The Hybrid

I remember when I was younger and my mother would take me to parties with her before people found out about what I was. They were fun. She did it because she wanted me to have friends. I honestly thought she was trying to find that special someone in her life. But having me was the death of her dating life. No man wanted to raise another man's child like that. The last one that tried to get rid of me, I might have stabbed him in the leg.
Mother always said she didn't need anyone other than me. But when she would take me to parties (And there were not a lot of them) Mother would get all excited at the thought of the whole affair would be enough for me to break out stress spots. And having the same experience with Hela would be no different. Only she was much less gentle than my mother.
"Ow!" I winced my way through the pain as she dragged a brush through my hair, "Is this really necessary?" I tried to move away but Hela held me firmly in my seat.
"If you didn't have such a rat's nest on your head then it wouldn't hurt" Hela chuckled as she tapped me on the head with the brush. I have thick, curly hair. Getting a brush through it is the last of my worries.
"It's your coronation, Aurora. Of course, it is really necessary. In order to be a princess, you need to look like one, don't you? When was the last time you got to dress up?" I thought back. I didn't remember ever doing shit like this when we would go to parties and if we did, Mother never went overly elaborate like Hela was.
"as far as I can remember... I think the last time was... never"
"Then you are overdue for some pampering" She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, holding me against her chest. I quite enjoy her hugs. I simply nodded. It's been nice for someone to take care of me again. I had been surviving in the wilderness of Jotunheim's forest. Living day to day but here, I lived. I was protected.

But even though I loved living here, I longed for the month-long trip we had to endure from Jotunheim to here. I enjoy the battle and kicking some ass. Here in the palace, I had been not allowed to fight. Having to watch my back (With Morbius watching my every move), I have felt restless. I look forward to my light night trips to pubs with Thor and Sif. The only joy I get nowadays is when I visit Loki in the dungeons.
"You're so pretty, Aurora," Hela looked me over in the mirror. Once she was satisfied with my fuzzy hair (I look like a freshly dried male lion. Hair everywhere) Hela started on some intricate braiding down the left side of my head. That hurt more than the brushing "It's a shame your hair isn't a little straighter, but still, you're so pretty. I think you'll fit in here quite well."
"Even though Morbius still haven't come around to the idea of having me around?" I assumed.
"Especially because they haven't come around yet," she awed, "You know, Aurora, I've loved nothing more than having you around here. In a way, I've started thinking of you as my own" Hela then grabbed a chunk of my hair and yanked my head back. My hands flew to my hair.
"Ow!" I looked up at Hela. This woman just said she sees me as her own and then she rips my hair out. Fucking bitch.
"Whatever you do, don't tell Morbius I said that or I will fucking end you. Do you understand?"
"What would be so bad about telling the leech?" I asked. Hela let my hair go. I was already intending to keep that our little secret. I wasn't going to tell him anyway. I hate that man. Actually, that's an insult to me. Leech? Insult to them too.
"I hate nothing more than when he is right, He will rub it in my face for at least a month. And quite frankly, I don't want to deal with that headache." Hela let my hair go and spun me around, cupping my face "But I do mean every word of it, I have loved having you here. Knowing that you are here when I wake up and waking up when I come home... It's been absolutely wonderful"
"I feel the same" To be honest, Right now, I feel like my head is about to fall off my shoulders.
"I know you say no to this every time I ask, but...Tonight at your coronation would be an excellent time to truly make you my own." My stomach sank. I knew exactly what she was looking for.
"Hela, are you trying to say that there is a witch here to turn me into a full Asgardian?" I crossed my arms.
"I will admit that it took some time to find her but it's still entirely up to you"
"I can't. Other than my name, My other side is all that I have left of my mother" I held my ground, "I can't do that to her memory" Hela took a deep breath in and then out.
"I just thought I would ask" Hela dropped it.
"When I'm crowned Princess of Asgard, how far will my power go?" I knew now would be a good time to ask.
"Your tiniest whims would come true." Hela smiled as she added some metal bead thing to my braids "Do you have something in mind?"
"I do," I nodded, bracing myself for whatever may happen, "It's about your brother in the dungeon..." I started to pick at the skin on my pinky finger. Hela rolled her eyes.
"Don't even get me started on him. What were you thinking? More torture? I'm sure he would be fun for you to push around for a while."
"No, That's not what I had in mind" I clarified. I don't want to think about what they do to Loki behind closed doors. I shook off the mental images burning into my mind, "I was thinking we could give him better living conditions in his cell."
"Why in the fuck would we waste time and energy on a piece of shit like him?" she shot me an angry glare. I wasn't going to back down. I made Loki a promise that I'd make a fair argument for him. However, I still needed to make it palatable for Hela. I smirked up at her.
"If he has better living conditions, there's a chance it will make him more... How do I put this... compliant. More willing to work with us. We scratch his back a little and he makes a bigger scratch on ours."
"You're starting to sound like Skurge. Have you two been spending time together lately?" Hela groaned "Have you been seeing him?"
"Only once. While your word is good, I wanted the word of someone that fought with him."
"How did you know that he fought with my brother?"
"By my wanderings. I found murals of a group called The Warrior Three. I saw my father and I asked around. I only wanted more intel on my father. A different point of view. He confirmed that my father was a pig" I lied through my teeth.
"My brother is nothing but a pain in the ass," Hela sighed, crossing her arms, "If he didn't have the whole silver tongue thing going for him, I might have killed him by now. In hindsight, maybe I should have." And it was at this moment that I wish I would've gotten to him before Hela did. Again, I still need to make this look like something she will want to sink her teeth into.
"But Hela, if we give him that little bit of hope, he will cling to it. And if we give him hope, we can always take it away." I clenched my fists. I could dig into the sadistic side of me, too "It would be a great way to keep the runt on a leash."
"And here I thought you to be innocent. Put aside the fighting and drinking" she gasped, "That is so wicked." Hela held me tighter, "You really are my own, aren't you?" I shrugged. I will let her believe what she wants.

A short while later, Hela brushed her hands off, giving me one last look over.
"All done. You know, you truly are a beautiful woman, Aurora." And this is what my life is now. Girly.
"This life is exhausting," I rolled my eyes. I had such a strong desire for a nap. But my coronation was likely soon so no chance in hell I could sneak off.
"You'll get used to it," Hela got up and walked over to my cabinet of liquor and pour us both a glass "Here, sweetheart. We both know that this will help."
"Thank you"
"I purpose a toast," she raised her glass, "To your new life as an Asgardian Princess"
"To us," I smiled sweetly, downing the glass with no problem.
"May you forever reign" Hela put a hand on my cheek, "Are you ready?"
"Yes." I lied. I totally was not ready but it edged my plan one step further. She took my hand and pulled me onto my feet.

How was I still able to breathe in this fucking dress? Why do women fill the need to wear corsets to parties? I could feel it crushing my ribs and my chest. But Hela picked it. She said something about me looking good in royal tones. And by royal tones, something in a deep shade of purple that was a size too fucking small for me! Even if the torture device did wonders for my boobs. This was why I hated formal events.

In all my time here, Hela had never brought me to the throne room. Even in my adventures of aimlessly wandering the castle while they were gone, I never found it on my own. The stained glass windows and the rich furnishings really were something to marvel over. It was coated in gold and a lot of it. Odin really stole all the gold from the other realms. I was not too fond of the tight dresses and the unnecessary pampering was something I didn't think I could get used to.

While I've always had a soft spot for the architecture in the villages that Mother and I have lived in. Nothing compared to this. I prefer living in the moss cave to this. I miss my moss pillow.=I did notice that the only one who bothered to show up for my coronation and that was Skurge. I honestly thought tht there would be a lot more people and that Moby dick would have shown his face. Skurge sat and waited patiently for the two of us to approach the other thrones.
"Hello, Aurora," Skurge shook my hand before gently kissing it, "My, my. Don't you scrub up well? I see that Hela had fun with you."
"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in. Be glad that you didn't have to get put through it." I crossed my arms. I feel like an idiot in this outfit. Thankfully Hela agreed to me wearing flats and not heels.
"I had to dress up once" he admitted, "It was Hela's coronation and we drank that much that I spilt my trousers and that is all I remember."
"Also tried swimming in the river. Only for Jörmungand to use his tail and flick you out of the water" Hela smiled "I had to use Fenrir to fish you out of the water. That wolf stunk for days of algee and mouldy water"
"Oh those were the days" Skurge smirked a bit. I wonder if my party is going to be like that.
"So, no Morbius? Or people for that matter? Just us?" I looked around. I hoped the leech stayed away.
"You know what he is like" Hela pointed out, "To say he will love and adore Aurora the way we do would be a downright lie. And I don't have room for that man's ego in this throne room."
"Does he even know Aurora is about to be crowned Princess?" Skurge asked. Hela clicked her tongue and sighed "Ah. It is as I thought," Skurge looked at Hela "I suppose it's for the best. Less arguing. And Morbius gets to keep his tongue"
"I can agree to that"
"Well, then, if this is all of us, are we ready?"
"Could you bring me the oath book please, Skurge?" Hela requested, taking her own throne. There are two others so I'm assuming hers is the one in the middle. I stared at the large book Skurge was carrying. It was gold with red gems all over it. Was that really the book I was about to be sworn in on? I thought Hela would have changed it to black and green. Hela gladly took the book from Skurge and stood in front of me, "Aurora, put your hand on the cover"
"Alright," I took a deep breath as I did as she asked me. This was it. No turning back, I was about to become a princess. And boy was I going to hate every bloody minute of it.
"Aurora, Do you swear on your life to protect the land of Asgard with your dying breath?" Hela looked at me.
"I do solemnly swear." I will protect anywhere that I call home.
"Do you swear to only serve Asgard and its royal court?"
"I do solemnly swear." That was very debatable.
"Please state your full name."
"Aurora Layladottir" Because saying Aurora Volstaggdottir would probably result in my immediate death.
"Do you solemnly swear that is your real name?" Hela asked. That was odd... why did she question my name.
"I do solemnly swear." I am pretty sure if Hela gets her way then I will be Aurora Heladottir. And that is not happening.
"Then, kneel" she ordered so I knelt down. Hela took one step and place a hand on my head "For when you rise, you will no longer be Aurora Layladottir. You will be Aurora of Asgard. Do you accept this title?"
"I do"
"I have one more question" Hela was quiet for a brief moment. Before throwing me across the room. I slammed into the wall, "Do you take me for a fool?"
"What do you mean?" I staggered onto my feet. The dress didn't make it easy.
"I didn't want to believe it," Hela snarled, "I know what you have been up to while we've been gone, Aurora. You've been consorting with my brother?! Are you absolutely batshit fucking insane?!"
"What are you on about?" This wasn't supposed to happen. Hela walked over to me and grabbed me by my hair.
"If you thought fighting the Booksans was a nightmare" she threw me again, "My brother is worse than them all!"
"She's been doing more than consorting with Thor, Hela," Morbius walked in, eyes blood red.
"Please tell me you didn't sleep with him," Hela hoped. I gagged at the nauseating comment. But that could also be the possible concussion.
"No. I have standards" I covered my mouth. Thor is not my type. His brother on the other hand...
"She's been in contact with Fandral and Sif" Morbius explained, shooting a glare at me. Hela squeezed her eyes shut, a lone tear rolling out of them.
"The very people that plotted to overthrow me" Hela growled. She then pointed at me "Aurora, You should be grateful but I am giving you five seconds to get out of my FUCKING SIGHT!"
"Hela..." I tried to explain, but I didn't think she was in the right state of mind right now "I only did it so I can--"
"ONE... TWO...!" Hela yelled. I kicked my shoes off, bunched up my dress and started bolting to my room.

I slammed the door shut behind me. I ripped off my dress and changed into something more like me. I don't know where was I going to go. I doubt that I am welcome here anymore. Hela wasn't going to listen to my lies. I didn't have the time to think about it.
"Distance mirror" I grabbed the shard from under my pillow. I still had the shard of the distance mirror. I didn't care where it takes me. As long as it's not Asgard anymore.

After packing a small bag, I ran to the mirror room. I looked back to see Morbius and Skurge running after me. Smirking, I jumped through the large mirror and flagged them at the same. Fortunately, I timed the jump just right before they could grab me, not completely paying attention to where I was. Although, I had a feeling I knew where it had dropped me.

On the other side, I saw that it was raining. I took a step forward and got stumbled over a tree root. I rolled into the wet grass, sticks getting caught in my hair. I looked back to see Morbius getting ready to jump through. I quickly scrambled to the mirror shard and grabbed it.
"Go fuck yourself" was my last words to them. I quickly shattered it.

And once I was on my own again. I moved away from the broken mirror and went to sit under a tree. now I know that it was raining and sitting under a tree is a bad idea but right now, I didn't care. I curled up into a ball and let the floodgates open, crying for the first time since my mother died. I really did care Hela. She was my family. But then I knew, in the end, I didn't belong there. I don't belong anywhere. I worried for Loki. I had no way back to him now and I dreaded what Hela would do to him now. I will get him out of there. I should have freed him when I had the chance.

I gave myself some time to calm down. As soon as I had my bearings again, I took a good look around to figure out where the hell I was. If I don't find somewhere to sleep for the night soon, I'm going to freeze to death out here. When I saw the shadowy outline of a house. I could breathe easier. The mirror did send me to him. I picked myself up and walked towards the house. Hopefully, I'm not waking him up.

I bang on his door. wiping the rain from my face. I could hear the locks turning. Thank God. He's still awake.
"Rory, What are you doing here? And this late?"
"Dash... I had nowhere else to go... Please... It's just for tonight" I begged, my voice still thick from crying.
"Of course. Come on it" Fandral offered his hand. I took his hand and he led me up the front staircase.

It had been a long day for me. I was fucking exhausted. I wanted nothing more than sleep. Although, ever since I was little, crying always took a lot out of me. Fandral led me into a bedroom and offered me some dry clothes.
"These should fit" He smiled as he left the room so I could change.

I quickly changed. Sighing at the warmth and with Fandral's help, I undid all the braids that Hela put in my hair. That was a relief. I climbed into bed and nestled down into a soft, downy comforter and laid my head on the soft pillows. this bed was comfier than the palace.
"Thank you, Fandral" my voice broke. Fandral stroked my hair.
"You are always welcome" Fandral kissed my forehead "Good night, Aurora."