Jubilee Park and Garden -
The Sorceress Supreme smiled at Oliver, but gave him no answer. At least, that would be how it appeared to the others. In Oliver's mind, however, he suddenly
saw. He could see futures stretching out in front of him like a long and winding path. At first, there were Doom and Luminous, arguing, the conflict escalating into a fight, a fight that Luminous did not survive. Then, Doom sneaking up on a figure with blonde curls and a green cloak. The images were flashing, going faster now. Doom, surrounded in a triumphant green glow. Doom, at the head of a vast army of Doombots. Heroes, failing to unite against him. Innocent civilians killed in the streets. Reality burning. The dead screaming, rising from their graves. The Celestials delivering
Judgment. Doom, seeking a force from Beyond. Doom, ascendant; reality fallen. Worlds destroyed. Realms obliterated. Nothing remained. Nothing but Doom.
"I cannot aid you more, Secret Warriors - my magics are focused on holding together the fabric of our reality, a task that should I stop would mean the unraveling of us all, a violent
incursion which none would survive... in our universe or the next."
The Sorceress Supreme then vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared, without a moment's warning or explanation.
Of course, the Secret Warriors themselves vanished, thanks to Sparky's magic ring, only to appear again moments later in....
EARTH 257 - 8:00 AM Nov. 15th, 2021 - Odinskeep, New Asgard
The time difference from London to New Asgard was hardly noticeable - it was still early morning, with the sun climbing in the sky. The architecture, however, was considerably different. For the most part, the buildings resembled something you would see in a Legend of Zelda game - cute little cottages, the sort of things that would pop up in a charming fantasy village. There were also what looked like grand palaces and magnificent Asgardian structures, adding in a bit of a
Percy Jackson sort of vibe.
In short, New Asgard looked like no other place they had ever been to before - except, perhaps, Asgard itself.
The signs were all written in the native tongue of the Asgardians, meaning that to everyone except for Raynor, they were unintelligible. However, Raynor didn't need to read the signs to know where they were. He knew that they were in Odinskeep - the capital city - where his cousin still lived - the seat of power from which his aunt, the All-Seer, ruled. Raynor's insides twisted with discomfort, feeling the eye of Queen Sif upon him. He knew that she knew he was here. He knew that she knew every unspeakable thing he had done. Immense shame filled Raynor as his shoulders tensed. He hated this place, because it reminded him how much he hated himself.
His parents were
THE It couple of Asgard - beautiful Baldur and gorgeous Nanna. They were so perfect, pure, and sweet that when Baldur died, his mother died not too long after, unable to be without her husband. His brother, Forseti, was a kind and just judge, delivering justice to all who should seek it out.
And then there was Raynor. The habitual liar. The charming narcissist. The mercenary. The terrorist. The violent and depraved prodigal son. The stain upon Baldur the Beautiful's shining legacy.
Bonnie noticed the angry silence that had overcome Raynor, and while she didn't particularly like him, she wasn't ignorant to the pain that he must have been in. He deserved that pain, though - for the unspeakable crimes that he had committed. And Bonnie knew that opinion wasn't an influence of this world, it was one that she would still hold back on Earth!666. People needed to be held accountable for their actions. Raynor needed to atone for his sins. His victims deserved justice.
"I agree - the witch's words implied that we were supposed to protect a person, rather than a thing," Bonnie said, continuing the conversation that had started before Sparky transported them.
"And how are we gonna find this person?" Amelia asked. She had been in the Operations Academy, but investigations had never been her strong suit. She was a pilot and a daredevil to her core - the sneakier things never really held her interest.
"Or Doom or Luminous? Like, the minute we saw them, they just buggered off and left us with the world's grossest eyeball demon. Maria still looks like she's trying out for a part in American Horror Story!" "Raynor, is there someone here who you think we should go to for help? Or someplace where magical types tend to gather?" Bonnie asked. She knew that the wizards in their world had different sanctums that they would dwell in, and she imagined there might be something analogous here in New Asgard. Someone here had to know who the Nexus was. Or at the very least, someone ought to have seen Doom and Luminous running about. She didn't doubt that the speedster had already carried Doom here.
Raynor huffed, but nodded. He turned his gaze, staring at the cottage they had appeared in front of. Of course they had ended up here. He bet his cousin had meddled somehow, finding this funny.
"We're at her house," he said cryptically.
Amelia then did a double take, almost screaming from surprise. She had seen a shadow cast on the ground that was large, and she had thought it was just a low flying plane - or maybe an Asgardian flying about. But when she looked up, she saw a gigantic and absolutely
massive wild dragon. It didn't pay them any attention, and no one else wandering around the streets of Odinskeep seemed to stop and stare. It was clearly a normal occurrence.
"Bloody hell, you lot just casually have dragons...."
