Second Chance

Chapter 31

Going back to Asgard was harder than I thought it was gonna be. I almost didn't want to leave home. Telling Kari made me feel a little better. I had to make her promise not to tell anyone. I want Loki to know before all of the other realms do. It's been almost a week now. My heart hurts, that bad feeling has not gone away yet. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing I was back to the beginning. Back to when he first told me he loved me. How he would wake up and automatically stretch. I used to watch him, thinking about how cute he was. He had the cutest laugh, especially when I tickled him. I just miss him. I haven't told Odin about my child, and I'm not sure if I'm going to. He's a very understanding guy, in some ways, but it just doesn't seem like the right time. Seeing as both of his sons are away. My door burst open and Thor is standing there.
"Thor! What-" I'm cut off.
"Lady Sarah, I am sorry."
"What? What's going on?"
"We should have listened to you. It was a trap.. Thanos was there." Sif says coming in, breathlessly.
"Where is Loki?" I yell.
"He was taken by Thanos. We tried to go back for him but he told us to run. We did not know why, until moments ago. There is an army coming our way." Fandral says.
"He... He's gone..." I whisper.
"We are not sure, Lady Sarah. But we must prepare for war." Thor states. I get up and walk to my closet. I shut the door, and I slide down the frame, crying. Why did he do it? He, he told them to go... I knew. It's just like that feeling I had when Cassie was missing. I could feel her in danger. I could feel him in danger. And now, I'll never know when I'll see him again. I have to go find him, but where do I even start.
"Lady Sarah..?" I hear Kari knocking on the closet door. I slide over and open it while still sitting in the floor. She drops to her knees and brings me to her chest. I cry and I just can't stop. "Come, Sarah. We have to get to the safe room at the back of the palace."
"No. I have to suit up. Once we drive away this army, I will go search for my fiancé."
"Lady Sarah, may I remind you that you are now carrying another life within you. You must think for the child."
"I am thinking for my child. Im thinking that he/she is going to want to see this place some day, and not hear about it only as a story, because it no longer exists. I'm thinking that he/she will want to meet the amazing people I have. And I'm think my child will want to know their father. Now please, let me do this!" I scream. She stands up and helps me to my feet. I wrap her up in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I never had a right to scream at you."
"It is OK, Sarah. You are upset, and I want to be here for you. We are the best friends, right?" She chuckles.
"Yes we are." I laugh, feeling slightly better. "OK, I'm gonna get dressed. Get all of the palace workers to the back with everyone else. And please be safe. Don't let anyone through that door unless it's someone you trust, understand?"
"Yes, Sarah. And you and that lovely life stay safe as well." She smiles and leaves me. I put on my mission suit, and gosh it has been quite some time since I've put this bad boy on. In the back of the closet, in my suit case, I find my mask. I never knew why I brought it, I guess today answers my question. I go to the bathroom and pull my hair back into a tight ponytail, and strap my mask on. I put on my belt, fixing it properly. I put my Bobbie pin daggers into my hair, I lace up my converse, and I look into the mirror. I haven't seen this side of me in a while. The mask, hiding everything. The anger in my eyes. The sadness in my eyes. I have to keep my emotions under control. I leave the room and head for the front of the palace. I see Thor standing there conversing with Volstagg. He stops when he sees me come forward.
"So what do we know about these assholes?" I ask. A smile creeps across Thor's face and he pats my shoulder.
"They are called the Tyannans from the Negative Zone. We are not sure where this is, but it is the intell we recovered. They are lion-like beasts that only follow orders."
"Follow orders from who?"
"His name is Annihilus. He is one of the leaders of the Negative zone. He wants nothing more than total domination." Fandral says, joining the conversation. "Nice suit." He winks.
"It's not the swords you'd like, but what I have is better." I smirk back.
"It is strange to see you in this attire, Sarah, but I must say I am envious." Sif chuckles.
"Don't be. This look is what I used to be, but if it helps me kick some ass today, I'm all for it." I smile and we hear a loud noise from the west field past the palace. I have never traveled that far. Thor flies off to the scene and everyone follows suit. I chase after the group, and once we get to the sound of the noise I see the war they were talking about. The beasts, are strange. They stand at least seven feet tall, they have a lions main, grey battle armored suits, long tails, and they have spears. Something is off, about all of this. I see them fighting our guards but its not right. They aren't really fighting back. They are merely swinging once or twice, and letting themselves die. Then another sound comes from the mist of battle. There are new soldiers coming from the west. They are gross, villainous. They are green, tall, they all have wings and tallons for hands and I know I've seen them before. The leader! I saw him when I was with heimdall. His name is Annihilus, right? Those are clones, they have to be. Unless all of that species looks exactly the same. One of tyannans runs at me while I'm standing there, in my own world. I freeze him in his spot.
"Why are you doing this? I can see you don't want to be here!" I yell.
"We have no choice. Annihilus will destroy us if we don't."
"Then fight back! He can only control you if you let him. You have to believe that this isn't the end." The beast looks at me and nods. I let him go and he runs into the battle field. Soon I see the battle change. The tyannans begin to fight against the clone army of Annihilus.
"Sarah, what is going on?" Sif comes to my side.
"The tyannans were being controlled by Annihilus. Then they turned on him. I suggest, helping them out." I laugh as I run into the heart of the battle field. I see Volstagg taking on a heard of the clones. I rush over and jump on the back of one, flipping him to the ground and piercing its heart with one of my daggers. I tuck and roll out of the reach of another, kicking his legs out from underneath him, slicing his throat. I have to use my height to my advantage somehow. I run over to Fandral right before a clone gets to him. He reaches his tallons out to grab Fandral, but I tackle him to the ground with a growl. I take his tallons and make him gauge out his own eyes before I put an end to him.
"You are a sight for sore eyes." Fandral says taking a deep breathe before killing another clone.
"There must be a way to stop these clones before it escalades. I'm not sure how long Odin can keep the shield intact." I saw, taking a breathe.
"What about the leader? Maybe we need to take him out in order to stop all of this?"
"I like the way you think, boy wonder." I wink at him. I run to Thor and take out a clone at his back side. "Thor, we have to get the leader. We think that taking him out is the key to shutting down the clones."
"I shall go after him, you cover my right and Fandral cover my left." He takes off through the battle toward the back, where the invasion began. The leader is standing there on top of a tall rock, watching the chaos he has created with a smile. Thor swings his hammer and flies at Annihilus. I turn invisible and head toward the right. Thor is struggling with the leader and Fandral jumps in, getting cut across the leg by his tallons. He rolls off the rock and hits the ground. Do I help him and risk blowing my cover? He sits up and leans against the rock, and he is using his shirt sleeve to tie off the blood flow from the cut. Smart guy. This must happen often. I make my way behind Annihilus and Thor, just as Thor is thrown down on the rock. Annihilus raises his tallons, and I stick a dagger through his heart from behind. He stops and drops to the ground. I pull the dagger out and put it to his throat, holding his head back to look at me.
"Why did you come here? Who sent you?" I yell.
"I came at my own accorddd." He hisses.
"Then why were you working with Thanos?"
"He only wanted theee booyyy. He said the boy deserved to be punisshhed. For not completing his tasskkk."
"What task?"
"Thanos is a private man. He didn't give me the detailssss. I agreed to let him have the boyyy, as long as I got the thronnnne."
"Where is thanos?"
"How should I knowww? He came to me with the proposition, and I acceptedd. That is all I knowww, chillddd." I can feel the anger rising inside of me. I look to Thor and he nods at me. I go to slit his throat, but my body takes over. I can feel myself being consumed in flames and I can hear Annihilus scream in pain as he disintegrates into ash at my feet. The flames retract back into me and I fall to the ground, not being able to hold myself up anymore. Thor rushes over and puts me back on my feet.
"How did you do that, Lady Sarah?"
"I'm not sure. Something inside of me just snapped. Wait, we have to check on Fandral!" I say as I rush over to the rock and levitate myself down.
"What took you so long?" He chuckled.
"Just hold still, pretty boy." I unwrap his make shift bandage, and start the healing process. I take a blade of grass and pull it apart by the particles, making it into a green mist. I take the natural mist from the air and form them into a light orb. I spread it across his wound and he sucks in air as the cut heals. I grab his hand and help him to his feet.
"You are truly amazing." He smiles at me.
"Don't get too excited. We still have to check on everyone else." I run back to the rest of the fight with Thor and Fandral, and we were right. The clones crash to the ground. With out the real copy, they never had a chance.
"So, is it over?" Sif asks.
"No. We will go out and find Loki. And bring him home." Thor says, and it brings a smile to my face.
"First, you should probably check on Odin." I nudge him. He nods and flies off to the palace. I look out at the mass destruction. There are very few tyannans left.
"Thank you." The one I met says as he comes over to me.
"Thank yourself. It was ultimately your choice."
"You have a strong heart. And immense power, I can see it radiate through you. Use it wisely." He smiles. He takes the rest of his crew and they leave. I wonder why people tell me that.. To use my power wisely. I go back to the palace and change out of my suit. I run myself a bath and step in. Soon I find myself crying hysterically. I put my hand to my stomach and I can feel the little heart beat. I can feel the vibrant spirit. I can feel my child... I get out of the bathtub, and change into pjs. I climb into bed and I can smell the vanilla on the sheets. I begin to cry even harder, and I don't stop until I finally fall asleep.