6 Not all battles fought with sword

I was standing upfront full body mirror and conjuring different styles of swimming suites based on my memories from previous life. Yeah. Millennium years in prison was that boring….

- Hela, what is it?

Brunnhilde, in lightweight and airy summer dress, was sitting on sofa with a cup of wine and watching me intensively. Asgard has no issues with naked body and nudity. As a result - nothing related to underwear or swimming wear were never developed.

Happy with style - not to open, more on a "classic" side, and in green colour- to match my eyes, I conjured half transparent airy shorts and "Hawaiian" (what ever it means) shirt left open to swipe around. Sandals in matching colours were completing my outfit.

- So, what do you think?

- I don't know. Nice? Yeah nice and attractive. I will definitely take time to take it off. This needs to be investigated!

- Later sunshine. Right now Dr Banner, Bruce is waiting for us. Let's go!

We went outside on a patio style area with a beautiful view on beach and ocean. Bruce was waiting for us next to low level sofas around knee height table covered with fruits and drinks under tent. He tried to looks calm but signs of hard thinking and anxiety were there. Somehow he found appropriate wear - Midgardian style! We even match in it!

- Bruce, you looks good! I did know that you can conjure closes!

Brunnhilde suspiciously looked at him then at me. Obviously seeing that we have similar style to wear.

- Oh, no! There are actually some sort of wear printer. I am surprised to find Hawaiian style wear here. And you looks good too! I am actually surprised to see the same style. I probably expected both of you looks like Brunnhilde here. Not that it looks bad, you are both looks fabulous Ladies!

- Thank you darling! Let's sit, have some drinks. I see that you have questions. I hope we can find out if we have answers for you, Bruce.

We sit around the table. Brunnhilde next to me and Bruce on another side. He run his hand through his hair and probably tried to decide what to ask first.

- Okay. Okay. How come I am able to understand what they speak about? I mean am not Asgardian, obviously. Thor told us about All-Speak that allow you to be understood when you travel other realms. I thought it was that suite weird translation function, but When I took it off - I was still able to understand what is written and all that instructions on that printer!

That's actually a good question. I completely forgot about that.

- May I cast some spell on you? It's diagnostic in nature. That might gives us necessary answers.

- Yes, please.

I focused my Eldritch and with a flic of my fingers send it to his chest. It sync in and in few minutes later highly medical diagram, similar to SoulForge in nature, appeared above the table.

- Huh! That's interesting! Looks like your time on Sakaar was more fruitful than I thought before.

Now I had full attention from both of them, while I took my time to investigate a report.

- Grandmaster is old being. He have been around as long as universe exists. So you see here a green area? That's your "alter ego" Hulk identity. In basic terms, you has been cursed with something similar in nature to All-Speak. But because you was in Hulk form, it mostly affected his intellectual level. Oh and here, where yellow mix with green - that's whatever your psychological trauma exists. That's where you separated yourself from Hulk. It's healing now. Oh.

That! That is something completely unexpected. What ever he did in that experiment - that is short to miracle to their level of technology.

- What is it? Am I going to turn to Hulk permanently?

- Somehow, you got connection to Anger Dimension. That's actually the source of your powers. The more you are angry the more you are in tune and more energy channels to your body.

- What happen if I got cut this connection?

- Ah, that's simple. You die!

At this point Brunnhilde got over her own surprise and joined with her question:

- Hela, are you saying that Bruce here is Demi-god?

- Why demi? He is pretty much full weight God of Anger. Just untrained. It took me few centuries to get some measure of control on my dimension connection. He is just too young and untrained.

- Are you saying that I am immortal now?

- Of course! That's obvious, is that not?

That looks like shocked him deeply. He fell silent and just looked above our heads somewhere into the sky. I was keep playing with report to fascinated with this development. Brunnhilde was similarly shocked but in a different way. She has more knowledge about all this "God" status due to long exposure to me and Asgardian culture. It's just not everyday business to find a newborn God from Midgard. And we both know what does it mean. And it's not something pretty. Specially for Midgard.

That's something to think about at latter time.

- Bruce, just take a break and focus on something else. Tomorrow we are leaving to Asgard and we have enough time to go over it. I am going to swim! I waited long enough to just do that!

With last words, I dropped conjugation on my shirt, shorts and sandals and just run to the water and with a high jump dive under.

——

Bruce said something about need to think and went for a walk along the beach. Brunnhilde was sitting alone here and watching over two technically immortals on a beach. One is young God of Anger from Midgard, and that's alone is something she don't wanna think about right now. And another is her long lost lover fresh out of millennium old prison enjoying her freedom and carefree swimming and diving in weird Midgardian outfit. Think about it. When and where she learned about that? Nah, it's something to think about other time. This outfit looks so sexy, and that is something she wants to think about. That gave her an idea and with determination she stood up and went inside. Bruce said something about wear printer and available Midgardian options.

——

- Yes, Jump-Points is dimensional gateways built long time ago and access points for jump drive engine. Basically when you travel on a spacecraft - you go from one jump-point to another all over known regions.

We just left Xandar and we're moving in direction of exit JumpPoint out of the system. While Brunnhilde was plotting out way home, we had chat with Bruce about space travel and whatnot.

- And what about Bi-Frost?

- That's unique. It's Asgardian technology that allows us to travel across universe pretty much almost instantly and independent from JumpPoint access or spacecrafts. During my time, we used it to have upper hand against other realms to deploy our forces. That's actually a reason why Asgard is in control of Nine realms and Odin became All-Father.

At that point we entered our first Jump Point and started to move from one to another to Asgardian system. Thanks to unique systems of Harrow, there were no side effects that other travellers experience and had to limit amount of jumps. But it still takes time.

- So, have you decided what you will do Bruce?

- I think I need time to come to terms. I understand that I am actually in your deps and I will not forget that. I think there is also something similar to that power stone on earth. It's something Loki left behind after attack on Earth. I need to inform about this development with Thanos and see that we prepared just in case.

- Very well. Ah and I all most forgot to tell you that Loki is not responsible for that attack.

- What?!?

- Do you remember his eyes colours?

- Of course. I had enough nightmares about that. They are blue, are not?

I just smiled and said:

- Then pay attention when you see him in Asgard.

——

Thor, Loki and Three Warriors in a tail approached Heimdall who was standing on harbour piers and watching into the sky.

- Heimdall

- Your Highnesses

Last 2 days were heavy blow to Thor. Odin death that followed by Hela and uncovered story of her existence and well.. everything about that. Followed by unknown part of the Loki story since his fall to the Void. Asgard was in turmoil. Heimdall story about Hela unfair imprisonment by no other than All-Father Odin generated unhealthy amount of rumours. She never was banished. Her story was just erased from archives and memories.

High Council barricaded in Glaðsheimr and servants were running out and in to archives. Technically speaking - Hela is legit heir to Hliðskjálf, but nobody remember her and that is issue by itself.

So far they bought some time by announcing 3 day mourning after Odin. Loki stick to Thor side and even slept in his chamber. Everyone were just ignoring him. It was enough of turmoil to deal with and unexpected return of Loki from land of dead was just to much.

Only limited amount of people knew what happen and they were asked to keep it that way.

News about Battle of Xandar where Hela and Brunnhilde fought against Thanos invasion and actually won it were just …. Just to much to process now. Dark Elves spacecraft in Hela possession was just another strange news that Thor was trying to do not think about.

——

After emotional breakdown and uncovered story of Hela, Loki was partially enjoyed erupted chaos. Nobody paid attention to him and he shadowed Thor just to be on a safe side. And He was plaining to disappear of course. Battle of Xandar put pause on that plans. Maybe, just maybe being around Hela would be good enough protection against Thanos retribution. So he has to see first.

That's why he was standing here, next to Thor and waiting for Hela arrival at harbour. Heimdall informed them as soon as they left Xandar and estimated time of arrival.

- Look there your Highnesses.

Hela Harrow had unusual to Dark Elves paint job. First - it was white with golden Asgardian ornaments and green strips. Green and gold were his colours and that was another thing that he was thinking about. Is it possible that Odin adopted him to easy his gilt or just replace Hela? Visual similarities between them were to much to be coincidental. Another mystery to unfold. What if they actually related?

Finally spacecraft landed, or better to say docked? And 3 person emerged from opened ramp. Hela had new armour more suited for space travel. Second female with dark skin should be Brunnhilde Wotandottir - last Valkyrie commander, in similar armour. Male companion had much simpler one piece spacesuit in black colours. At first Loki did not recognize him but then… he just stepped back and:

- I have to leave now, place to be, people to see

Unfortunately Thor grabbed his shoulder and hold him in a place.

- What is it Loki?

And then Thor recognized male as well.

- Bruce! Where did you come from?

- Hi Thor! Loki and everyone?

Let Thor screw up anything related to protocol and he will not disappoint you.

- Oh right, right. Princess Hela, Brunnhilde Wotandottir Asgard welcome your back and looking forward to our common future. Dr. Banner I welcome you to Asgard my friend!

- This is Prince Loki, my brother. Heimdall, Volstagg, Fandal and Hogan. Heimdall informed us about great Battle of Xandar and we are looking forward to hear all about it.

We are doomed. It's all what Loki was able to think, while they were going inside.

——