Asgardian Twilight

Muspelheim

A more hellish landscape than that of Muspelheim had never greeted Thor Odinson's eyes before. The world of fire was not an often-traveled place. Indeed, it was a most hostile world where Asgardians were concerned. Its king, Surtur the fire demon, was not particularly fond of Asgard, and therefore the only warmth in a welcome from his realm would come from the endless fires themselves.

Surtur, Thor recollected, was the figure prophesied to bring about the end of days for Asgard; an apocalyptic event known by its people as Ragnarok. He recalled growing up in the golden, powerful empire of Asgard, thinking that nothing could ever dim its splendor. Surtur was merely a scary bedtime story intended to frighten children into good behavior. Odin himself had gone to Muspelheim, defeated Surtur, and stolen the one thing that would enable him to lay waste to Asgard- the Eternal Flame. Without it, Surtur could never destroy Asgard. And so, like most Asgardians, Thor lived free of the fear of Surtur. He had not been alive when the fire demon was a more fearsome worry.

Then the visions happened. The girl, Wanda, had made Thor see the destruction of Asgard at Surtur's hands. This had shaken his faith in Odin's victory over Surtur to its core. It had shaken it enough to force him to part ways with Dean Allen so he might avert catastrophe.

Dean, Thor thought as he stood at the entrance to Surtur's domain, a dark, fire-filled cavern. He had last left his fiance shortly after he'd discovered that he was an Inhuman prince. This revelation had seen Dean now gifted with superpowers. Though he knew Dean to be capable enough with and without his powers, it didn't ease the worry in his heart when he left Midgard. Still, he was the protector of the nine realms and it was his duty. If Ragnarok loomed, he had to stop it.

Then there was the matter of the Infinity Stones. A mysterious entity sought them, and Thor knew that he must discover who and why. This was Thor's second mission. But first, Ragnarok must be thwarted.

With Mjolnir at his side, Thor entered and descended into a network of caves. Everywhere he looked, he saw dark earth adorned with veins of heat that created a spider's web of orange-red. Hot air assailed him even more here, and sweat began to trickle down his forehead. The heat of Ragnarok would be hotter still, he reminded himself.

With each step he took deeper into the caverns, he told himself he was that much closer to returning to Dean. A smile graced his face despite the awful heat that enveloped him. Meeting Dean had altered him forever. Before Dean, he'd been an arrogant and foolhardy prince. Odin, in his wisdom, had thrown him to Midgard, intent on teaching him a lesson in humility. Dean had come into his life and very quickly had an influence on Thor. He'd helped him to understand the value of peace and the importance of choosing one's destiny. Since that time, he and Dean had grown into a love that Thor was eager to culminate in marriage.

"But first," Thor whispered to himself, "Surtur's crown."

In the prophecy, Surtur would place his crown upon the Eternal Flame, triggering Ragnarok. No crown, Thor thought to himself, no Ragnarok.

The plan was simple enough in his head, and first involved being captured. Surtur would not waste the opportunity to revel in capturing the crown prince of Asgard. His bitterness over his defeat at the hands of Odin ensured that he would wish to gloat. This would grant Thor a perfect opportunity to get in close and make his move. The fire demon was a deadly adversary. But Thor was mighty. He would land the blow, steal the crown, fight off any opposition that stood in his way, and be back on Asgard in no time. Then he would revel in his victory with his friends and some Asgardian mead after he'd brought word to his father.

Thinking about Odin incited the worry that he had felt for some time. Odin was not himself and had not been since shortly the death of Thor's mother, Frigga, and Loki. Since that time, Odin seemed removed, distant. These deaths, along with Thor's refusal to be king, had been hardships for Odin. Guilt struck him frequently, but Thor knew that he could not sacrifice his own happiness simply because it was what his father wanted of him. Still, he pitied his father.