From The Ashes - 019 (Patreon)

[A/N: Hey guys! I just finished editing these two chapters as I kinda fell asleep last night and couldn't finish then. Still, here they are and you can look forward to another chapter around evening!

Enjoy!]

Chapter 019 – Calculated Risk

[2012]

Deliberately using the Space Stone to arrive on the rainbow bridge near the Bifrost to avoid causing any displeasure in the Godking that ruled this realm by just brazenly invading the city or even the palace, it was still quite a shock to see Asgard with my own eyes.

From fiction to reality, I looked at the distant splendour of this land of gods, appreciative of the way that Asgardians aimed to preserve the natural beauty of this 'world'.

The air alone, rushing into my lungs with every breath that I took, was incomparable to Earth's. It was untainted, unpolluted, its purity and vitality something that I had never experienced before.

I couldn't imagine how Thor must have felt the first time that he came to Earth and visited a large city, this single difference making it clear how much humanity still had to learn.

Sacrificing the planet for the sake of efficiency and productiveness, trying to absolve ourselves of the responsibility we held when it came to protecting our home as if its deteriorating condition was something unavoidable.

I knew enough about the Asgardians to understand that they were overly reliant on the protection of their king while using their innate strength and magic to dominate and rule the Nine Realms. In that same sense, they had no need for primitive technology like the one used on Earth.

But even then, for the people of Asgard, their home and the wildlife living in the lush forests and steep mountains still had something sacred that they would never think of tarnishing.

I didn't know if it was a lack of faith or simple awareness and respect that differentiated humanity from the Asgardians in that aspect but I guessed that this might be the reason.

"Welcome home, princes. The Allfather will be pleased to hear that you brought your brother back Odinson.", a deep voice greeted, causing me to set aside my musing for a moment as I turned to the dark-skinned, golden-armored warrior that approached us.

Heimdall, the gatekeeper and guardian of the Bifrost.

The undertone in his voice had something strangely ethereal, making it seem as if there was a small echo to his words like whispers and calls from the bottom of a deep well. It was an almost unnoticeable trait but impossible to overlook with my senses.

His golden eyes were calm and expressed his determination to fulfill his duty no matter the sacrifice necessary, the innumerable visions of the vicissitudes of life that he had been granted by his innate abilities having forged him into a formidable man, even if his power was limited.

I could sense his strong will through my Haki, glimmering like an indestructible, flawless golden blade.

But I also felt the 'light' of this blade dim and waver for a single moment when his eyes turned to me, gazing at my form with controlled calm even if his heart was clearly disturbed by something.

“This is Noah, a warrior from Earth, who has taken the Tesseract's power for himself and had promised to help us reignite the Bifrost.”, Thor introduced me as I stayed quiet, observing the gatekeeper with my Observation Haki.

I had known that there were risks to coming here, even as a guest invited by Thor.

I didn't know how Odin would react to knowing that I had taken the Tesseract's power for myself, though I was rather sure that he knew what had been inside the cosmic cube.

The Allfather's power was also a mystery, his thoughts and intentions not being something that I could just guess from my limited perspective.

Like Hela, Odin's power came directly from Asgard and his position as a King, his Odinforce a type of energy that might very well be able to contend with the Space Stone's cosmic power.

Still, even if I was no match for the elderly Godking, even he could not stop me from escaping. He might have been able to do so if I had just access to the stone's power through the Tesseract but since I had subdued and claimed the cosmic ingot, things were different.

I could feel it clearly, the pulsing well of strength in my chest waiting for me to unleash its power, connecting me with one of the fundamental laws of reality. I could leave Asgard whenever I pleased, the fabric of space seemingly incomparably frail before me.

“This matter cannot be delayed, Heimdall. So I will have to bother you to inform my father immediately.”, the Prince added, “He will also want to talk to Loki, I am sure.”

I could vaguely remember that at this point in time, the Marauders were taking advantage of the fact that the Bifrost was laying inactive to invade the Nine Realms to raid and pillage the worlds that Asgard swore to protect.

As such, Thor's urgency didn't really surprise me, it was even to my advantage as I doubted that Odin was thinking of making an enemy out of someone that wielded an Infinity Stone with the chaos that already threatened the sovereignty of Asgard's rule.

Heimdall naturally also was aware of all this, so he nodded in understanding, his answer short: “Of course.”

Turning towards me, his hand already furiously spinning his hammer, Thor said: “Let's go to the palace. Follow me.”

And the next moment, he just let himself be carried away by the built-up force of his hammer, his gagged and shackled brother seemingly no burden at all as Thor dragged Loki away with ease.

I had to admit that it was a bit funny to watch the godly trickster be manhandled like this and I couldn't help the smirk that drew up the corner of my lips before I exerted strength through my legs while flames erupted from within me, my human form disappearing in favour of the more mythical one.

And with a single flap of my blazing wings, I caught up with the Prince, letting all of Asgard take note of my presence for the first time.

…

Standing on one of the many balconies of the palace that faced the city below and the Bifrost, Sif's eyes gazed into the distance, hoping to find any sign of Thor's return, her heart filled with worry.

She had been doing this almost every day since the departure of the Prince that she yearned for whenever she wasn't on the training ground trying her best to sharpen her already impressive fighting skills.

As the most famous and strongest female warrior serving under their king, she held herself to impossibly high standards, so even if her mind was disturbed by worries and heartache, there was no way that she would allow her skills as a warrior to deteriorate.

“Why don't you come with us to the Golden Boar? A hearty meal might improve your mood, Sif.”, Volstagg invited, his loud voice rumbling through the air and disturbing the quiet that she had surrounded herself with.

Turning to face her friend, by his side Fandral and Hogun, who looked at her with concern and goodwill, Sif couldn't find it in herself to shoo them away with harsh words even if her current mood made her inclined to do so.

The Warrior Three had been her battle companions for centuries and at this point they were closer to her than even her own siblings, the trust and affection born out of a thousand battles not being something that she wanted to casually undermine by lashing out in frustration and worry.

They had come here almost every day to invite her out in an attempt to distract her but Sif couldn't help it.

She knew Loki was a cunning foe and his malevolent tricks could cause harm to Thor even if his strength far exceeded the former.

And weren't it for the fact that the Allfather had barely been able to summon the Bifrost to send the Prince alone to Midgard while still having to pay a huge price for doing so, she would have long since begged the King to send her too as reinforcements.

But just as she was about to answer Volstagg, trying to send them away in a measured tone, the corners of her eyes caught sight of movement on the rainbow bridge.

Forgetting what she wanted to say, Sif turned around and her incredible Asgardian eyesight caught the figure Thor as he moved through the air guided by his hammer, her heartbeat alone drowning out any other sound, a delighted smile blooming on her gorgeous face.

A whisper escaped her lips: "He is ba- … "

Though unable to finish her sentence, her eyes widened as an incomparably majestic blazing avian suddenly appeared at Thor's side, blue fire raining down wherever its mighty form passed, its tailfeathers seemingly made out of pure light.

The only question that remained in her mind at this point was - 'Who- … What is that?!'