Asgardian Twilight

Return to Asgard

When the Commodore emerged from the wormhole, the occupants were all standing in the cockpit. Dean stood beside Thor as they stared out of the windshield at Asgard. From a distance it was still the same floating, shimmering city it had always been. But if one looked closer, they could spy plumes of dark smoke rising up from fires that burned across the city's surface.

Thor tensed up and Dean turned to look at him. He could feel this tension sliding off of Thor in subtle waves. Dean knew even without the aid of his empathy that Thor was restraining his concerns and focusing on preparing for the battle to come. Dean gently took his hand and gave it a squeeze. When Thor returned his gaze, he smiled softly. "We're going to fix this, Thor," he promised. "We'll make it right again."

Thor returned Dean's smile. "I had hoped that you and I would visit Asgard again under better circumstances."

Dean shrugged. "I don't know. I think vanquishing an evil bitch and destroying her army are pretty good circumstances," he replied brightly, hoping his optimism would influence Thor and the others.

"I like the way you think," 142 said from the other side of him. She had unsheathed her sword and was staring at it with a fondness one would reserve for a dear old friend. "I want her blood to stain my sword."

Dean's bravery in the face of such danger tugged at Thor's heart. "When this is all over..." he said as he leaned in and kissed Dean's cheek.

"When this is all over I'm going to make an honest thunder god of you," Dean finished.

Thor grinned. "We should go to Alfheim for our honeymoon."

"The realm of the light elves?" Dean asked.

Thor nodded. "You'll love it. It's bright, peaceful."

"I like bright and peaceful," Dean replied with a smile.

"We should probably save the honeymoon plans for after we've done what we came here to do," Bruce cut in as the Commodore drew near.

142 stared at the city as they descended to it and said "I never thought I'd be back here." Dean sensed her emotions, which were the definition of mixed.

The ship descended into the clouds above Asgard and Banner stared, entranced. "Aside from the fires it's beautiful. Your descriptions could never do it justice," he said as he looked at Thor and Dean.

The ship entered the clouds of Asgard's atmosphere, then broke through them to see the hopeless landscape up close. Ruins abounded. The bodies of the dead littered the streets.

"Look at this," 142 said as she pulled up a map on the console. Immediately, Asgard was displayed before them. She pointed at a mountain. "See all of those heat signatures? The majority of the people are in there."

Thor nodded "The mountains hold a secret hiding place hidden by magic," he explained.

"Hela will come for them," 142 said, shaking her head.

Thor smiled grimly. "Take me to the palace and drop me. I can secure some weapons for you from the armory. Then I'll stay and get Hela's attention, draw her away."

"It would be suicide," 142 argued.

Thor shook his head and his gaze reflected the finality of his decision. "The people trapped down there are all that matters."

"I'm going with you," Dean said.

Thor looked at him and shook his head. "I can't let you do that, Fair One. You need to help the people." He looked at everyone else. "While I'm dealing with Hela, I need you and Lockjaw to help Heimdall evacuate everyone. 142 and Banner will cover your escape."

"How will we get everyone out?" Bruce asked.

"I have a man on the ground," Thor said. "Heimdall is with the survivors."

Lockjaw huffed and Dean smiled. "Lockjaw's powers haven't fully returned yet. He can only teleport over short distances at a time right now. But he can help us move people more quickly."

"Are you up to the task, Lockjaw?" Thor asked.

Lockjaw gave an excited yip.

"Once you get everyone out, Heimdall will take you to the Spire. There, he'll send you all to Midgard." He watched as the palace came into view. "Drop me here and wait a moment."

Heimdall could sense the approach of Hela's forces. The distant sounds of marching grew nearer and a sense of dread infected the entirety of the mountain hideaway. With a grim expression and his hands grasping the Bifrost Sword's handle tightly, he looked to the people and said the words no one wanted to hear.

"She's here."

Thor was quick with his errand and returned with a massive Asgardian gun. Its appearance reminded Dean of a Vulcan cannon one might see mounted to a gunship, though it was more colorful with it's golden body. 142 helped him load it onto the Commodore and smiled at the welcome sight.

"Now the ship has guns," Thor said.

142 nodded in approval. "Not a pleasure vessel anymore. We'll take it from here."

Thor grinned and reached for a bundle of fabric he'd brought with him. "I found this in the armory," he said.

142 looked down at the fabric- a white bodysuit adorned with white and gold plating and accompanied by a blue cape. She looked up at Thor and nostalgia momentarily softened her.

Thor smiled before turning to Dean, who stepped against him and hugged him. "Please be careful, Thor."

Thor rubbed a hand through Dean's hair. "I'll come back to you, Dean. This time I mean it." He held Dean's face so their eyes locked. "I will come back to you."

Dean nodded slowly as Thor's conviction and love washed over him. "You'd better. I don't want to travel across the galaxy all over again."