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[INDENT][INDENT][I]Thunder rolled overheard as Blake picked himself up, out of the mud. The smell of apples overwhelmed his nostrils as he slowly stood up, his head spinning as he looked around. Nearly ten paces in front of him lay the barn as Blake took a slow step forward before gaining momentum. Tossing open the doors of the barn, Thor walked into the Asgardian banquet hall. Cheers echoed all around as tankards clashed together, the frothy mead head spilled over the edge of each mug, dripping onto the floor where the hounds eagerly lapped it up.

Smiling, a sense of belonging washed over Thor as he swept his fur cloak over his shoulder, spreading his arms wide as he made his way down the marble steps into the great hall. Each pillar was carved with runes and pictographs, the images depicting the tales of numerous heroes, including those of his father, Odin, and Uncle, Tyr. Now the carvers added the tales of Thor's own adventures, his likeness hoisting the Midgard's Serpent above its head. 

Accepting a tankard from Fandral, Thor raised it to his mouth, dipping his head back as he inhaled the drink, its froth nesting on his beard before he pulled the mug away from his mouth and slammed it to the ground.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD][B]"Another!"[/B][/COLOR] He shouted as the hall erupted into cheers and another tankard slid down the table into his waiting hand. Tipping the drink to his mouth, Thor surveyed the room until he spotted the long blonde locks of his beautiful wife from across the room. Approaching her, Thor wrapped an arm around Sif's waist as he spun her around. As her eyes raised to meet his, Thor suddenly staggered back as Sif's golden hair went pitch black, her rosy cheeks turning as pale as death as she looked up at Blake.

[COLOR=Salmon][B]"He will fail you as he failed me if you let him."[/B][/COLOR] 

Her hair suddenly fell from her skull as her eyes rolled into Blake's open hand causing the man to jump in disgust as the great hall of Asgard was ripped away from around him and Blake suddenly found himself in the midst of a cornfield. A flock of black birds circled around him, their constants caws loud enough to prompt Blake to cover his ears as he tried to run through the rows upon rows of stalks. No matter which way Blake ran, he found his way back to the initial clearing, until finally, he surrendered to the field. 

Falling to his knees, Blake looked to the sky as the birds suddenly went silent. The clouds darkened as a lone lightning bolt struck the ground in front of Blake, thunder echoed all around as he was thrown backwards by the force. From within the lightning stood the silhouette of a man as he slowly stepped towards Blake as the latter scuttled out of the way.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD][B]"You are weak."[/B][/COLOR] The figure spoke as Blake turned his eyes upwards to see his own face looking down on him.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"You're not me!"[/COLOR] Blake cried back as he struggled to stand, all the while the doppelganger advanced on him. 

[COLOR=GOLDENROD][B]"They will not remember you."[/B][/COLOR] It snarled back as the figure held out a hand. The corn stalks shuffled as something moved within the field. Seeing his moment, Blake launched himself forward tackling the other figure to the ground. Raising a fist back, Blake felt something fly to his hand as both figures turned their heads to see a hammer in Blake's hand.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD][B]"NO!"[/B][/COLOR] The doppelganger cried. [COLOR=GOLDENROD][B]"How could you be worthy!"[/B][/COLOR] It protested, the shade fading beneath Blake, leaving him alone in the field as Blake turned to stand. As he did, the corn around him faded away, the smell of apples returning as Blake took a step forward, an orchard appearing around him as an elderly man helped himself to a nearby tree.

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"It is going to be a lovely harvest this year, would you not agree, my son?"[/B][/COLOR] The man asked, turning to greet Blake as the latter stumbled along, the hammer handing from his wrist by a throng. Nodding towards the hammer, the elderly man continued to speak. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"I see that at least some part of your subconscious has begun to accept your birthright. Do you know where you are?"[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"I'd know this place anywhere,"[/COLOR] Blake stated with a weary smile, taking a deep whiff of the air. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Colborne's Orchard is the highlight of Fall in Marville."[/COLOR] He answered absolutely.

A chuckle escaped the older man's lips as he leaned heavily on his cane and approached the young man, his rags disappearing as golden armor adorned his body. The walking stick forming a pointed spear as the man straightened his back, his body language changing drastically as the need to bow in the man's presence washed over Blake.

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"No, I am afraid this is not Oklahoma,"[/B][/COLOR] The older man gestured around the pair with his free arm. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"This is the Orchard of Idunn, home of the Maiden Goddess herself."[/B][/COLOR] He said matter of factually. 

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"You are in Asgard, my son, or at least, how you remember Asgard."[/B][/COLOR] His tone saddened at the latter part, but everything he said after 'Oklahoma' was lost on Blake as he suddenly noticed for the first time that the apples were neither red, nor green, but rather a glistening gold that shone in the sunlight.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Asgard isn't real,"[/COLOR] Blake responded as he reached towards the apple, taking a hold of it, astounded by the metallic appearance. His hand jumped back as the texture of the apple matched that which he knew, but contrasted with its appearance was almost too much for his mind to comprehend. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"I'm dreaming."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Were you dreaming when you summoned the powers of Thor?"[/B][/COLOR] The older man asked again as he took a seat on a nearby stump. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"You deny your birthright."[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"I denied my birthright when I became a veterinarian instead of a farmer. I'm denying insanity by rejecting the idea that I am a mythological figure at the age of twenty-eight."[/COLOR] Blake retorted again. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Who are you supposed to be anyways, Merlin?"[/COLOR]

A hearty laugh left the older man's chest as he wiped a mirthful tear from his eye, a hand slapping lightly against his knee.

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"While Merlin is a good friend, Alas, I am not he."[/B][/COLOR] The older man answered after several seconds of chuckling. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"I am your father, Odin, son of Bor, Allfather of Asgard."[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Okay then,"[/COLOR] Blake muttered, crossing his arms as he turned to address 'Odin'. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Let's say for a moment, that I did, in fact, call upon the power of 'Thor',"[/COLOR] He said as he made sarcastic 'air quotes'. 

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"I've only done it once and it was under your suggestion. How am I not supposed to think that you're some sort of 'power gifting' metahuman with a god complex?"[/COLOR] Blake challenged as Odin chuckled softly again, leaning on his spear as he stood.

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Are you so stubborn that you have repressed your own memories."[/B][/COLOR] Odin scolded as he approached Blake. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Perhaps, it is time for some perspective."[/B][/COLOR] He continued, his hand raising as Blake quickly found a finger pressed to his forehead before he could react.

Celebratory music echoed in his ears as his eyes adjusted to his new location. Opening wide at the familiar sight of his university campus, the music was coming from all around Blake, playing all across campus, loudly blaring from party to party. Looking down, he felt out of place at the victory party, the home team had won yet again prompting all of San Marcos to explode into Homecoming celebrations, most of which were taking place across Texas State campus.

Taking a sip from the plastic cup in his hand, Blake coughed as the beer hit his taste buds for the first time, swallowing hard in order to keep himself from spitting it out. The beer was warm and tasted about as good as it had smelled, which truthfully, hadn't been all that good. Still, it was his first drink of alcohol, despite his father's best efforts to keep Blake from falling into 'sin'. His friends from high-school had often referred to beer as being an acquired taste, much like coffee. To Blake, that meant it could only get better with a second sip. Taking another swig from the cup, Blake coughed before spitting the liquid over the edge of the roof.

It hadn't got any better.

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Is that how all Southern men drink?"[/COLOR] A voice teased from behind Blake as he turned around to come face to face with Barbara. For a second, Blake had almost forgotten how stunning she was, even when she wasn't trying to be. The memory suddenly became more clear as he looked at Barbara, her hair was pulled back, a tank top barely covering her bra as she stood in front of him in a pair of snug jeans.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Just the smart ones,"[/COLOR] Blake replied as he cracked a wide smile, leaning back against the edge of the roof. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Where are you from?"[/COLOR]

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Washington,"[/COLOR] Barbara said taking a swig from the bottle in her hand. [COLOR=STEELBLUE]"District of Columbia, not the hippy one on the coast."[/COLOR] She added taking another swig. [COLOR=STEELBLUE]"How do you deal with this heat?"[/COLOR] Barbara asked as she joined Blake by the roof's edge, looking out over the campus as fireworks went off in the distance. [COLOR=STEELBLUE]"October back home, I'd be at least wearing a cute jacket by now."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Texas heat can take a little getting used to."[/COLOR] Blake smiled, [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Guess they should change their slogan, everything is bigger and hotter in Texas."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Is that so?"[/COLOR] Barbara replied with a raised eyebrow, pressing the cold bottle against her glistening neck. [COLOR=STEELBLUE]"I'd kiss the first man who could make it rain right now."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"You don't normally kiss men?"[/COLOR] Blake asked with a coy smile. 

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Normally not ones that can't hold their beer."[/COLOR] Barbara teased back as clouds gathered overhead, brought on by a cool breeze. [COLOR=STEELBLUE]"I don't suppose this is you?"[/COLOR] She added with a mischevious smile.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD]"And what if it is?"[/COLOR] Blake responded. [COLOR=GOLDENROD]"Are you going to kiss me?"[/COLOR] He asked, turning to face Barbara as raindrops began to fall from the sky.

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"I do have a reputation at stake, I'd hate to tarnish my word,"[/COLOR] Barbara said as she turned, smirking mischievously towards Blake.

[color=GOLDENROD]"I'm glad that you're the reputable sort,"[/COLOR] Blake stated leaning forward further as Barbara placed a hand on his chin.

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Shut up and kiss me."[/COLOR][/I][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[COLOR=GOLDENROD][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]M A R V I L L E,   O K L A H O M A:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][COLOR=LIGHTSLATEGRAY][B]M O N D A Y,   J U L Y   2 [SUP]N D[/SUP],   2 0 1 8 - 0 1 : 0 9 p m   |   D O N A L D S O N   F A R M[/B][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=GOLDENROD][I]Barbara[/I][/COLOR]

Blake's eyes shot open as he looked around, grogginess betraying his ability to gain his bearings only for a massive hand to grab the back of his head and force him to look upwards. The smell of stale straw mixed with faint undertones of ancient manure told Blake that he was still in the barn.

[color=SLATEGRAY]"Three [i]fuckin'[/i] hours you've been knocked the [i]fuck[/i] out. I am [i]damn[/i] well not a patient man, Donaldson."[/color] Creel sneered as his face loamed over Blake's. 

[color=GOLDENROD]"But apparently one with a flair for the theatrical. Why else keep me alive?"[/color] Blake spat back as he struggled against his bindings.

[color=SLATEGRAY]"I've got bigger fish to fry, just thought they might have shown up by now. What's a guy got to do to get Sparky's [i]fuckin'[/i] attention?"[/color]

[color=goldenrod]"Where's Barbara?"[/color] Blake demanded as he continued to struggle while Creel merely sneered at him. 

[color=slategray]"Oh your girlfriend, eh she's a bit tied up at the moment. Say, how long do you think she'll take to get over you?"[/color] Creel asked, every word dripping with malice. [color=slategray]"Your girl is fuckin' hot, don't know how a pussy like you ever managed to land that knockout, but I know if she was mine, she certainly wouldn't have been working and she definitely wouldn't be able to walk fuckin' straight."[/color] He smiled as Blake remained silent, his eyes doing nothing but shooting daggers across the room.

[color=slategray]"Oh but wait, she's always looked like that huh? Man, that sucks for you eh, ya stupid fuck."[/color] Creel laughed. [color=slategray]"Lands the hottest girl in this dump, 'cept she's a terrible lay, ain't never had to suck a dick in her life cause she's got the face of an angel and the body of a fuckin' porn star."[/color] Creel walked over to Blake, patting him roughly on the back as he continued to speak.

[color=slategray]"Don't worry pal, after I take care of Sparky, you can watch her suck my dick in exchange for your lif-"[/color] Creel didn't get a chance to finish as Blake suddenly broke free of his bonds, a fist to the chin lifting the other man off of his feet before landing flat on his back amidst the straw-littered ground.

Within Blake something had surged, fear had parted enough that an ancient thirst for battle awoke within. Conflict still remained in his subconscious but for now, the competitors were on the same page.

[COLOR=GOLDENROD][B][I]Kick his ass.[/I][/B][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]