→ TWO!

◜ be careful what you wish for ◞

"YOU CAN HANDLE IT FROM HERE," Stephen said, staring at Loki as he stuck out his hand, shaking it with Thor's. Thor nodded, returning the shake firmly.

"Yes, of course. Thank you very much for your help." He glanced down to Amber with a smirk.

"And you," Thor grabbed her hand, lifting it to plant a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. Amber raised her eyebrows. "Thank you kindly. I hope our paths cross again."

Stephen's jaw clenched slightly but said nothing. He suddenly thought of the two parting ways in 2016, making him look at the ground.

"Careful what you wish for." Amber said quietly, slipping her hand away from his.

"Handle me?" Loki jumped to his feet in a flash, spinning around in ire to glare at Stephen. "Who are you?"

He flicked out his hands; two daggers unsheathing from his sleeves. "You think you're some kind of sorcerer?"

Stephen's head turned in concern. Amber's face washed over grimly, clenching her fists in preparation to fight.

Loki bounded forward in short rapid steps. "Don't think for one minute, you second-rate―"

"All right, bu-bye!" Stephen said loudly, waving his hands forward. The portal he created to Norway followed his movement, swallowing Loki and Thor up before closing behind them.

And then, the sanctum went silent. Stephen cleared his throat loudly and looked over to Amber, who was peering around the building as if it were new to her. "You okay?"

She snapped out of her trance, looking at Stephen with big eyes. "Huh―? Oh! Yeah, yeah... I'm okay. Its just...he was so odd."

"Who, Loki?"

"Thor." Amber corrected as her brows furrowed and her lips pursed.

Stephen nodded, gesturing at the flight of stairs before them. "Shall we?"

"We shall." Amber nodded, joining Stephen as they climbed the stairs in silence.

⌁ ⌁ ⌁

THOR AND LOKI STOOD IN THE FIELD OF NORWAY, LOOKING AHEAD TO SEE THEIR FATHER STAND ALONE IN FRONT OF THE OCEAN.

Thor walked towards him with long strides, quickly reaching him. He cautiously stood beside him, watching as Odin continued to stare out into the abyss as seagulls called overhead. "Father?"

"Look at this place. It's beautiful."

"Father, it's us." Thor continued as Loki joined them on the other side of Odin.

"My sons. I've been waiting for you."

"I know," Thor said with a smile. "We've come to take you home."

"Home, yes." he paused before continuing. "Your mother, she calls me. Do you hear it?"

Both boys turned their heads, trying to listen for something above the crashing waves against the rocks, or the birds shrieking in the sky. But, they couldn't.

"Loki, lift your magic." Thor said with authority in his voice. A voice that would scare any normal citizen. Loki shook his head at his brother in silence.

Odin chuckled, glancing down at the grass before up at his dark-haired son. "Took my quite a while to break from your spell. Frigga would've been proud. Come sit with me, I don't have much time."

The three moved to sit on a nearby boulder, shifting around until they were all somewhat comfortable.

"I know we've failed you, but we can make this right," Thor said.

"I failed you." Odin corrected. "Tis upon us...Ragnarok."

"No, I stopped Ragnarok. I put an end to Surtur."

"No. It's already begun. She's coming. My life has always held her back, but my time has come. I cannot keep her away any longer. But, do not fear, my sons, for I have provided an ally to aid you."

"Who?"

"Her name is Freyja. She is the goddess of War, Beauty, Gold, Seiðr, and Death. She will help you to stop her."

"Who are you talking about?" Thor pressed, regarding the upcoming enemy.

"The goddess of Death, Hela. My firstborn; your sister."

Thor and Loki shared an uneasy look. Odin tipped back his head, looking up into the cloudy sky. 

"Her violent appetite grew beyond my control, I couldn't stop her, so I prisoned her. Locked her away. She draws her power from Asgard. Once she gets there, her powers will be...limitless."

"W-Whatever she is, we can stop her. We can face her, together." Thor shook his head, trying to come up with another solution.

Odin only shook his head. "No, we won't. I'm on a different path now. You must face this alone. I love you, my sons." He suddenly pointed outward, smiling softly. "Look at that."

Thor and Loki watched over the ocean in silence, trying to find some peace in the sounds of the winds and waves.

"Remember this place...home." Odin said, before drifting off in a cloud of gold. The two stood, watching.

When Odin was gone, Thor's breathing became uneven, and the skies grew dark. Loki peered over at him. "Brother,"

Thor clenched his fist in anger as lightning sparked from his hand. "This was your doing."

When Thor opened his mouth to spit another argument, a bright flash shone from the sky, suddenly blasting into the ground in a white beam. As the beam of white light turned into gold, a faint yell was heard, confusing Thor and Loki.

A girl appeared in front of them when the light cut off, leaving her in the middle of the grassy plain. Her hair was a golden blonde, and she was dressed in a red robe, and blue cape. The two brothers instantly recognized who the new goddess was...

Amber.

Amber looked around her setting with compete confusion, calling out for Stephen a few times. She seemed to reach for her belt, only to curse very loudly. "Are you kidding me?! I lost my Sling Ring?! How am I gonna get back home?! Aw, man! Stephen must be―"

She clamped her mouth shut when she saw Thor and Loki slowly walking towards her, the same level of confusion reading on their own faces.

Her look of confusion and shock suddenly turned into rage. "You."

Amber swatted back her cloak as she rushed towards the two men, pointing a sharp finger at them. "You two did this!"

"Did what, exactly?" Loki asked, raising a brow.

"Are you the goddess of War and Gold?" Thor asked, stepping close to Amber with a frown.

She threw up her arms, glancing around once more. "I don't know! All I can remember is being in the sanctum with Stephen, a bright light, and then some voice saying something about being a Norse goddess―"

She suddenly gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth in realization. "Wait! Am I a goddess?!"

"Precisely." Loki nodded.

Amber yelped in excitement. "Really?! I mean, I do feel a little different. Is that bad?"

Thor opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by a black cloud forming in front of them. Loki and Thor looked at each other before approaching it. Amber stayed behind them.

Thor raised his umbrella in the air, pounding it to the ground to allow a thick bolt of lightning strike him. When the flash disappeared, both him and Loki were dressed in their regular Asgardian armour.

The black cloud grew, and from it, sparked a sickly green. A slim figure slowly walked out of the cloud. She wore a tight black bodysuit, with wedged heels. Her hair was midnight black, and covered half of her face.

"So he's gone," she said, her voice deep and almost raspy. She leaned her body to the right, putting most of her weight on one foot. "Shame, I would've liked to have seen that."

"You must be Hela." Thor stated, gesturing to himself, "I'm Thor, son of Odin."

"Really? You don't look like him."

"Perhaps we can come to an arrangement," Loki commented.

Hela shook a finger at him tauntingly. "Now you sound like him." When Hela noticed Amber, she leaned her head back. "And who are you?"

Amber's eyes widen as her cheeks flooded red. "Uh―I,"

"She is Freyja, goddess of War and Beauty. She was sent by Odin." Thor informed, making Hela scoff rudely.

A short moment of silence passed before Hela smirked at them. "Kneel."

"I beg your pardon?" Loki asked, leaning forward. Hela glanced down at her hand as she formed a sword from it. "Kneel...before your Queen."

"I don't think so," Thor said, making Loki and Amber stare at him. Thor stepped forward, suddenly hurling his hammer at her.

To all of their surprise, Hela caught Mjolnir. Her arm shook as she looked at the three with a smirk. Thor, with his arm still outstretched, blinked. "It's...not possible..."

"Darling, you have no idea of what's possible."

Her black nails curled in on the hammer, making it crack under the pressure. Suddenly, it broke, sending a wave of electricity out. Loki, Thor, and Amber all covered their heads from the wave. The hammer fell into pieces at Hela's feet.

They all looked at Hela with wide eyes. Amber pointed a trembling finger at the rubble. "I don't think that's supposed to happen...right?"

Hela roamed her hands over her head and down her shoulders, revealing a headpiece with a few sets of antlers. She wielded two swords from her arms and slowly started to approach the three.

Loki threw his head towards the sky. "Bring us back!"

Amber shot him a look of panic. "Who the hell are you talking to?!"

Thor looked towards Loki. "No―!" he ran at Hela, only to be engulfed by a beam of rainbows. The three sped down the portal. While Amber was trying not to freak out, Thor looked down towards his brother. "Loki!"

Loki saw Hela chase after them and threw his dagger at her. She swiftly caught it, throwing it back at him. Catching him off-guard, Loki was struck by the knife, before being bodychecked by Hela, sending him out of the portal.

Hela lifted towards Thor and Amber, proceeding to battle them hand-to-hand. Hela easily overpowered Amber, kicking her from the portal under ten seconds. She grabbed Thor by his throat and pushed him against the portal wall. With her free hand, she wielded another sword and lifted it into the air.

Thor kicked Hela in the stomach, throwing himself from the portal as well, closely after Amber.