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Thunder rumbled across the skies and dark clouds swirled, winds buffeting across the plains and mountains below. A woman in bronze armor stood, her knuckles white against her spear shaft.

A bright light flashed across the dark clouds, a shimmering rainbow crashing against the ground below, the magic swirling, sending her raven hair fluttering. Her gray eyes remained fixed unflinchingly on the tall dark shadow in the center of the whirlpool of colors until they faded away.

Dark combat boots dug into the ground, a red cape fluttering at the ankles. Silver armor glinted over bulging muscles as the man stepped forward, tossing a hammer that cracked with electricity, spinning in the air, before landing back into his palm.

“Lady Athena.” A curtain of golden hair fell upon the man’s blue eyes as his head dipped, a smile curling on his face. “Greetings.”

“You’re late.” Athena eyed the symbols burnt into the ground at his feet. “And alone. Where are your companions, Odinson?”

“Lady Sif and the warriors three had to be sent to another battle in Vanheim.” Thor drew himself up. “But I assure you—”

“It is a threat of Asgard that has spilled onto Earth, which is already a violation of the treatise of the council of godheads.” The bottom of Athena’s spear dug into the ground, her eyes narrowing. ”Is this how Asgard looks to make amends?”

Thor’s jaw tightened, threads of electricity flitting across the Mjolnir. 

“Asgard sends its crown prince to ensure that the treatise is withheld,” Thor ground out. “If Olympus doesn’t wish to aid, we can take care of it alone. Many giants of Muspelheim have already fallen to my hammer. A few more won’t create a difference.”

“I assure you Odinson that I wouldn’t be wasting my time here had this not been Lord Zeus’ command.” Athena raised an eyebrow. “And the threat wouldn’t have remained either had I not been explicitly told to await Asgard’s… delayed response. Now, come along. The giants would’ve already seen you come given your dramatic and unstrategic method of travel.”

She twisted, marching toward the mountains in the distance, from where dark smoke rose to the sky, disappearing amongst the dark clouds. 

“You are the one that will delay us, Lady Athena,” Thor called. “You see. Unlike Olympians, we, the lords of Asgard, have certain gifts.”

“No, you don’t. The hammer does.” Athena glanced pointedly at the Mjolnir over her shoulder. “I know who you are, Thor Odinson. I know of your capabilities, and above that, I know what your Mjolnir is capable of. Do not disguise the weapon’s ability for your own.”

“If you’re so capable then you shouldn't have trouble reaching there without my aid.” Thor spun his hammer toward the mountains, shooting off into the air.

“Or we could’ve planned a strategy,” Athena muttered, taking a deep breath.

Power roared through her veins and she vanished in a flash of golden light, reappearing behind a boulder. Heat washed over her skin and smoke filled her nostrils from the valley below.

With a snap of her fingers, a helm formed on her head, the smoke drifting away from her face, a bubble of fresh air encasing her. A moment later, the ground shook, and a gust of wind ruffled her chiton as a silver blur crashed onto the ground.

“Odinson.” Her lips curled up as Thor whirled around, his eyes wide. “You’re late.”

“How did you get her so fast?” He raised his hammer.

“Unlike Asgardians, we gods of Olympus have certain gifts.” Athena brushed past him. “We, Asgardian, are true gods. We bleed golden.”

“That makes little difference.” Thor scowled. “At least we aren’t limited by our own divinity and domains.”

“If that is what you believe, Thunderer.” Athena waved a hand toward the valley. “Why don’t we deal with them for now? We need a plan.”

Below them, figures of flames rose atop a bubbling pit of lava, flames flowing onto weapons of molten rocks in their hands. Horns of bubbling fire crowned their heads, obsidian rock peeking between the swirls of orange. 

“Planning is for those who don’t have the strength to see a battle through without one,” Thor spun his hammer. “Allow me to show you the strength of Asgard.”

In a flash of silver, Thor hurled toward the giants below.

“That… is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.”

The fire giant below spun around as Thor neared, swinging a sword of fire that the Asgardian avoided, smashing into the fiery body of the giant, sending him stumbling. Lightning cracked across the sky, dropping onto Mjolnir, and cascading down Thor’s body.

Another giant lumbered toward him and Thor threw the Mjolnir, sending the giant flying across the valley. 

“And he ignored the opponent below him,” Athena mumbled to herself as the giant raised his hand, backhanding Thor into the mountain which shook. “Hotheads.”

Athena slid down the slope, next to Thor, who laid in a crater, his cape smoldering beneath him. Ash covered his face, a trickle of red blood flowing from his lips.

“What happened to having the strength to see a battle through?” Athena arched an eyebrow.

“A warrior doesn’t lose when he takes a hit,” Thor pushed himself to his feet, wiping his face. “He loses when he quits.”

“That is a wise saying,” Athena said. “But one wasted on you.”

“Be mindful of your words,” Thor raised his hand and the Mjolnir soared back into his grasp. “I am—”

“A hothead who went in without a plan, calling himself a warrior,” Athena tittered. “Allow me to demonstrate how a true warrior fights.”

“Against a horde of opponents you have never faced,” Thor extended his hand in the giants’ direction. “Be my guest.”

A shield shimmered into her hand and Thor sucked in a sharp breath as his eyes met the snarling bronze face.

“That’s Aegis.” Athena turned around and strode toward the giants. “Hestia, lend me your protection to protect our family against this threat.”

A haze of orange glowed against her armor and she leaped, her spear arcing across the giant’s face. Fire sizzled under her feet, drowned under the giant’s roar before she drove her spear through his eye. 

The giant dissolved into a shower of sparks and Athena bounced forward, running across the bubbling lava. A spear of fire descended over her and she twisted, using her spear to hurl herself onto the giant’s thing.

Heat washed against her arm as she climbed up, flames washing over her armor harmlessly. The giant stumbled, trying to catch or swat her away but Athena avoided his hand, leaving nothing but wounds in her wake. Within moments, her spear sank into his jugular and the monster let out a gurgle, lava spouting out of his wound.

Athena wrenched her spear and jumped, rolling onto the ground between the third giant’s leg. Spinning around, she let Aegis soar, which smashed against the giant’s knee.

With a roar, the giant fell and Athena climbed atop a boulder, lunging at the giant as soon as he hit the ground.

In a flash of fire, the giant dissolved into the lava below.

She saw a blue blur fly above her as the Mjolnir slammed into the fourth giant, going through the chest, and the giant melted in a pool of lava.

A moment later, Thor splashed in the lava next to her his cape flowing behind him. 

“Decided to join the fight?” Aegis appeared back into her hands.

“You truly are the fiercest of warriors as they say, Lady Athena,” Mjolnir returned to Thor’s hand. “Fiercer than even Sif.”

“I would’ve preferred her over you today,” Athena slid across the battlefield while Thor dove out of the way of a gust of fire. “She at least would’ve made a plan before jumping.”

“I have made plans before,” Thor’s hammer slammed into the fifth giant, sending him reeling. “They don’t survive first contact with the enemy. Or my enemy doesn’t survive the first contact with the Mjolnir.”

“That tells me that you make bad plans, Odinson.” Athena slammed into the fourth giant, the Aegis hammering into the giant's leg. “A good plan, while requiring amendments as per the situation, will stay intact to a certain extent if you consider as many variables as you can. Never underestimate the power of strategies.”

“I would take your word on it, as the goddess of warcraft.” Thor spun the hammer and winds buffeted, a bolt of lightning dropping from the skies, onto the giant, downing him. “Go!”

Athena sprinted across the battlefield, avoiding a blade of fire, leaping high, and bringing her spear down on the giant's chest. 

“And the last.” Thor flew high, lightning cracking down his arm as he brought the hammer down on the last giant's forehead, which crumbled into lava, raining down below. 

He landed into the fire, his cape sweeping away the flames.

“A battle well fought, Lady Athena.” Thor smiled at her. “This calls for a feast.”

“No, this calls you to return to Asgard and me to Olympus.” Athena waddled across the pool of lava. “We have our duties, Odinson. One day, you will know that battles are not only fought for glory.”

“Perhaps.”

“You might be a god but you have the path of a hero, Thor Odinson,” Athena stepped onto a rock, staring down at him. “Right now, you are brimming with arrogance of your power. While it is not unearned, you have yet to understand a true warrior's truth. The truth of battles and above all, the truth of war.”

“You sound like my father.”

Athena smiled wryly. “Lord Odin went to great lengths to obtain the wisdom he has gained. Remember this, Odinson. One day, you’ll realize that despite all your power, and all your strength, you are still fallible. Despite all you have, one day, you’ll find yourself helpless and that is the day you will truly understand.” 

“Is that—”

“No, it is not a curse. It is the path of a hero.” Athena glanced at the Mjolnir. “You’re worthy, fighting for the weak and protecting them. Being a hero. But yet, you have a long way to go. Keep an open mind, Thor Odinson.”

Thor frowned, his grasp against the hammer tightening.

“Give Asgard Olympus’ regards,” Athena said. “Farewell, son of Odin.”

Athena vanished in a flash of golden light, leaving Thor in a bubbling pit of lava.

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

Since Harry Potter and HPXMCU were tied, I went for second place this time. I like the dynamic that could be formed between the gods of MCU and PJO.

A huge thanks to Mughil for betaing this chapter!

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HPfanfictioner66