Chapter 2
Hela awoke to the door of her room slammed open. She was quickly on her feet with her blade in hand but found herself held tightly by her son. Confused she looked down to see her only child clinging to her with tears streaming down his cheeks.
“You brought him back…mom you brought back JARVIS.”
She smiled as she put away her blade and wrapped her arms around him.
“Yes Anthony I restored your son. No parent should have to bury their child.”
He clings for her for what seems like years and helps ease the pain of the decades she spent without him. When he finally pulls away it’s to introduce her to the others. Friday has a pleasant accent and Dum-E, U, and Butterfingers are adorable. Their personalities all varying as they would in flesh and blood children. It only further proves they possess souls due to Tony’s care in creating them.
Hela looks at the children her son had created and thinks of family that he had gathered around him in his time as a mortal. Still she could feel a tug inside her telling her that his family was not yet complete. She recalled the mortal who had stood beside their family as a warrior in her own right. Hela knew many had harmed her son and to stand against those threats to her own she would gather her warriors that she knew were loyal to her son.
“Anthony, I have others to return to you but it will require me to leave for a short time.”
Anthony looked at her with concern likely fearing she would vanish on him. She offered a soft smile as she kissed his forehead and held him close.
“I will always be here my Tesoro. Even if not in person I have placed protective magic on you to ensure that I will know if you are in danger. No matter what quest I’m on I will return to your side the instant I know you’re in trouble and need me. What I intend to do shall only take a few days. Trust in me my child, I will never fail you.”
“Promise you’ll come back?”
“I swear to you on my domain of death.”
She told the others of her plans to leave for a few days and received promises from her Knights that they would keep him safe for her. She did not intend to be gone longer than necessary but she knew there was much she needed to do now that she had returned from her banishment. Odin had done much during his time ruling that had harmed others as well as removed those he feared a threat to his own rule. Odin for all his claims of being a peaceful ruler now had never stopped being a cruel man and a deceitful ruler. Though Valhalla was not part of her domain she was well aware of the stories among its residents. She knew Asgard had forgotten about her. Memory of her existence erased as easily as the proof around the palace. She would begin undoing the damage he’d caused and return all of Anthony’s family to him. Even the family he did not yet know of. She had wanted to reveal the truth to him slowly so he could adjust to knowing fully of his heritage. Already she knew the shock of discovering her identity and she was not yet sure how he’d react to the identity of his father. Hela had after all learned the spell she used to become Maria Stark from another god of renounced strength.
She teleported to Asgard and gathered her magic around herself to cloak her from sight. She made her way to the vault to retrieve her most trusted ally from her childhood to the days as Odin’s Executioner. She would have all the allies she could get to protect her family. Fenris had been her only true friend growing up in Asgard. She’d raised her since she was but a pup and had treated her as she would a beloved family member. As she walked among the artifacts of Asgard she spied the false relics and something she had not thought to ever grace Asgard’s vaults. Surtur’s crown, the item that would doom all of Asgard should he be reborn. The fools had placed it in the same place as the Eternal Flame. Did they wish to have Asgard fall to his sword? She shook her head as she continued onward. She would deal with it later, one matter at a time and right now Fenris was her priority.
She summoned an ax and began tearing into the floor of the vault. The guards outside unable to hear the sound or see the destruction she was creating. Beneath Asgard’s beautiful appearance lie the dark secrets of Odin’s kingdom. Realms brought under his boot by war and death. She and the berserkers that had once served Asgard loyally all forgotten because Odin didn’t want his rule dirtied by his past. She waved her hand through the fires of the Eternal Flame before jumping into the hole. She walked past the bodies of her loyal followers glancing at them as she passed. They deserved rest; they had served her and Asgard well during their lives. When she found herself in front of her precious friend she felt a wave of sorrow and rage over the treatment of her dearest friend.
“Fenris, my darling, what have they done to you?”
She used the flame to restore her friend who was just as happy to see her.
“Fenris my darling, we have much to do. Come, it’s time to undo the banishment Odin has done to my son’s father and his people.”
She repaired the hole when she and Fenris were free and grabbed Surtur’s crown as she went. She placed it within her pocket dimension before she continued on her way herself and now Fenris still invisible to the warriors around her. She needed to be in the throne room for this next part and she felt the need to hurry. Something told her someone would realize she was there sooner or later. She suspected it would be Heimdal but she could also sense another of extraordinary magical capabilities. She had sensed Thor had no talent for magic so she at least knew it wasn’t him.
As she entered the throne room she found it empty which seemed unusual but seeing as the idiots here had placed Surtur’s crown in the vault with the Eternal Flame she shouldn’t be surprised. She sat upon the throne feeling a sense of ease fall over her. This had been her birthright and she had no desire for it regardless of how right it felt. She summoned her magic allowing the invisibly spell to partly fall away as she’d need her strength. Unless someone walked in she would be fine. She was still hidden from Hiemdal’s sights. From the throne she could feel the lost connection to Olympus. It was in tatters and would take quite a bit of energy to restore. She began the process feeling the strain of such magic. She could understand Odin’s requirement of falling into Odinsleep so often. She was not nearly at full strength having been so far from Asgard but already she could feel her power returning.
As she completed the spell she became alert to another within the throne room with her. Her eyes flashed open and she looked at the one who had stood beside Thor when she had returned from her banishment.
“Who are you that you stood beside Odin’s second born?”
“I am known as Loki. Though Thor claims kinship I am no more than another relic taken by Odin Allfather.”
She raised a brow intrigued.
“From where do you hail Loki for I know it’s not Asgard.”
His smirk was false and she suspected he had no love for whichever realm he had come from.
“I am of Jotunhiem, rightful heir to its throne.”
“Ah, so Odin intended to possess more control over the Jotun. He has always been weary of them due to their bodies being just as much a weapon as any they could physically wield.”
“Indeed, I want to know why you so quickly left during our encounter. Odin seemed to think you intended to do great harm yet you made no move until now to take the throne.”
She smirked.
“I am only borrowing the throne at the moment. I have plans and it required my former husband.” She leaned forward not yet leaving the throne. “Do not think me a fool Loki of Jotunhiem, I see what you intend and I will not stay long enough for Thor to attempt to strike me down. If I wanted this throne it would be mine regardless of how many corpses I must have buried beneath it. If Asgard’s so called heir wishes to discuss matters with me then he can find me on Midgard with Anthony Stark. However if he comes with the intentions of harm towards me or mine I shall cut him down without mercy.”
With that she left returning to Midgard though instead of returning home she teleported to the meeting point between it and that of Olympus. From there she traveled to the once lost realm where Hermes awaited her. He bowed in greeting before he straightened to deliver the message given to him from Zeus.
“King Zeus wishes to meet with you.”
She smirked.
“Of course he does, it’s been so long. I do hope his wife will not be in attendance to this meeting.”
She could strike down Hera with ease but she did not come here for a fight. Already she’d used quite a bit of magic and she wanted to keep what she had left just in case.
“Queen Hera is not going to be present.”
She could only guess Zeus hadn’t told Hera of his latest infidelity though it shouldn’t be surprising at this point. Zeus wasn’t a loyal partner and the fact Hera was still shocked by this said a lot about how low her intelligence was. Hermes led her to Zeus who looked about as friendly as he normally did. Nice to know things didn’t change.
“Zeus.”
“Hela, I didn’t expect you to actually restore our link to the other realms.”
“Anthony deserves to know his family. I did it for him.”
She leaves it unsaid that no part of her decision was for him. As the mortals Maria and Howard Stark they had been wed but now they were just two gods of different pantheons. Regardless of Zeus’s many lovers he remained husband to Hera and she his queen. Hela didn’t care either way, she had lived and loved and been gifted a child of extraordinary talents. Her Anthony was a treasure and as much as Hela hated to admit it, she had Zeus to thank for him.
“Anthony may be my son but he holds no rights to the throne of Olympus.”
She scowled at him.
“Truly, for how many bastard children you have it would take quite a bit of killing for Anthony to even rank someplace of worth in line for the title of heir.” She saw the flash of unease in Zeus’s eyes and smirked as she continued. “Anthony wants nothing of your throne for his has one of his own. A king in his own right on Midgard. He is also quite unaware of your true identity.”
Zeus was actually offended that Anthony had no idea who he truly was.
“You have not yet told him?”
She crocked her head to the side looking at him making him grow uneasy.
“Dear Zeus are you sadden by the fact your son doesn’t know you? I suppose I could tell him but you know I’m never one inclined to grant such favors without a price paid in advance.”
It was his turn to scowl at her and she just allowed a small smile that promised trouble if he didn’t do as she wanted. Even bound in mortal form Zeus knew not to cross her for her wrath could and would bring untold horrors.
“Name your price Hela.”
“As I mentioned, I want him to know his family. Allow any who wish to meet him to come to Midgard.”
“I shall inform them of Anthony then.” He said looking quite unhappy with the fact it meant alerting Hera to the fact he’d been unfaithful once again and sired another child with a different woman.
“I shall see you again then King Zeus, Anthony will be pleased to see you.” She paused as she turned to leave before she asked a question Anthony had once asked her. “Sargent Barnes, do you blame him for killing us?”
Zeus looked at her with a slight frown.
“He did not recognize his own name. I can only assume the mortals had done something to him.” There was a pause before he continued. “I do not, though now I’m curious. What has become of him and have the humans found Captain Steve Rogers?”
She turned a truly icy glare his way.
“Your precious Captain that you sought after for so long nearly killed our son.” She snarled at him. “Do not speak his name in my presence again for I fear even I will fail to control my temper. You thought him a worthy warrior among humans, you were wrong Zeus. He is a monster hiding behind the legend the mortals made of him. I intend to make him suffer for his crimes and if you stand in my way you to shall suffer.”
Zeus nodded and Hela did not miss the dark look that crossed his gaze. Perhaps she’d have another ally in her vengeance against the captain. She led Fenris away from the palace in order to attend to her next task. This one would take longer as she had to hunt down a soul within Hel as well as rest to recover her drained magic.
Hel was a familiar realm as she had ruled for the many years she remained in exile there. She sat upon her old throne and allowed herself to relax and close her eyes to rest. She was tired from her travels and spells. Crossing realms was no easy task when one was traveling between them so often in such a short time. She felt Fenris place his head in her lap and smiled.
“Soon Fenris, you shall meet my son and I know you will be as protective of him as I am.”
The wolf nuzzled her hand before he sat up ready for his mission he knew his queen would give him.
“Find me the soul of Margret Carter.” She told Fenris who rushed off.
Hela leaned back again and allowed a dreamless sleep to take her. She knew when she awoke Fenris would have found the last piece she needed. Though she would like to bring back Edwin Jarvis and Ana Jarvis she knew they were at peace and content to await Anthony to join them among the dead. The agent best known as Peggy Carter though was a different matter. So long as there was a battle needing fought with someone precious to her involved she would take up arms again. She would understand and join the living again to protect the child who had been her godson.