon for your sixteenth birthday, and a promise is a promise. Here — a fine blade for anyone joining the Asgardian army."
I took it and raised an eyebrow. "Thanks... I think?"
"Don't look so disappointed," Sif snorted. "Did you expect something like Mjolnir? All Asgardian soldiers receive a weapon. A blade like that will serve you well, I assure you."
"Actually, I was just about to tell you both that I already have a weapon," I said, holding the Asgardian blade in my left hand while my right reached behind my back and into the storage bag. Almost as if it had heard me, I felt the hilt of the Ebony Blade press itself into my palm.
I drew it. Its dark blade seemed to pull every eye in the courtyard.
"What is that?" Sif asked, breathless.
"It's called the Ebony Blade," I said, twirling it slowly. "A weapon crafted by a mage back on Earth from a fallen star. I don't know much beyond the legends. A warrior named Percy wielded it, and by all accounts he was undefeatable with it in hand."
"May I?" Thor asked, reaching toward the blade. I handed it over without hesitation and let the God of Thunder examine it.
His eyes narrowed. "By the All-Father's beard — it's Uru!"
My eyes went wide. "Say what now?"
"It has to be. I've held Mjolnir long enough to recognize the look and feel of the metal," Thor insisted as Sif and I moved to his side.
Sif frowned. "Thor — are you saying this weapon was dwarf-made?"
"No, it can't be," Thor shook his head. "The dwarves would never let a weapon like this pass into mortal hands. No offense, Peter."
I held up a hand. "None taken. I know the limitations of man, trust me."
Thor nodded. "But there's no question in my mind — this blade is Uru. And what's more, it seems to be... powerful. I can't identify all the enchantments placed in it, though."
"Perhaps the dwarves would know?" Sif suggested. "Either way, they must be told about such a weapon. They would be most displeased if we didn't bring it to their attention."
"Hold on a moment," I raised a hand and called the sword. Instantly it flew out of Thor's grip and into my palm. "You won't be returning anything. This blade was forged on Midgard. The dwarves have no claim over it, regardless of what it's made from."
Thor groaned but didn't argue, while Sif simply looked surprised. "How did you do that? How did you call the blade?"
"One of its magical properties — it returns to its owner when summoned," I explained, sliding it back into my backpack. "And as it happens, I am its owner."
"But the dwarves," Sif turned to Thor. "They need to be told. A weapon like this..."
Thor nodded, his expression conflicted. "Yes." He looked at me. "But if that blade is anything like my hammer, its loyalty is to its master alone — and that's clearly Peter. This is a difficult position."
I snorted. "Get used to it, Point Break. You're going to be king one day. Difficult positions are sort of a default feature."
Thor snorted back. "I know... Very well. I'll speak to Heimdall about this — the man has a close relationship with the king of the dwarves and will give the right advice. Until then, it's yours." He turned to Jane. "I'd like it if Asgard's healers looked you over. It's not that I distrust Spider's abilities, but it would put my mind at ease to have a second opinion."
Jane nodded. "Sure, no problem."
"What about us?" Wanda asked. "Because I would very much like a tour of this place. It's not every day you visit an alien world."
Thor smiled. "I'll arrange something. Come along."
"Take care, you guys," I waved.
"See you soon, Peter," Jean called.
"Try not to make any women fall in love with you while we're gone!" Felicia called back.
I sighed. Never change, Kitten. Never change.