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[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]W E D N E S D A Y,   A U G U S T   0 8[SUP]T H[/SUP]   |   M A R V I L L E   G E N E R A L   H O S P I T A L[/B][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]Her eyes stayed fixed on the television screen, as she sat on the end of the hospital bed watching the Clash of Titans unfold on the other side of the country. Behind her stood the nurse who was currently tending to Barbara’s wounds as she cleaned the numerous lacerations that now covered the majority of her shoulders and back. Remaining still as the nurse removed glass and blood from her hair, Barbara watched the vicious battle between the Surfer and her lover. 

Each blow Thor took from the Surfer caused Barbara to wince as her heart sank in her chest fearing that the next hit Blake took would be his last. It felt wrong to be sitting in a hospital room while Blake was in the fight of his life, it wasn’t something she had signed up for. Blake at least had known that Barbara was going to work for the Sheriff’s department, she on the other hand never had any notice that Blake was going to start fighting aliens and witches. 

[color=#c0c0c0]“Crazy world we live in now, eh hun?”[/color] The nurse asked noticing that Barbara’s gaze hadn’t left the television screen. [color=#c0c0c0]“I like the ones that don’t wear masks personally, that Superman’s a real tall glass of water.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Pretty fond of Thor myself,”[/color] Barbara replied with a weak smile as she kept her eyes fixed on the screen. 

[color=#c0c0c0]“You don’t say?”[/color] The nurse replied, playful sarcasm dotting every syllable as she spoke. [color=#c0c0c0]“You haven’t taken your eyes off that there screen the entire time I’ve been working on you. I’ve had grizzled veterans react more to me putting stitches in than you have.”[/color]

[color=#4682b4]“Well,”[/color] Barbara started, [color=#4682b4]“I have to say, the local boy is putting on quite the show right now, showing the Yanks how we d-”[/color] She paused as the Thor fell to his knees, fear overtaking every cell in her body. Noticing what was happening, the nurse paused as both women watched the screen in silent horror as the Surfer plunged his hand into Thor’s chest.

Barbara’s world seemed to end for a moment, her head spinning as her heart screamed out in denial at the idea of Blake’s death. Tears swelled in the corners of her eyes as her throat tightened, her mouth going dry as four words stumbled out from between her lips.

[sub][color=#4682b4]“Come back to me...”[/color][/sub]

It was as though Thor had heard her whispered words as he suddenly lunged forward, savagely attacking the Surfer. Barbara gasped as what had looked like Thor’s final moments suddenly changed into a moment of triumph as he held the Surfer at his mercy.

[color=#c0c0c0]“Well that was quite the scare.”[/color] The nurse said, breaking the silence with a nervous chuckle as Barbara turned her eyes from the screen. [color=#c0c0c0]“Wonder where Superman was this time, didn’t he kick that silver man’s ass back in Central City?”[/color] Whether by intention or not, her question was left rhetorical as Barbara breathed a deep sigh of relief. The tightness in her chest loosening as Thor’s victory was assured.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[COLOR=GOLDENROD][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]N E W   Y O R K   B A Y,   N E W   Y O R K:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][COLOR=LIGHTSLATEGRAY][B]W E D N E S D A Y,   A U G U S T   0 8[SUP]T H[/SUP]   |   T H E   R A F T[/B][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]The adrenaline slowly left Thor’s body as his mind was left reeling at the events that had just unfolded before the God of Thunder. He had just gone toe to toe with a man possessed by the Power Cosmic, an ancient force that the Allfather and indeed, all of Asgard had thought lost to the vastness of the universe. Yet here it was before him, a fraction of the Power Cosmic, very much found and once again, a threat to the Nine Realms 

The woman, Barda, had taken the Power Cosmic’s host away and Thor found himself, alone, standing amidst the ruins of what was once Earth’s greatest prison. For now, Midgard was safe, and at least for the moment, Blake was free to return to his life. Pain surged through his body as Thor placed a hand over the gaping wound in his side, kneeling as he took a breath. The world around him suddenly faded from focused as Blake fought against the instincts of his past life.

After such a prolific victory, Thor would have spent the night feasting and drinking. The halls of Valhalla would have swelled with praises of his battle while Asgard was thrown into a celebration. But, Thor was not raised to believe he was mortal. 

Blake was. 

Fear and panic began to set in as he looked down at the blood covered hand as he pulled it away from his side. The other heroes had departed, going their own ways as Thor raised his eyes towards the sky as he hand slid from the open wound to his belt. Looking down, for the first time, Blake noticed that his armor had a small pouch on the belt as he reached inside it, producing a ring box as he slumped back on the ground. 

The diamond ring glistened in the sunlight as the skies overhead cleared. Staring at the ring, Blake moved his eyes towards the sky, a single tear rolling down his face as a cold feeling began to slowly spread through his body.

[i]Caw![/i]

Blake’s head spun around quickly as he located the source of the noise, his eyes met those of a raven as the blackbird stared back at him.  

[color=#daa520]“Allfather.”[/color] Blake managed to say, his voice cracking as he forced himself to stand, his legs carrying a few steps closer to his father’s messenger before he collapsed onto one knee.

[b][i][color=#9932cc]Come to me, my son.[/color][/i][/b]

[color=#daa520]“The pain, I can’t,”[/color] Blake protested as the bird shook its head at him. At that moment, Blake could have sworn he saw its beak smile as Odin’s voice returned in his head. 

[b][i][color=#9932cc]Your humanity will one day be your greatest strength but for the moment at hand it is but a weakness.[/color][/i][/b]

[color=#daa520]“But I am human!”[/color] 

[b][i][color=#9932cc]You are not a man, you are the God of Thunder! A Prince of Asgard, now act like it.[/color][/i][/b]

With a roar, Thor staggered back to his feet, returning the ring to his belt as he looked towards the sky.

[b][color=#daa520]“Heimdall!”[/color][/b] He bellowed. [b][color=#daa520]“Open the Bifrost!”[/color][/b]
 
An aurora of red, blue and green suddenly appeared in the blue sky as a pillar of light engulfed Thor, pulling him into the air as he disappeared over the horizon before dropping onto the main street of Marville once again. 

[b][color=#ff4500]“You fought well, my Lord.”[/color][/b] Heimdall stated greeting Thor as he braced his friend as Thor’s wounds caused him to falter again. [b][color=#ff4500]“But now is the time to rest.” [/color][/b]

[b][color=#daa520]“The wound is not closing,”[/color][/b] 

[b][color=#ff4500]“It is the work of the Power Cosmic.”[/color][/b] Heimdall replied as he plunged his blade into the ground again, the pair vanishing before reappearing surrounded by pine trees as Thor found himself in Raven’s Grove once again. 

[b][color=#9932cc]“Come forth, my son.”[/color][/b] Odin beckoned from across the clearing as Heimdall helped Thor towards his father as the elder Asgardian sat beside the tooth-shaped rock. “Let me have a look at what ails you.” The Allfather stated as he pulled the armor away from the fist-sized hole in Thor’s chest. Residual energy of the Power Cosmic still lingered around the wound, preventing Thor’s natural healing thus allowing him to continue to slowly bleed out. 

Placing one hand on the wound and another on the tooth-shaped rock, Odin called upon what little remained of Asgard’s ancient forces as he transferred the wound from Thor to his own body. 

[b][color=#ff4500]“No!”[/color][/b] Heimdall roared as he left Thor’s side, catching the Allfather as Odin fell towards the ground.

[b][color=#daa520]“Why!”[/color][/b] Thor asked as his strength returned.

[b][color=#9932cc]“I am tired, my son.”[/color][/b] Odin replied as he looked towards the sky. [b][color=#9932cc]“My wife calls to me, can you hear her?”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#daa520]“I am not ready for you to leave. I have so much more to learn.”[/color][/b] Thor protested, his throat tightening as Heimdall cradled the dying King in his arms. 

[b][color=#9932cc]“I have taught you everything you need to know,”[/color][/b] Odin replied, his voice strained as a smile slowly crossed his face. 

[b][color=#9932cc]“You just need to…”[/color][/b] He took a deep breath, the world around Thor going silent before Odin uttered his final words.

[b][color=#9932cc]“...remember... my son.”[/color][/b]

Heimdall looked down at his arms in horror as the skies turned dark from Thor’s sorrow, rain pouring down on the pine grove as the ravens let out a mournful noise. Odin’s body faded, disappearing before Thor’s eyes as he turned to ash before being swept into the wind.

Thunder roared as lightning struck the pines, Thor’s grief overwhelming Midgard’s elements as he fell to his knees while Heimdall rose.

[b][color=#ff4500]“The King is dead.”[/color][/b] He stated before turning to Thor, [b][color=#ff4500]“Long live the king!”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#daa520]“W-what?”[/color][/b] Thor asked, his red eyes turning to look towards Heimdall.

[b][color=#ff4500]“The King is dead.”[/color][/b] He repeated, [b][color=#ff4500]“Long live the king!”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#daa520]“I-I’m?”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#ff4500]“The Heir to the Throne of Asgard.”[/color][/b] Heimdall respond, [b][color=#ff4500]“With the passing of the Allfather.”[/color][/b] He paused before confirming exactly what Thor had realized.

[b][color=#daa520]“You are King.”[/color][/b]

From the shadows of the pine, a pair of bright green eyes reflected in the darkness of the storm as a coyote watched Thor and Heimdall. An expression of satisfaction fell over its visage as it hungrily licked its chops before backing into the darkness of the thicket, disappearing without a sound.[/INDENT][/INDENT]