More Than a Mortal

A Royal Introduction

The distant sounds of people cheering beyond the castle walls met Dean's ears as he stood before the large mirror and stared at his reflection. Medusa and Blackagar had presented him with a box, which he'd opened slowly. He hadn't known what to expect, but when he gazed at the clothes that were neatly folded inside, he smiled. Gold, purple and red greeted his eyes. The colors of the trees of Atillan. The colors of the quilts Emma had made for all of her children and grandchildren. All of his life, those colors had brought him a type of comfort he couldn't explain. Even now, there were times when he would wrap himself in the heirloom and absorb that comfort. Knowing their origin only enhanced this.

"It is made from a material that resists heat, so it won't burn when you use your powers," Medusa explained. "Highly durable. It will serve you well, Prince Dean."

After he'd finished dressing, he gave his reflection one last glance before leaving the room and heading to the ground flood or the castle. The sounds grew louder as he stood int the main hall and waited for the prompt.

Thor stood on the front steps of the castle with Steve, Tony and Natasha on either side of him. Nearby Triton, Gorgon and Crystal stood. Karnak was seated, his shattered legs encased in casts made of a strange, metallic material. Lockjaw, who had become very attached to Thor, stood at the thunder god's side and nudged his hand anytime he stopped petting him. Thor stared out into the masses and smiled broadly. Atillanians gathered around the castle as musicians and performers provided entertainment for the crowds. Brilliant shades of colors rained down from above as streamers and flecks of confetti were tossed about. After so much chaos and upheaval in the kingdom, the people finally had cause to celebrate. The very air itself was charged with a happiness that would make even the most hardened cynic crack a smile.

Movement at the large front entrance of the castle caught the attention of the subjects. They cheered vigorously as King Blackagar and Queen Medusa stepped out into the light of day. Amid the fanfare, Medusa raised a hand, motioning for quiet. The crowd's cheers died down and they watched expectantly.

"Citizens of Atillan," Medusa spoke out, her regal tone resonating like a bell. "Blackagar and I stand before you today, not as your king and queen, but as members of this community we all share. Atillan has been a place of peace and prosperity since our founders arrived here centuries ago. During that time, we became complacent. We never suspected that conflict would come to us. We especially did not expect it to come from within us." She paused and smiled at the front row of children. "Prince Acrimon and the Genetic Council betrayed this kingdom. Their acts might have pushed Atillan into darkness." She paused once more and smiled. "This has shown us that we must embrace change if we are to continue our way of life. We will rebuild this home. It will not be an easy task. But a light has come to our kingdom. A light that has aided us in finding solutions."

Whispers spread throughout the crowd.

"Decades ago, Princess Emmaquilan left our city and traveled to earth, where she felt she could do the most good. She used her healing powers as a nurse and fell in love. Today, her heir has come from earth and is with us."

The whispering turned into gasps of excitement.

"I am honored, as your queen, to present Prince Dean," Medusa shouted as she and Blackagar moved aside.

Dean stepped out of the castle doors and into the light. When he reached the steps, he stopped and took in the sight of hundreds of people cheering, their applause thunderous. Thor stared at the man he loved, taking in the sight of him in what was to be his new uniform. He stood proudly beside the king and queen, his slender body clad in a snug bodysuit. The material of the suit and boots resembled Kevlar and was a deep purple with stripes of metallic red rising up the sides- the affect was reminiscent of the sky at dusk. Metallic gold lining adorned the boots and a golden belt hung at his waist. The front of the suit had a discreet zipper leading up to a v-neck opening just inches below his throat, exposing the slightest peek at his toned chest; the same gold lined the Mandarin collar. Being sleeveless, the suit allowed the lean muscles of his arms to be visible. Gold-colored metal gauntlets covered his wrists, leaving his hands bare.

"He looks amazing," Natasha gushed excitedly.

"Quite the glow up, eh?" Tony asked as he leaned over and gave Thor a nudge.

"The Fair One didn't need a glow-up," Thor chuckled, never taking his eyes off of Dean.

"Well, no, but the wording is clever, right?" Tony asked.

Dean waved at the crowd before looking over his shoulder at the others. Thor caught his eye and winked at him. Dean's cheeks went pink and he gave that shy smile he adored. He returned the smile and watched as Dean turned and continued to wave at the crowd, their cheers only growing louder. This was their prince, a hero from another world who had helped to save theirs. Yes, with the announcement of the king and queen he was declared a prince to these people. But in Thor's eyes, there was never a time when he wasn't one.