Chapter 60

  Arc 5 - Ch 13: Entress

  Date: Friday, June 3, 2011.

  Location: Pueiguo, NM

  Amora stood on the rooftop cloaked in an invisibility spell as she watched the Destroyer arrive. Each of the struct's footfalls sent tremors through the desert ground as it marched inexorably into town, smashing cars in its path with ptuous ease.

  The Warriors Three charged to intercept the metal behemoth.

  Amora's lips twisted into a faint sneer as they ehe Destroyer. Their foolish loyalty had them throwing themselves against a foe they could not hope to defeat. A, grudgingly, she had to admit they showed ce in the face of overwhelming odds.

  Sif's double-bded sword speared through the Destroyer's torso, momentarily halting its advance. Amora's brow furrowed in displeasure. It was clear to the sorceress that The Destroyer was meant to test Thor, to see if he had proved himself worthy of wielding Mjolnir and regaining his godly powers. This must be the final trial designed for the god of thunder as only his might would be capable of stopping the struct.

  Even the bined efforts of Asgard's fi warriors were as nothing against the Destroyer. Their valiant attempts were in vain.

  Or so Amora thought. Until the mortal, Tyson arrived.

  She watched with growing arm as he unleashed cws from his hands and raked them across the Destroyer's metal body with devastating effectiveness. Sparks flew as they scraped against a uru metal, rending the seemingly impervious armor. Tyson moved with astonishing speed and agility, dodging the struct's powerful blows and sg its t frame to tear at its head and neck. Amora's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd seen him shift the ented hammer, but even so, he should not be capable of damaging the Destroyer so grievously. Previously, She had thought him a curiosity, but now, his involvement threateo ruin Thor's trial.

  Golden magic coalesced around Amora's slender fingers as she summoned her mystical power. With a snarled intation, she fired a beam at the interfering mortal. He dodged her initial shot, but Amora curved the beam back around, striking him. When it made tact, a sphere of energy formed around Tyson, immobilizing him pletely. The bubble hovered in midair, suspended by the forora's will.

  "You should not have interfered, mortal," Amora whispered, "This battle is not yours to fight."

  With an almost negligeure, she sent the sphere taining Tyson shooting off into the distance like a et propelled by her magic. Amora watched it disappear into the horizon with a sense of grim satisfa. The mortal's meddling had bee with decisively.

  Her attentiouro the street below where the Destroyer was already repairing the damage from Tyson's assault. In seds, it stood whole, the rents in its armor sealed as if they had never been.

  Sif and the Warriors Three redoubled their efforts, but Amora k was futile. Let Thor's loyal followers try in vain. Their iable defeat would serve to prove Odinson's worthiness.

  Amora appeared nearby using her magical teleportation just as Tysained his bearings and was about to dash back to the battle. They stared at each other for a long moment, and then Tyson charged.

  No banter, n.

  He moved faster than any human could hope to. But Amora wasn't human. She owerful Asgardian. She fired a purple magical bolt at Tyson. It struck him in the right leg while he was running full speed. On tact, he lost all feeling and trol over that leg. With his step, it gave out, and he fell face-first into the dirt, skidding several feet. By the time his momentum drained, his healing factor kicked in, healing his scrapes, and beginning to returion in his leg.

  But it was too te, Amora had already fired another of the golderaining beams. The energy surrounded him. This time, instead of eng him in a sphere, it glowed around his skin like an aura.

  Tyson's muscles strained against the magical restraints but he could not break free.

  Dust swirled around him from his fall as he gred up at Amora. She sauowards him, hips swaying, with an amused smile.

  "Did you think you could challenge me, little mortal?" Amora purred as she crouched dowo Tyson. He snarled and tried to jerk away, but the spell held him fast.

  "Thor's friends were foolish to oppose the king of Asgard's will," Amora tinued. "As are you."

  She closed the distaween them, "Like I said, you're impressive for this pce. But I ot allow you to interfere further."

  Her hand moved, and his stasis field rotated with her gesture. Tyson was brought upright to meet her green eyes. He hadn't realized how tall Amora was, she likely topped six feet. It was difficult to tell exactly, restrained as he was, but he was certain she was the tallest woman he'd entered.

  Amora studied Tyson's fatently, searg for clues to his unusual abilities. "It's obvious you are more than human."

  "What are you?" she demanded.

  Amora's emerald eyes stared into Tyson's mismatched green-blue ones as she probed him for answers.

  Tyson held her gaze unflingly.

  Then he smiled wickedly.

  "Got you," he said with a note of triumph. The prolonged eye tact had allowed his psionic power to seat itself more deeply in her mind.

  Amora tensed, sensing the intrusion into her thoughts.

  The bright desert sun beaming down on them was suddenly eclipsed. Dark clouds coalesced overhead punctuated by jagged lightning strikes. Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of Thor, flew into Tyson's outstretched hand and Asgardian armor materialized around his body. With Mjolnir's power at his and, Tyson easily shattered Amora's holding spell, freeing himself from her mystical bonds.

  But Amora merely smiled, unimpressed by the dispy.

  "That's a cute trick," she ented drily. With a casual wave of her hand, Tyson's illusion dispersed like mist in a gentle breeze. The jured clouds vanished along with Mjoldnir and his armor. Tyson remained suspended in Amora's magical grasp, empty-handed and unarmored. She stripped away his illusion revealing that he had never escaped her spell.

  "I saw you fail at lifting the hammer earlier," Amora said in a chiding tone. "And I witnessed your little tricks guiding the mortals iown. Once I reized your tricks, I reinforced my mind's defenses against such deceptions." Her smile turned predatory, a glint of cruel amusement in her eyes. "You'll have to do better than that if you hope to fool me."

  Tyson's jaw ched but he had . He merely gred at the Asgardian entress in stony silence. She saw through his illusions as easily as parting a flimsy curtain, leaving him trapped and at her mercy.

  Amora could practically see the gears turning in Tyson's mind as he scrambled for some new ploy to break free of her spell. She almost felt a twinge of pity for his helplessness against her magic.

  Almost.

  Leaning in close, Amora's seductive gaze turned predatory. Her full lips curved into a dangerous smile mere inches from Tyson's face. "Well, if you won't tell me what I want to know, I'll just have to try harder to vince you," she purred.

  Tyson fought to keep his posure. He tried not to let Amora's breathtakiy distract him, even as she fixed him with a look that could freeze any man's blood.

  Her face was fwless, with high cheekbones, a nose, and rge emerald eyes framed by lush shes. Golden blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, framing her face like a halo. Her skin was smooth and luminous, like the fi por. Amora was temptation inate, exuding raw sensuality with every breath, every movement.

  She smiled as her aura began affeg him. Amora leaned in even closer until Tyson could feel the whisper of her warm breath across his face, her eyes locked with his, glowing with power and dark promise. Parting her lips, she drew in a slow, deliberate breath, preparing to bestow a kiss imbued with a potent entment. It ell that would cause any man to fall helplessly under her sway. It would make him a sve to her every whim.

  As their lips met, Tyson's mutant ability sprang to life. He began abs Amora's energy and power through the brief tact.

  She felt a sharp sting as she kissed the Midgardian, but initially, she dismissed it as a side effect of her magic's discharge. It was seds before the Entress recoiled with a hiss, shock, and pain fshed across her perfect features.

  "What did you do to me?" she demanded with a note of panic edging her normally posed voice.

  Staggering several steps, Amora's hand flew to her chest as if she could feel the strength Tyson had drained with that kiss. She knew her power had been sapped.

  The spell holding Tyson captive shattered as Amora's focus broke from the ued feedback. He dropped to the ground, nding in a crouch.

  Amora's stolen power coursed through Tyson's veins, creating a heady rush of magical energy. But along with that power came a fleeti profound glimpse into the ey of Amora's life. Her memories, her emotions, her very essence poured into his mind in a dizzying torrent.

  From a young age, she was ambitious and curious. She dispyed a natural affinity fid a yearning to explore the depths of her powers. She often found herself in the vast libraries of Asgard, as she absorbed aomes and scrolls. As she grew, her talents in sorcery flourished, earning her both admiration and envy among her peers. She was trained in Asgardian magic, quickly outpag others in with her ability to manipute and trol magical energies. Her beauty and charm were as potent as her spells, and she learo wield them just as skillfully. Throughout her life, her ambitions grew. She was often seen maniputing those around her, including powerful figures in Asgard. Her desire for power, influence, and mastery over sorcery remained her driving force.

  Tyson's odd-colored eyes shined with newfound uanding as he looked upon Amora.

  "I see you. I know you now," he decred.

  Amora's eyes fshed dangerously at Tyson's boldness. She was the Entress of Asgard. No mere mortal would dare speak to her with susolence.

  Tyson closed the short distaween them in a single lunge. His adamantium cws speared toward Amora's midse. The Entress cried out, worried, having witnessed how his razor-sharp cws had shredded through the Destroyer's nigh-iructible armor. She staggered back a step, knowing if the cws could cut the Destroyer, they would be deadly.

  With a quick gesture, Amora jured a glowing barrier between herself and Tyson. His swipe gnced off the magical shield harmlessly.

  "You'll pay for that, mortal," Amora hissed through gritted teeth. Her eyes bzed with barely tained rage as she sent another bolt of eldritch power hurtling towards Tyson. He flipped out of the way with feline agility. The bst seared the air where he had stood a heartbeat before.

  As Tyson lunged forward, cws extended, Amora thrust her hands out. Emerald energy nced from her fiips in sizzling bolts. But Tyson was ready. His enhanced reflexes allowed him to roll and dodge, avoiding are bsts. The magic exploded against the desert floor, kig up plumes of sand and leaving sm craters in their wake.

  The exge tinued with Amora unleashing increasingly destructive magics while Tyson evaded them with uny agility. When he mao get close, his cws left glowing scars along Amora's mystical defenses, slowly eroding her prote.

  As her frustration mounted, Amora's perfect features torted in a mask of anger and disbelief. This lowly mortal's strange abilities allowed him to match her, tering her every spell and pressing the attack. In all her turies, she had never met a human who could challenge her so.

  But Tyson's darting attacks were only a distra, executed only to mask his true iions.

  Abs Amora's memories had granted him invaluable insight into her tactid abilities, allowing him to ter her without revealing he absorbed her magical abilities. Unbeknownst to her, in his left hand, Tyson clutched a carefully prepared spell. And on his lips, he held a sed secret spell ready to be unleashed with a kiss, just as she had done earlier.

  As Amora raised yet anlowing barrier betweeyson seized his ce. As his hand made tact with the shimmering shield, he opened his palm, releasing the terspell he'd been holding. The effect was instantaneous. Amora's magical barrier shattered like fragile gss releasing shards of stilting light to rain down around the stunned sorceress.

  Her eyes widened in shock. Tyson was already upohe Entress tried to pull back, to put some distaween them, but Tyson already had her in his grasp. Amora may have been stronger, but grappling art of Tyson's training. She was uo physically overe his greater leverage. Amora feared he would bring his cws to bear, ending her life. But instead, his arms encircled her.

  Tyson's voice was soft as he posed a question to Amora. "You want to know what I am?"

  The Entress froze, pinned in pce more by the power in Tyson's tohan by the strength of his grip. She searched his face, but his expression was unreadable, his glowing eyes staring ily into hers.

  "See me," Tyson anded.

  His voice resohrough Amora's mind and soul. The two simple words throbbed with are energy.

  Tyson's lips found Amora's in a brief, intense kiss, causing his sed prepared spell to take hold.

  She trembled, naked before the power of his spell. Her magid her wiles were blown away like cobwebs in a storm, leaving her spirit exposed.

  A flood of images aions poured from his mind into hers, a torrent of his memories, emotions, and experiences. Just as he had glimpsed her life in its ehanks to his absorption. Now, Amora was exposed to a spell that forced her to front the depths of Tyson's being, to see him as he saw everyoouched.

  She saw his desperate struggle against Sabertooth, how he'd been hunted by Mago and captured by Stryker. She experienced him fighting for his life from the moment he left that tru ada until he arrived in New York City. She experiehe darkyson fought within himself; the feral rage ied from Sabertooth, and the crippling self-loathing absorbed frue, both always threatening to e him. She witnessed his search for panionship, the hardships caused by his deadly touch, and the losses he had endured along the way. She saw the loyalty and sacrifice he was capable of for those he cared about. She experienced firsthand the stant war between Tyson's sd the passenger psyches inhabiting his mind.

  The Entress reeled from the onsught of fn thoughts and feelings. Her mind struggled to process the sheer depth and plexity of Tysoence. For a fleeting instant, the walls and disdain she had built around her heart crumbled, and she saw him, truly saw another, for the first time. He was not a mere mortal to be toyed with and discarded. Nor even as a curiosity to unravel. But as a vibrant, multifaceted individual with hopes, dreams, and scars that rivaled, even surpassed her own.

  The glimpse sted only a heartbeat, but it was enough. Amora's eyes were opened but still, she did not fully uand what she had witnessed. It was a moment of profound e, a meeting of souls that transded the physical. When Tyson touched someone, he khem on a level difficult to describe or prehend. And now, by turning Amora's entment against her, he had inflicted that same sensation upon the Entress herself. She kyson as intimately as he knew her. Their very essences were id bare before each other. Along with the magic, the entment had passed on a feeling of longing, acceptance, and foo Amora, emotions that were fn to the Asgardian sorceress. For a brief, shining moment, she embraced those feelings, letting them wash over her.

  As abruptly as it had begun, the profound glimpse into Tyson's life ended, and Amora found herself ba the desert, still entwined in his embrace.

  Tyson was visibly affected by the experience. For the first time, someone else truly uood his burden. But more than mere uanding, he had fed a profound e with Amlimpsing the lonely soul beh her Entress persona.

  After a moment that stretched longer, he released Amora and stepped back, watg her rea closely.

  Her hand instinctively rose to touch her lips as if she could still feel the imprint of his kiss. Emerald eyes were wide with shod a hint of vulnerability. The usually posed Entress seemed at a loss for words, her silver toilled by the weight of what had just transpired between them. She took a steadying breath, trying tain her usual posure fractured by the intense shared experience.

  As they stood there, both noticed the distant storm clouds roiling ominously over the town followed by lightning streaking within the billowing darkness. The thuhat followed seemed to shake the air, resonating through Tyson's chest with its primal power.

  Gng at Amora, Tyson saw her posture rex slightly as she gazed at the tumultuous sky. They reized those clouds as the calling of Mjolnir. It sighat Thor's trial had been pleted and Amora's duty fulfilled. While still uain of her feelings or iions towards Tyson, Amora was no longer obligated to fight him.

  "My task is plete," she said. Her voice was steady once more having regais usual fidehor has pleted his trial." She looked at Tyson and asked, "Would you agree to a cessation of hostilities between us?"

  Tyson sidered her words for a moment, weighing the siy behind them. He still had her memories. He knew her. She held no malice toward him, only a watchful wariness.

  With a nod, he signaled his acceptance of her proposal, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.

  Amora lifted her hands and began weaving a spell. Emerald energy swirled around her slender fingers as a shimmering portal took shape before them. Its edges crackled with mystical power as created a gateway back toward the small desert towhe battle against the Destroyer still raged.

  Together, the unlikely pair stepped through the portal. They arrived at the outskirts just in time to withe epifrontatioween Thor and the Destroyer. The thunder god's power had beeored and he now pitted his might against the ented automaton.

  As they watched the battle unfold, Tyson couldn't help but steal a g Amora. The Entress caught his look in her periphery. She met his gaze and raised her eyebrow expetly. They both khor would be victorious. And once he was, they knew what would e . Amora wouldn't o weave spells; she'd o weave a ving tale to expin her part in this.

  The Destred through the streets, bsting searing beams from its featureless facepte. Buildings crumbled and cars exploded uhe onsught. The small town had transformed into a war zone. But amidst the ruin, Thor stood defiantly before the struct with his crimson cape billowing in the wind.

  With a mighty swing, the Asgardian hurled Mjolnir directly into the Destroyer's chest. The blow staggered the metal behemoth, and lightning arched wildly across its form. Thor summohe hammer back to his grasp with a flex of his will, then thrust it skyward, calling upon the fury of the storm.

  Dark clouds verged overhead, swirling with unnatural speed as they blotted out the sun. Bolts of lightning surged down striking Mjain and again. The god of thunder's eyes bzed as he eled the casg electricity, his body became a duit for the raw power of the heavens. With a primal roar, Thor directed the thunderbolt toward the Destroyer in a blinding torrent of light and sound. The bst sent the struct flying like a rag doll, its massive form crashed through buildings a a trail of destru in its wake.

  Thor summoned a whirlwind around himself, letting it carry him aloft over the battered town. His cape billowed behind him as he flew through the air, riding the raging winds. The Destroyer was lifted from the ground, caught in the swirling vortex. Its heavy metal form was tossed about like a leaf in a gale.

  Thor hovered above the struct, Mjolnir spinning rapidly in his grip causing the hammer to bee a blur. The Destrlowing facepte oriented onto the airborne Asgardian, its soulless gaze fixing upon the god of thunder. A brilliant beam of seari erupted from the struct's head, ng towards Thor like a spear of fire.

  But he was ready. Still spinning Mjolnir, he flew directly at the oning bst. The hammer's rapid rotation acted like a shield, dissipating the Destroyer's heat beam, parting it around Thor like water flowing around a stone.

  Closing the distan a heartbeat, Thor pulled back his arm. With a roar, he hurled Mjolnir with all his might. The hammer sailed through the remnants of the heat beam, ued by the inteemperatures. It shot like a meteor towards the Destroyer's head, imbued with all the power of the Asgardian god.

  Mjolnir smashed into the struct's helmet with devastating force, g the thick metal inward like tin foil. The impact was titanic, causing a shockwave to ripple out from the point of tact, shattering windows aing off car arms. The Destroyer's facepte crumpled like paper uhe hammer's might.

  As quickly as it had begun, the storm faded, the winds dying to a gentle breeze. The broken form of the Destroyer fell heavily to the earth, kig up a cloud of dirt, obsg everyone's view. Thor nded beside the defeated automaton.

  Thor strode away from the aftermath of the battle, his crimson cape billowing behind him in the breeze. He approached the mortals who had shown him such kindness during his exile. Jane Foster and Dr. Selvig watched his approach with awe.

  There was a new light in the Asgardian's eyes, a sense of purpose ainy. He had proven himself worthy of his power.

  Jane's face lit up as she took in the sight of Thor fully restored before her. "Is this how you normally look?" Jane asked, uo keep a note of wonder from her voice as her eyes roamed over his armor-. A regal winged helm sat upon his head, his blond hair spilled out beh. Massive muscles rippled underh the armor ptes as he moved.

  Thor's mouth quirked up in a hint of a smile. "More or less."

  Jane replied appreciatively, "It's a good look."

  The Warriors Three noted Amora's preseh a wary gaze, their hands instinctively tightened on their ons as the Asgardian entress k before Thor. Even in supplication, she was radiant.

  Amora spoke, her melodic voice tinged with a hint of trition. "gratutions on pleting your trial, Thor Odinson. I was sent by ag King Loki to oversee your test. Regrettably, I failed at my task and could not stop Sif and the Warriors Three from interfering. And the Midgardian, Tyson, put up a formidable defense against my efforts to prevent their meddling."

  Thor listeo her words with a thoughtful frown, his muscur arms crossed over his broad chest. Behind him, Sif and the Warriors Three watched the kneeling entress with open suspi. They were not about to let their guard down, even in the face of her apparent surrender.

  "You cim you acted on my brother's and, to oversee my trial and prevent outside interferehor asked, skepticism c his deep, resonant voice. His blue eyes bore into Amora, searg for any hint of deceit in her expression.

  Amora lifted her gaze to meet his, her face a mask of siy. "Yes, my prince. Loki charged me with ensuring erfered with the test set before you. He must have sent the Destroyer in hopes that the da presented would be the push you o recim your power and succeed. Had your loyal rades stopped the Destroyer, it would have undermihe very purpose of the trial the Allfather set for you. I could not allow that to happen, though I deeply regret the flict my as caused." As she spoke, her eyes flicked briefly to the damaged struct lying i nearby.

  Thor's brow furrowed as he listeo Amora's cims, his mind w to uhe tangled web of her words. "The Destroyer sought to end my life, not merely test my worth," he tered.

  Amora lifted her , her voice ringing with vi. "But Loki wields Gungnir. He anded me as the rightful king of Asgard. Perhaps the Allfather charged him with overseeing this trial before falling into the Odinsleep." She held Thaze unflingly, daring him to question her loyalty to the throne.

  Thor shook his head, doubting her words. "I ot accept that Father would approve such a trial at Loki's hands, especially not ohat puts so many mortal lives in danger." His grip tightened on Mjolnir's haft, the ented hammer thrumming with barely tained power. Thor's expression remaiony, his jaw ched with barely tained anger. "Did your duty require you to manipute and endanger my friends?"

  Tyson watched Amora closely, his mismatched eyes never leaving her face. Her posure remained unruffled on the surface, but he could sehe tension coiled within her lithe frame. "I used only what force was necessary to aplish the task entrusted to me by the ag king. No sting harm was doo your panions." Amora spread her hands elegantly. "They live still, do they not? That should serve as proof that I meant them no true harm."

  Sif challenged, "You think yourself so far above us?" Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

  Amora's gaze dropped once more in a show of trition, her golden hair falling forward to frame her face. "I offer my deepest apologies for any u my as have caused, my lord. I assure you, I acted solely at Prince Loki's behest, nothing more." Her voice took on a pleading note. "I humbly ask that you show mercy to one who only sought to serve the throne, however misguided my efforts may have been."

  Amora's cim seemed pusible on the surface, given Loki's well-known pent for ing pns and half-truths. Yet something about her manner left Thor uneasy, a nagging sehat her capitution came too swiftly for one so proud and defiant. This could well be but another yer of deception, a honey-coated lie desigo lull him into pcy.

  After a moment of heavy silence, Amora ceded, dipping her head once more in a show of submission. "Loki spun a ing falsehood, and I, in my foolishness, believed it to be truth. I meant no true harm to you or your panions, Thor. My only aim was to fulfill the task set before me by the one who currently holds the throne."

  Thor's expression softened slightly at her admission, a hint of passion flickering in his azure eyes. Behind him, Sif and the Warriors Three exged dubious looks, their skepticism pin on their faces. They clearly did not share their prince's readio accept Amora's words at face value.

  "Loki deceived me as well. I will fer with Heimdall upon our return to Asgard to verify your cims," Thor finally pronounced, his voice heavy with the weight of authority. "For now, you will apany us back to at for your as. Your fate will be decided ohe truth of this matter has been fully uncovered."

  Amora bowed her head in acquiesce, her expression carefully ral. "As you and, my prince. I willingly submit myself to the judgment of Asgard and its rightful ruler." She rose gracefully to her feet. "I have nothing to hide, and I trust that the truth of my iions will be made clear in due course."

  Tyso his mouth shut during the exge. He was not an Asgardian and didn't feel that interjeg in what was an internal matter would be appreciated. But, his brief shared e with Amora during the battle had granted him a unique insight into her deepest nature, a glimpse behind the mask she preseo the world. Ambition, guile, and an insatiable hunger for power drove her every a, however well she cealed it behind her breathtakiy and honeyed words. Deceptions came as naturally to Amora as breathing, and Tyson, still carrying the insights from their kiss, uood the truth behind the words that fell from her lips. Amora stated she would submit herself to the rightful ruler… That ruler was not necessarily Thor. She sought to frame her as in a mahat ingratiated her with all parties, whichever ended up ohrone; be it Odin, Loki, or Thor.

  Thor turo his panions, "We return to Asgard immediately. There is much that o be resolved, and I fear time is not on our side." His gaze fell upon Jane Foster and her friends, a flicker ret passing over his face. "I must take my leave of you now but know that I am forever grateful for your aid and panionship during my time here on Midgard. I will not fet what you have done for me."

  Tyson watched as Agent Coulson approached, fnked by several armed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The normally pristine suit Coulson wore was torn and dirty, evidence of the Destroyer's rampage. Despite the disheveled appearance, Coulson's demeanor remained professional, his eyes sharp and assessing as he surveyed the se before him.

  "Donald..." Coulson began, addressing Thor by the human alias he faked earlier. "I don't think you've been pletely ho with me."

  Thor exged a quick, meaningful gh Jane and the others. The Asgardian prinew that the time for deception had passed. The truth of his identity and the rger universe beyoh's borders could no longer be hidden. Especially not after the Destroyer's rampage.

  Nearby, Darcy turowards Volstagg, her curious gaze fixing on the robust, red-bearded warrior. "So, how you speak uage?" she asked. The idea of aliens from another world versing fluently in English was just one more thing to add to the list of strahings she had witnessed.

  Volstagg let out a booming ugh, "Yuage? Ha! Silly girl, you're speaking ours!" He grinned broadly, clearly amused by the mortal's question.

  Thor stepped forward, raising Mjolnir towards the desert sky. "Heimdall!" he called out in a anding voice. "Open the Bifrost!"

  His summons were met only by silehor's brow furrowed with as he lowered the mystical hammer, and a sense of utled over his broad shoulders.

  "He would open it if he could," Thor said grimly, his tone heavy with the weight of realization. "I fear the worst has e to pass in Asgard. My brother's treachery runs deeper than I had imagined."

  Volstagg's face fell at this news, and his jovial demeanor evaporated. "Then we're trapped here forever!" he mented with despair.

  The dashing Fandral, ever the optimist, managed a charming smile for Darcy. "Then I suppose we'd best start settling into our new lives," he quipped, "Tell me, fair maiden, are all the women of Earth as lovely as you?"

  Darcy grinned, clearly enjoying the Asgardian's flirtatious attention. "No, most of them are much prettier," she replied without missing a beat, her wit rising to match Fandral's pyful banter.

  Before their exge could tihor's voice rang out once more, this time tinged with a note of desperation. "Heimdall! If you hear me, we need you now!" The god of thunder's plea carried across the desert, a fervent prayer to the distant gatekeeper who held the key to their return.

  Tyson watched as the Asgardians began to lose hope of returning home, their faces etched with the growing realization of their predit. Volstagg eyed one of the SHIELD agent's mae guns with disdain, appraising the on.

  "Primitive," Volstagg remarked, his tone dismissive. "Good enough for hunting small game, I suppose. But hardly a match for the might of Asgardian steel."

  Suddenly, the sky above them lit by a blinding beam of multicolored light as the Bifrost exploded down from the heavens. The air shimmered with the immense energies unleashed by the ic bridge's arrival. Thor's face broke into a broad grin at the wele sight. The humans in the area stared in amazement. Even the hardened SHIELD agents couldn't help but gape at the celestial spectacle before them.

  Fandral turo Darcy with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, my love. It seems our time together must be cut short. Duty calls, and all that." He gave her a pyful wink as he stepped away.

  As the Asgardians gathered around the swirling vortex of light and color, Thor turo address Agent Coulson directly. "Know this, Son of Coul. You and I, we fight for the same cause. The prote of this world and its people. From this day forward, you may t me as your ally." His tone hardened slightly, "If you returems you have stolen from Jane Foster."

  Coulson's expression remained carefully ral, his professional mask firmly in pce. "Not stolen. Borrowed," he corrected, his voice even and unruffled.

  Jane shot the agent a sharp, incredulous look, her frustration with SHIELD's high-haactics evident in her eyes. Coulson, sensing the tension, quickly tinued. "You have my word, Dr. Foster. You'll get all of your equipment back, with our apologies for the invenience. In fact, after today's events, SHIELD would like to offer you our full support and resources to further your research...if that's acceptable to you, of course."

  Thor took Jane's haly in his own, his calloused fingers entwining with hers as he brought it to his lips for a tender kiss. Jane looked up at him, fearing that this might be the st time she would see him.

  "Whatever fate lies before me," Thor told her solemnly, his gaze locked with hers, "know that you are a part of it now, Jane Foster. You have touched my heart in ways I hought possible."

  Uo restrain himself any lohe god of thunder pulled Jao his arms and kissed her with a passion that spoke of his feelings. Jaed against him, her arms ed around his neck as she returhe kiss with equal fervor.

  Nearby, Tyson approached Lady Sif atg Thor and Jah obvious envy. Tyson reached for the Asgardian warrior's hand. "Lady, if I may?"

  Sif eyed him warily, uain of his iions. Earlier she had asserted that she was a warrior, not some maiden to be wooed. Yet something in Tyson's direct gaze gave her pause. Though they had just met, he had already proven himself in battle against the Destroyer. His warrior spirit called to her own. After a moment's sideration, Sif slowly extended her hand.

  Tyson csped it gently, his gloved fingers curling around her calloused palm. For a long moment, they stood there, hands joined, gazes locked. His power subtly wound its way into her senses.

  Tyson murmured an intation, his eyes still alight with the remnants of Amora's powers. Sif watched with curiosity as golden energy coalesced around his mouth. Gently grasping her hand, he brought the back of it to his lips.

  She grew up alongside Thor and Loki, children of Odin. From a young age, she dispyed exceptional skill in bat, defying expectations fardian women. Her prowess with sword, shield, and all manner of martial ons earned her a pce among Thor's closest panions. Despite fag skepticism, her determination and loyalty proved invaluable in tless battles across the Nine Realms. She was known for her long, beautiful golden hair until Loki, the trickster tur dark. Her friendship with Thor deepened over turies, though any romantic feelings remained unexplored. Her dedication to proteg Asgard led her to joining with the Warriors Three. Together, they fought numerous foes, from frost giants to marauders. When Thor was bao Earth, her loyalty was tested. She defied Loki's rule and Asgard's ws to help her friend, traveling to Midgard despite the risks.

  Tyson used his illusion power to override the sensation of pain that came with the tact. As a tender kiss ced upon her skin, a brilliant glow spread from the point of tact. It traveled up her arm, over her shoulder, and up her o wreath her head in a halo of shimmering gold.

  Sif's raven tresses floated as if on a breeze meant only for her. The inky bess washed away in a cascade of glittering sparks, leaving behind hair the color of sunshine. Sif had not realized the spell's i until she caught sight of the vibrant golden strands dang at the edge of her vision. She gathered the lustrous locks in hand, marveling at their transformation. Tears of joy threateo spill from her eyes.

  She gazed at Tyson and said softly, "I believe you have cast quite a spell over me."

  He winked roguishly. Then he felt Amora's stolen knowledge fade from his mind like mist on the m wind.

  Tyson addressed Sif, "sider it a thank you gift, for helping defend this town." Sif brought her fist to her chest and bowed slightly, a radiant smile spread across her face. "You are most wele, Tyson. This gift means more to me than you ever know."

  Amora watched Tyson use her magi another woman. She wasn't sure how to feel. A spark of jealousy flickered in her emerald eyes, quickly repced by a calg glint.

  The Warriors Three gathered around Sif, their faces alight with wonder as they beheld her radiant golden locks restored to their flory.

  "By the gods!" Volstagg excimed, awe in his voice. "Sif, your hair...I had fotten how stunning it was."

  Fandral wisely held his tongue, having already provoked Sif's ire enough for one day. Hogun stroked his beard thoughtfully and asked, "How did you undo Loki's curse aore Sif's hair?"

  Tyson shrugged modestly. "A strong terspell. Truthfully, I was merely the duit. It was Amora's magic, eled through me, that lifted the curse aored Sif's hair."

  As the Warriors Three tio gaze at Sif's transformed locks with admiration, they turo look at Amora with newfound respect. Though skeptical of the sorceress's motives, hearing that her power had restored their shield-sister's hair made them regard Amora in a much more favorable light than minutes earlier.

  Sif ined her head slightly in a gesture of gratitude towards Amora. Though no words were exged, the simple act spoke volumes. Amora returhe nod, while inwardly, her sharp mind analyzed how Tyson had leveraged his favor with Sif to raise Amora's standing among the Asgardians.

  As the Asgardians gathered he swirling, radiant energies of the Bifrost, the moment of decision arrived.

  Tyson recalled his discussion months earlier with the A One. She warhat the destru of the Rainbe was a he couldn't prevent. Despite what she believed, he knew he had to try. The destru of the Bifrost was one of the first domihat fell, ultimately leading tnarok and the destru of Asgard.

  With a determined set to his jaw, Tyson stepped forward. "Thor," he said respectfully, drawing the thunder god's attention. "Will you allow me to join you in Asgard?"

  Thor hesitated, sidering Tyson's request. Sif spoke first in the mortal's favor, her voice ringing with vi. "He proved his worth against the Destroyer," she pointed out, "Tyson fought bravely and skillfully, showing the heart of a true warrior. He has earhe right to stand with us."

  Surprisingly, Amora added another endorsement, her melodic voice carrying an undercurrent of respect. "Loath as I am to admit it, the mortal is formidable. He held his own against my magid the Destroyer's might. Had I not stopped him, he may have been able to defeat the stru his own."

  Tysoened by their support, made his case. "Asgard has beeh's protector for turies. Perhaps it's time for Earth to repay that debt. Let me fight at your side, Thor. Let me help defend your home as you have defended mine."

  Coulson interjected with a note of . "Are you sure that's wise?" he asked.

  Tysohe agent's eyes and pushed with his power. "I should go with them. This is an opportunity to create goodwill. We learn a lot."

  Coulson fell silent. After a long moment, he gave a stiff nod, signaling his acceptance of the decision. "You should go with them."

  "Very well, Tyson, the Mirage of Midgard. I would be hoo have you fight alongside us in defense of Asgard." Thor csped the mortal shoulder.

  As they approached the shimmering, multicolored beam of the Bifrost, Tyso a surge of excitement mingled with trepidation. He was about to step into a realm of gods and legends.

  But he was ready.

  Thor ehe ic bridge first, followed closely by Sif and the Warriors Three. Amora came , casting an inscrutable g Tyson as she passed. For a moment, their eyes met, and Tyso a flicker of the e they had shared during their brief mental exge. But then the moment was gone, and Amora vanished into the swirling vortex of light.

  Tyson gnced bae st time. He caught a glimpse of Coulson and the others watg him go. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, feeling the immense energies of the Bifrost envelop him. It was like being caught in a maelstrom of light and sound. And then, in a blinding fsh, the desert vanished, repced by a tunnel of shimmering colors that stretched out into infinity.

  AN: For those of you ied in supp my writing.

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