fiction | Part of the journey is the end

3. Omnipotence city

The Town Hall was in chaos as the Asgardians panicked. A parent told Valkyrie that her daughter had been taken, and she promised her that she'll be found.

Thor, Jane, and Valkyrie nodded firmly. "She will be," said Valkyrie. She had to lead Asgard in a better direction than Odin had.

The parents could imagine the panic that the Asgardian parents were going through at their children getting kidnapped, especially after surviving Ragnarok, Thanos, and the Blip.

Actors-Thor and Loki asked Valkyrie if they should start working on a performance of the debacle as the people needed entertainment in times of crisis. She ignored them. The actors started to plan the play.

Everyone looked at them in disbelief.

"Are they serious? The kids have gotten kidnapped and they think the Asgardians need entertainment?" Tony said.

"Okay, maybe I didn't choose the right people," said Loki.

"They're actors. What did you expect?" Mantis said, glaring at Actors-Thor and Loki.

"I knew actors were pieces of shit," Nebula said.

Thor and Korg were standing to the side as Thor watched Jane comfort a mother.

Thor's face softened. Jane was wonderful.

Korg described Jane as Jodie Foster, the ex-girlfriend that got away.

"Jane, not Jodie," Jane corrected.

"Must be hard for you to see your ex-girlfriend and your ex-hammer hangin' out, and getting on so well," said Korg.

Thor didn't mind. Maybe he would've if he didn't know that Mjolnir was helping Jane fight her cancer, but now he would gladly give it up if it would help her. He didn't need Stormbreaker or Mjolnir—he was called the God of Thunder for a reason—but it was nice to have them.

"I do like Mjolnir," said Jane.

Thor opened his hand and tried to summon Mjolnir, but Stormbreaker floated toward him.

Thor forgot that Stormbreaker existed in the excitement at knowing that Mjolnir was back.

Two Asgardians were arguing, and a woman suggested starting an army. "With what? Half our soldiers are dead!" a man said. "Half our soldiers are always dead!" she shot back.

The Avengers looked scandalized, the Guardians laughed, and the Asgardians sighed.

"We've had a rough couple of years," said Thor.

"None of it would've happened if Odin hadn't kept Hela a secret from everyone, but he loves secrets," said Loki.

"Odin was another god who was an asshole. It looks like the asshole gods outnumber the nice ones," said Rhodey.

The Asgardians started to fight until they instantly quieted once Thor yelled, "Asgard!" He told the crowd that they must not quarrel and should unite in times like these.

"They have to unite because there's not many of us left," said Thor. Loki and Valkyrie winced.

He announced that he'd rescue the kids himself and winked at Jane, who looked confused.

"Is this the time for flirting?" Gamora asked.

Thor and Jane's faces flushed red.

Thor summoned the Bifrost, which caused a hole in the ceiling, but ended up crashing outside. "Stormbreaker, what are you doing? Is this about Mjolnir?" he asked.