The Old Gods | Book 2

Thirty: Across The Stars

Going home never felt better. Leaving this realm and all its chaos behind feels uplifting, given all its glory, Sigyn was glad to leave it behind finally and return to the place she truly calls home. The aftermath of the battle left the people of this city hurting and traumatised. Rescue missions taking place, and emergency servicemen working well over time. The devastation left behind is indeed no laughing matter, Sigyn is sure that the All-Father will severely punish Loki.

As he has always done.

The unlikely new group of heroes who had found themselves an ally and friends in one another all congress to Central Park with the escort of Shield to safeguard Loki and the Asgardian gods wanting to return home. The God of Mischief and Chaos who successfully tore apart the city, only to unite it, is cuffed and muzzled. No match for his opponents.

Changed from her armour, Sigyn's attire is of something more casual and royal. A layered dress with a golden bodice and large bangles. Her silver hair glinted in the sun of a new era of men and gods. Her standard crown of two fans to frame her face sits beautifully in her long and braided hair. It is to signify her return home as not only a princess of Asgard, but crowned heir to Vanaheim.

The princess watched as Tony Stark unclipped the case and lifted the top to reveal the brightly glowing tesseract inside. Bruce Banner removed the object using prongs gently moving it over to a glass tube and inserting it inside. Erik Selvig then sealed the tube closed with handles on either end of the tube. The tesseract is safely inside now.

Clint Barton stood next to the princess and said, "Thank you for what you did." this gained her attention and it was as if the most divine thing could ever do.

"It really was no trouble. It was my husband who wreaked all this havoc." she said to him.

"We're really going to miss you." Natasha Romanoff is standing on the other side of Clint Barton. "You're kind of fun to have around and having another girl on the team is useful."

Sigyn smiled to this.

"Have you considered my offer yet?" Tony Stark confidently asked. "To join the Avengers officially?"

"I had... I really hadn't believed you would want me to?" she hummed. "But with me as your ally, you will have Asgard and Vanaheim's full support."

"Well, I guess the next time Earth needs avenging we'll call you." Tony Stark held out a hand to her. Her eyes drifted to this gesture of goodwill. "How will I call you?"

Sigyn extended her hand gracefully and shook Tony Stark's hand. "Send a raven." she jokingly said. There was no laughter like she hoped for there to be. "It was a metaphor." she corrected. "Simply pray to me and I will hear, or call out to Heimdall. He sees all."

"How? Is there a ritual, do I get on my hands and knees and offer up gold?" Tony laughed.
"Although that does sound very nice." she laughed with him. "Real gods require blood." this stopped his chuckle, and she took back her hand.

Natasha chuckled lightly. "An easy sacrifice I guess."

The princess noticed Steve Rogers standing a little further away, patiently waiting for her attention as he stood looking at her from the company of a motorcycle. She excused herself and came over to the Captain. "So I guess this is goodbye," he said.

"I have a feeling you have not seen the last of me, Captain." there is sentiment in the princesse's voice. She spent three years of her life dedicated to searching for answers in ways to bring back her husband. Her goals are left unfulfilled as she comes no closer to figuring out how to bring him back. She did not find the Norns, and she got no answers from the Seer's who claimed they spoke for the gods. She is no closer to having answers now as to how her husband returned after all this time.

Unsatisfied, is the word.

Sigyn imagined a happy reunion of longing and sorrow. A rehabilitation of when they as a married couple can rest together and be happy he returned. She instead found herself in the midst of a battle for humanity - against her husband who sought their demise and rule.

"I just hope the next time we meet it will be under better circumstances." Captain America, ensured.

"Knowing fate, it is ours that we meet only as friends on the battlefield when the time should arise." she said. "I am sure this has all been very confusing and overwhelming for you. Coming into a new world when you thought you left yours behind. I just hope you find the peace you deserve."

He laughed at this. "Maybe one day, ma'am."

She looked up at him. "You really don't have to call me that."

"Then what would you call a goddess, ma'am?"

Sigyn sighed and laughed. "I am afraid I have done no great deed to earn that title. All I have really done was marry to end a war, and then stay loyal to my husband whom I love very dearly, and have suffered greatly for."

"I say that's what makes you one. And what you did here today, you have learned more than just that."

She smiled. "I thank you for your kind words, but it is my time to depart judging by the look on my husband's face." they turned to see Loki glaring at Steve Rogers.

Steve Rogers chuckled shaking his head. "Farewell." he held out his hand. "And good luck."

"Farewell to you, Captain." Sigyn shook his hand, and departed from him. "I may need it." Sigyn joined Thor and Loki who stood ready to depart this realm with the tesseract in hand. Loki gives his wife an auspicious look. Or jealously, she decided. His biggest downfall is jealousy.

A look of readiness tells Thor it is time to depart for home. The closer the seconds ticked by, the more nerve-racking it felt to return to Asgard after all this time. And now to face Odin. The real sorrow is about to begin. Sigyn knows she won't have a moment with Loki before they whisk him away and throw him into the dungeons for his war crimes.

The three gods are now the center of attention. All eyes eagerly and anxiously watched them. The newly formed Avengers and members of Shield. The moment the god of mischief is off-world, things can finally resume as normal.

Thor lifts one end of the tube holding on by the handle. The tesseract glowed brightly inside. Loki reluctantly takes the other end and Sigyn places her hand over his hand. Their destination; is Asgard.

Thor twisted the handle to activate the power of the tesseract. Bright blue streaks of light encase the gods devouring them as if been suddenly set alight. It shifted between time and space moving their bodies into the stream of light. Before long, all three gods are faded into the energy and with a zip of energy and a snap of sound, they are gone.

Peace, alas, on Earth.

The Avengers began to disperse and go on their own ways after saying goodbye to one another. The big fight and rush of the threat are finally gone, they can return to normal and be how they were in life before the gods revealed themselves. The only difference now is that the people of Earth now have to adapt and live with the knowledge of newfound heroes and the existence of the old gods and knowing that other beings do exist in this wide-open universe. Mania and disagreement are sure to arise in the future, but for now, this is the time to rebuild.