Chapter 17 – Succession

(Asgard – Royal Palace of Valaskjalf - 2005)

Kal was concerned, his father looked tired, extremely tired.

Now his father was a man with many duties and responsibilities on his shoulders, so looking a bit exhausted was allowed, even expected, however, there was tired and then there was almost being asleep on the throne. Odin's head rested on his right hand and his great eye became less visible every passing minute as his eyelid slowly and steadily slid down, unfortunately, this was an occurrence that was becoming more common.

Now, Kal's relationship with his father was currently not the best since their disagreement over Asgard's handling of the Kree-Skrull affair on Midgard, a few years ago. Despite that, however, Kal still held his father in high regard and deep respect, more often than not agreeing with his decisions and when he did not agree with his father kept his views private, as not to show the people a divided leadership, unlike his brothers, who openly quarrelled with each other and their father.

As such, Kal was very cautious of anything that made his father look weak and alarmed at his father's recent behaviour. Odin barely made it through short private closed sessions of the ruling council, and he hardly attend public events anymore, he had even started missing dinners with their mother which he had never done before.

The last time Odin had acted similarly Kal had been much, much younger, and his father had promptly entered the Odinsleep. The mystical cycle of renewal that allowed his father to wield his great power and provided him with his extended lifespan beyond that of normal Asgardians.

However, Odin had not entered the Odinsleep, he did not even discuss it, instead, he just carried on as normal as if everything was fine and nothing was amiss. Which was becoming a problem as it very much was, the occasional slip in a private session was okay as it could be covered up, but they were not in private.

The Throne room was currently packed, as it was the day his father heard petitions from the people an event Kal had been pushing back for weeks but had finally been forced to allow to happen. He had hoped that there was only going to be a small number of people, but as usual, everyone and their mother had shown up to beseech the King for a request or to arbitrate a dispute. Kal watched as the man before his father pleaded his case about the tithe he had to pay to the royal granaries, requesting it to be lowered this year due to a bad harvest.

The man had finished speaking yet the room was silent as The Allfather had yet to speak, as Kal turned his head and looked at his father, he saw that Odin's great eye had now fully closed. It was only the stiffness of his armour that was keeping Odin aloft and preventing the Allfather from slumping in his chair.

"Your harvest," Kal spoke, startling the man that looked at him. "Explain the specifics, what was the yield last year and what has caused it to be lower," Kal ordered his voice commanding.

"Um, my lord?" The petitioner looked up confused at his Prince's request.

"Explain, provide details." Kal specified as he gave the man a pointed look, that showed Kal did not want to repeat himself.

The man quickly obliged and started to provide exact details and figures about his previous crop yield along with the reasons for his bad harvest, luckily there were many giving Kal time.

Kal was not supposed to speak at the proceeding, he was there to merely show his father support and then act as the Allfather commanded, usually to respond quickly to a petitioner's request, his order to the man to speak was already causing a stir. Loki and Thor were also supposed to be there too for the same reason but neither had bothered to appear at one of these events as long as Kal could remember.

Kal then suddenly looked off to a small antechamber of the palace and walked over to it, causing the petitioner to look even more confused but carried on, as Kal strode down the steps and across the great hall to open the door. The murmurs about his conduct started to raise as people began to gossip or complain about Kal's actions, but he ignored them a plan formulating in his head.

The room Kal had walked to simply led to a small scribe's office and was occupied by a few of the court record keepers who were there in case old files or records were needed by the King. Kal's appearance at the door caused another stir this time from the clerks as they all rose as he appeared in the door, everyone one of them entering a hasty bow.

"You!" Kal gestured to the nearest scribe. "Hand be some papers." He ordered staring hard at the scribe.

"My prince? What papers?" The young record keeper was very confused and just looked at Kal blankly.

"Doesn't matter, just give me something official-looking NOW." Kal hissed, looking over his shoulder to ensure that no one was hearing.

At Kal's insistent the scribe hurriedly handed him a handful of papers, which he snatched and quickly pretended to read as he half-ran half-strode back across the great hall and then bounded up the stairs to his father. His actions caused the petitioner to stop talking and look at the court herald who just raised a hand for the man to wait but was equally confused as everyone else.

As Kal reached the top of the stairs and reached the Throne, he leaned in towards his father and now closer, could see that his father was fast asleep, it was not the Odinsleep thankfully, the Allfather just appeared to be taking a nap like many tired old men often do.

"Father can you hear me." He whispered but got no response.

Kal then pretended to show his father the documents he was holding whilst he subtly nudged him to try and wake the Allfather, however, Odin just remained fast asleep. Grimacing Kal kept up his pretence for a few more moments to sell the fiction he was showing his father something important before turning to address the crowd.

"Apologies, an urgent matter of state has just arisen and we must suspend petitions for today!" Kal's statement caused a great deal of murmuring that was verging on shouts, as many had waited months for this audience.

A few of the even more bold Asgardians gathered started demanding to know what was happening, in rather loud murmurs.

"SILENCE!" Kal's voice cracked like thunder causing the gathered petitioners to become as quiet as the grave.

"Petitions will resume tomorrow at first light, until then you must leave the great hall," Kal spoke with every bit of authority he could muster, his voice carrying clear across the hall.

He also managed to catch Lord Tyr's eye and gave the General a subtle look that the General returned with a nod. Tyr then immediately started directing the guards to speed up the processes, with forming a wall and all but pushing people out. It did not take long for the Hall to be quickly emptied, leaving Kal almost alone with his father.

"Kal what has happened?" His mother's voice caught his attention.

Frigga had just entered through a side door to a now emptied Throne room and she promptly started walking up the Throne's steps. A grateful smile appeared on his face, his mother somehow always managed to arrive exactly when she was needed, a blessing that had helped Kal more times than he could count.

"Father has fallen asleep; he will not wake." Kal moved to the side to allow his mother to reach his father.

"Odin my love." Frigga gently placed a hand on him, and a channel of warm magic flowed into Odin, causing him to stir.

"Huh, what happened?" Odin was groggy, a state Kal had never heard from his father before. Gone was Odin Allfather, King of Asgard, in his place, was just Kal's tired exhausted father.

"You fell asleep my love, quickly we must bring you to bed." Frigga gently tried to lift his father up, Odin however just wavered her off.

"No, no. Gather the council first, there is an announcement I must make. One I have left too long." Odin seemed to be more awake now and sat straighter, although Kal could tell most that was just an act.

"Father, are you su-" Kal started but it was his mother that cut him off.

"My love, are you sure?" Frigga's eyes were wide, and she clearly knew what his father was going to announce, the two of course discussed everything.

"Yes, my love it is time to begin," Odin spoke softly almost a whisper.

Frigga nodded then rose and faced her youngest son, looking every inch the Queen of Asgard. "Gather the council AND both your brothers, they need to hear this."

Kal just looked back and forth between his parents, seeing such sudden resolve his protest died and he merely nodded. Quickly leaving to gather the council and find where in the Nine Realms his brothers were.

Kal found his brothers in their usual places, namely nowhere near where they were supposed to be and far from their duties.

Thor was out hunting, again, with Sif and the Warriors Three, tracking a group of Bilgesnipe in the eastern forest. Arguably a useful use of Thor's time, true, as Bilgesnipe were relentless beasts and a constant pest to farms but what always irked Kal was that Thor never checked with anyone if there was something he was supposed to be doing. Instead, he just went off doing whatever he wished mainly because he knew Kal would cover for him and do the more boring duties of a Prince for his older brother.

Loki was always a bit harder for Kal to find mostly as Loki had the annoying habit of casting concealment spells to cover his track whenever he was not with brothers and doing something he was not supposed to, which was all the time. However, Kal had learnt long ago if Loki was not actively plotting, he was usually somewhere in Medina, the lower city of Asgard, known for its more active lifestyles and loose morals.

After retrieving Thor from the forest and Loki from the arms of several individuals, the three princes of Asgard were greeted by a very solemn and silent council.

The Throne room was silent as Odin sat rigidly on top of his Throne Hlidskjalf, Frigga stood elegantly by his side, as the council stood quietly on the flanks of the great Throne. Kal felt a little uneasy, he had expected the usual fiery debate the royal council always had to greet them, but instead, they looked poised for some ancient ceremony.

As they reached the base of Hlidskjalf, Thor instinctively knelt to his father, which both of his brothers followed suit. The crown prince's head bowed before their King and father.

"Father you summoned us," Thor spoke in the voice he always did with father reserved and respectful.

"I did indeed my sons, my precious boys." Odin's voice was barely above a whisper before he rose from his seat to his full height, his voice booming across the hall, as Gungnir struck the ground.

"My Sons, today I must inform you of a decision I have made in consolation with the Royal council and your mother. I am abdicating the Throne." Odin's statement resounded across the Hall.

"What?" Both Thor and Loki spoke at the same time and their heads snapped up to look at their father.

Whilst Kal's brain stopped working for a moment, to his mind he had just entered an alternative reality where his father had been replaced by whoever was before and was talking nonsense. Not just nonsense but insane crazy nonsense, either that or Kal had missed heard a word for abdicating.

However, before they could question or start expressing their confusion, Odin struck Gungnir once more silencing them as if they were once again children, talking out of turn during a lesson. His eye and whole posture exuded both confidence and resolve, as the Allfather continued on with his announcement.

"I am abdicating the throne but not immediately, my great power has begun to wane and I am no longer able to continue as King. So, I have decreed that in 5 years from this date, I shall pass the Throne to my eldest son, Thor." Odin looked down at his sons to judge their reactions.

Thor looked a mixture of excited, daunted, and surprised, he opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it again, instead just giving his father a deep bow of his head, not trusting his mouth to make any sense at the moment. Thor's mind was racing, he always knew he would be King however it had always been a distant possibility something far off, like a childhood dream that never seemed quite real. But now, his mind raced with everything he was going to do and the glories he would win, free from his father's restraints, free to be the King Asgard needed to return her to glory.

Loki just smiled at Thor, a look of happiness on his face but that joy did not reach his eyes, despite Loki's attempts to hide it his eyes still conveyed so much he didn't want others to see. They were a mixture of shock, confusion and resentment, at the Throne passing to Thor, however, they also held a hint of resignation as well. Although he had always scoffed at Thor being King, making more jokes on the subject than one could count, Loki had always known that this was coming and he tried his best to accept this inevitable conclusion of fate, however, that did mean he would not be bitter about it for a while.

Kal's reaction however was the one that was most difficult for Odin to decipher. Kal had always been reliable and steadfast, even when the two disagreed Kal had always fallen in line and that allowed Odin more often than not to know what Kal was thinking. However, Kal's face was just blank, he just looked at Thor and when he met his brother's eye gave a polite smile but nothing more, in all Kal, seemed indifferent to the proceedings, or rather uncertain, Odin did not know which he worried about more.

What Odin found most troubling however was not his son's reactions but those of his royal advisors, even with their backs to him Odin could tell what they were thinking. Some were already plotting to ingratiate themselves with Thor, others looked at each other with concern about the change of leadership whilst a few looked at Kal and Loki with ideas in their mind that Odin did not like.

"Now, raise my sons we have much to discuss, and you Thor have much to prepare for." Odin declared his eyes scanning the room.

(Several hours later – Glitnir – Asgard)

"Thor…. King …. of…. Asgard," Loki said stretching each word as he lounged on the top of the banqueting table in the middle of the hall, resting amongst plates and cups.

Kal was doing his best to ignore his brother's belittling of Thor's advancement, which had been made easier by the fact that since they had left the Throne room, Loki had done nothing but moan to him about it. So, at this point, it was all just background noise to him as he just stood on one of the terraces and looked out as Asgard.

"THOR, KING OF ASGARD," Loki spat out as he threw a dagger into the air and then caught it again.

"Yes, Loki I know. I was there too," Kal finally responded deciding it was best to just get this out of the way.

"And it doesn't bother you? THOR, our brother THOR, is going to be King." Loki sat up and placed his feet on the bench of the table as he turned to face Kal, carelessly knocking plates and cups aside as he did so.

"Why should it? We have known Thor was going to be King since we were children." Kal turned leaning with back on the railing of the terrace, shrugging his shoulders.

"Um, because it's Thor, the oaf that has almost gotten us killed more times than I can count. Lead us into countless disasters -" Loki reasoned an incredulous look upon his face.

"If I remember correctly, half of those countless disasters were you." Kal quipped as he smirked at Loki trying to lighten the mood.

"Kal I am serious, if Thor is …. king," Loki struggled to say the word in consort with Thor's name. "We will be at war before the oaf's arse is even sat on the Throne." Loki's face conveyed no mood for jesting.

Kal's face quickly lost its smile as a severe expression took its place. "WHEN Thor is King, his decisions will be guided by us, mother and Father. Besides, he still has time to -"

"Time, he has five YEARS, it will go by like that" Loki snapped his fingers loudly for effect. "And you really think, that five, hundred, a thousand years will change him. Thor is not fit to be King." Loki stated with harsh blunt honesty

"ENOUGH," Kal's raised voice caused the room to shake slightly. "Father has made his decision; Thor will be King there is nothing to be done about it."

The room was silent as Loki just stared at his little brother his eyes narrowing as he examined Kal, his eyes almost peering into the latter's soul. A feat Loki had never managed before and Kal found quite unsettling, Loki was already scheming he did not need another layer of danger.

"Always the perfect prince, little brother. Doing exactly what you are told and for what?" Loki's voice had gone venomous.

Kal just sighed, Loki only ever had three moods, the first was his charming and fun side that Kal loved to be around, the second was a scheming and mischievous side that Kal found equal parts fun and tiring. The last one, however, Kal hated it was Loki's paranoid and narcissist side, where Loki lashed out and blamed everyone else for his problems, when that happened Kal tended to just leave.

"I'm not doing this brother." Kal started to move towards the door.

"What afraid I'm making sense? That you realise that Thor is not meant to be King" Loki smirked a satisfied grin on his face, taking Kal's departure as proof he was right.

"Loki, Thor is going to be King, there is no point in complaining about it, just makes you seem petty. Thor wields Mjolnir it proves he is worthy, just let it go." Kal turned around just as he reached the door.

He was unable to resist trying to get Loki to accept things as they were, Kal would admit that he too was having doubts about Thor but unlike Loki, he did not see the point in fighting the inevitable. Odin had made the decision and there was no changing it, all they could do was help Thor as best they could and pray it would be enough.

"It proves he is worthy to wield a hammer, not be King, besides you wield Gram, would not truth be a better measure of King." Loki gestured to Kal's sword, which rested on his belt.

Kal chuckled, knowing the game Loki was playing and finding it funny that this was his opening tactic. "So what you want me to be King, now?"

"You would be better than Thor." Loki's statement was completely honest which caught Kal off guard, he had expected an insult or a sly scheme. "And I am not the only one that thinks so."

Kal was quiet for a moment as his mind processed what he had just heard, just staring at his brother who had the very rare look of being completely honest, something Kal could count had happened with one hand and still have fingers left. Loki just leaned forward taking Kal's silence as an invitation to keep going.

"You and me both know that Thor would be a disaster, father is blinded by love," Loki spoke slowly choosing each word with great care. "You are respected, admired and there is no one who could question your honour."

"I do not want to be King." Kal's throat was dry, and he tried to sound confident, but his voice wavered, a slight doubt present in his own words.

"But you could be, people listen to you, father listens to you and together we could get enough people on our side and change his mind." Loki swallowed slightly waiting to see what Kal's response would be.

"I do not think we could change his mind about retiring and do not want to be king." Kal suddenly felt sick as he suspected and feared what Loki's response would be, suddenly realising where the scheme was.

"No, but you could help him see that Thor is not the only choic-" Loki pressed froward a hopeful glint in his eye.

"WE are NOT having this conversation." Kal went rigid, as his suspicions were confirmed, and turned to leave his hand gripping the door.

"Tell me you think, I wouldn't make a better King than Thor." Loki stood up and sounded like he was almost pleading, like a child's last chance to have a toy before it was taken away.

Kal just stood at the door for a few moments before he pulled it open and disappeared from Loki's view, leaving his brother without an answer.

Loki was motionless for a moment before he suddenly swiped his arms over a nearby table sending its contents crashing to the floor whilst he released a frustrating cry. He then took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair to recompose himself, his mind already spinning on what his next step could be.

Kal instead made the training yard having a sudden desire and need to vent off the growing frustration that was building in his chest. It was midday so Kal decided that the private trainyards would suit his needs better, as they were reserved for only the elite warriors and there was likely be no one present to witness his venting at this hour of the day.

Upon his arrival he started on a training dummy, taking a practice blade from the weapons rack and started performing the same basic cuts and thrusts he had when he had been a small boy. However, instead of feeling relaxed, Kal started to get more irritated and annoyed with every single thud he was hearing, each scrape caused the heat in his chest to build, every blow his blood to boil.

Soon he was slashing more fiercely at the training dummy, which started to groan under the power of his blows. Kal became a whirlwind of motion his breath coming out in forceful grunts as he began chipping away at the inanimate figure before him, despite his fury his form was still perfect.

A resounding snap echoed across the field as the blade he was using broke against the training dummy, Kal's fist went tight on the handle causing the metal to warp under the great pressure he exerted. He growled in frustration and merely brought his fist holding the sword down and struck the training dummy, causing it to become a sea of splinters that bounced harmlessly off of him.

"I am guessing the foe is vanquished." Sif's plain voice sounded behind him, causing him to turn.

"Go away I am not in a mood for company," Kal said as he moved towards another training dummy.

"That is a shame you look like you could use it," Sif stated bluntly moving to take a seat on one of the benches.

"Should you not be Thor celebrating my brother's triumph," Kal said a little harsher than he meant to as he tossed away the broken blade.

"I was and likely will return before he notices my absence, he is very drunk at the moment. However, I wanted to see how my friend was, seeing as he nor Loki are with their brother." Sif spoke softly.

"I am happy for Thor, I just …. Need to clear my head," Kal sighed as he turned to Sif, who had an understanding smile on his face.

"Lamenting that you are not going to be King?" Sif asked gently, a kind smile on her face.

"I do not want to be King," Kal stated a hint of frustration in his voice.

"You would be a good one and I know there are some who would prefer you to Thor." Sif spoke honestly.

"NOT you too, I DO NOT WANT TO BE KING" Kal stated his voice echoing across the yard.

"Okay, Okay." Sif raised her hands signalling her understanding before a curious look arose on her face. "So, what do you want?"

"What?" Kal was thrown by the sudden change of topic.

"What do you want? You do not want to be King, Okay. So, Son of Odin, what do you want?" Sif asked looking her old friend in the eye.

"I, I, I want, I desire, um, uh, I want….. I don't know what I want." Kal vented his frustration building again.

"Why not?" Sif asked.

"I, I, I." Kal stuttered before he sighed deeply. "All my life there has been this path before, same as Thor, same as Loki, and I have always walked it. Since I was, I don't know how old, I remember my father telling me, I was to be the rock, the pillar of strength others would need. That I would be a Just and honourable man."

"So, you don't want that?" Sif pressed her eyes narrowing as she looked at Kal.

"I HAVE that. I am the dutiful son, the prince everyone respects, the warrior the enemies of Asgard fear and a man whose honour is above question. Yet, I don't feel complete, I feel detached like I am playing a role." Kal slumped down onto the bench next to Sif.

"I did not you felt so unhappy," Sif said gently, not certain how to comfort her friend.

"I'm not unhappy, I love my life, I love Asgard, my brothers and I understand my duties, I just …. Have you felt certain about your place in life, completely certain about who you are?" Kal turned to face Sif.

"I have, I know I am a warrior and that is who I am, that my life is serving Asgard" Sif replied to Kal's question.

"I never have, I have felt sure about the direction of my life, and I knew who I was supposed to be, but never certain. And I don't know why, it's like, it's like there is a part of me that is missing like I am supposed to do something, but I do not know what." Kal ran his hand through his hair as he spoke.

Sif could only be silent as she watched the youngest son of Odin, struggle to answer the questions that he was asking himself. In all honesty, Sif was not truly surprised, Kal had always been the dutiful one of his brothers, but that was largely due to his brothers being a little careless with their duties, and Odin's lessons rather than Kal being like that naturally. Kal had mostly taken up his current mantle because it was what was expected of him and neither Loki nor Thor in truth were willing to step up, so instead, Kal had.

"So, what are you going to do? Thor is going to be King, and he is going to need you." Sif asked softly after a few moments.

"I guess I will carry on, and who knows maybe I'll find a sense of certainty helping Thor." Kal forced a smile. "Come on, we should congratulate the soon to be King of Asgard."

As Kal and Sif departed, they failed to notice that they had been quietly observed, their observer dispelled her illusion revealing herself on a balcony that overlooked the training yard. She watched as her youngest son, walked away and felt a conflict brewing between her heart and her head.

(Asgard – Odin's Vault – Very Late Evening)

Frigga was looking at the small metal pod that had once housed her youngest son, she had only seen it a few times in the time it had been brought to Asgard. She had always rationalised her avoidance of the object as simply that it was not her concern, but in truth, it was because she disliked it for the same reason, she disliked the Casket of Ancient Winters.

Because they were proof her sons were not hers.

She knew it was irrational but a part of her, a very dark and dangerous part of her hated the fact that before her was a statement that her children had somewhere out there in the vast cosmos women that could also claim her children as their own.

Now, she always easily dismissed those feelings, either by the sheer logic that she had raised her sons herself and that she knew they loved her and she them. However, there was a darker part of her that was gladdened by the fact that she knew those women whoever they were, were likely dead, and that there was in truth no living souls to claim her sons.

However, Frigga pushed those thoughts aside as she looked at Kal's pod, it was strange to think of it as his. Kal had no knowledge of it, he was completely ignorant of the soul item in the universe that was entirely his, Odin may have kept it, but the pod would always be Kal's.

She just stared at it for a few moments longer, the battle that had started upon hearing her sons' words in the training yard was still going on, even as she heard the footsteps starting to approach her.

'We need to tell him; he needs to know. Maybe this is the certainty that he is missing, to know the truth both of who he is and that you trust him completely.' That was her heart, the lovingness of a mother that wanted to ease her child's pain.

A voice in her head that sounded an awful lot like Odin however had its own arguments. 'Telling him will only add to his burdens, confuse him, shatter his sense of certainty not aid him in finding it.'

She was not sure which side, if either made the better argument, was it right of her to shake his beliefs, to potentially add to his uncertainty? Or was the truth more important, giving him all the facts so that he could find certainty based on all the facts instead of a lie.

"Mother, why did you want to see me here?" Kal asked as he descended into a part of the Vault he had never been to before.

Frigga did not immediately answer her son, instead just looked at her youngest son, who in her eye was not the grown and powerful man clad in armour before her. No to her eye she saw the small boy with rosy cheeks, that begged her for stories late into the night and giggled when she picked him up.

Those memories of long ago flashed before her eyes and made a soft, yet sombre smile appear upon her face.

"Truth, always." She sighed blinking hard once before meeting her son's eyes, her heart winning over her head.

"Mother?" Kal asked

"I need to tell you something, and it is going to be difficult, and you may be angry, but I think you are old enough to hear it and I honestly think it's going to help you to know this," Frigga stated trying to compose herself.

"Moth-" Kal started but a raise of Frigga's hand stopped him.

"Kal, Kal you are…. Kal your…... Firstly, I love you and you will always be my son no matter what." Frigga decided to start there, before saying the words she could feel churning her stomach.

"I love you to mother, what is going on?" Kal asked confusion evident in his voice.

Frigga took his hand and laid it on the metal pod next to them, Kal looked at the dark metal and then at his mother his barrow furrowed.

"This my son is a Kryptonian pod your father found drifting in the void, and inside he found you." Frigga paused to look at her son. "You are the sole surviving and last member of the ancient race of Krypton."

Kal was quiet for a few moments his face unreadable before he responded not quite how she expected, with him simply sighing.

"That is not funny Loki, seriously, I know you are upset but that is going too far." Kal shook his head a little in disgust, pulling his hand away from the pod and her.

"Kal, I am not Loki, this is not a jo-" Frigga tried to explain but Kal cut her off.

"STOP IT, Loki, right now. It's not funny." Kal's voice had a fury he had never directed to her.

Frigga simply moved forward and cupped his face in her hand as she looked at him with the same look, she uses to give him when he had a falling out with his brothers when they were younger. Kal's face morphed from one of rage, to shock as the colour drained from his face.

"This is real?" Kal asked at which his mother just gave a small nod.

"You're saying that I, that I came from that, and I am, I am, not your son?" Kal voice was quivering as he gestured at the pod, either in building rage or shock she did not know.

"You are my son, regardless of where you came from you are MY son," Frigga stated

Kal stood silently as he stared at the metal pod that was slowly unravelling his world, thousands of questions burned in his mind, each one seemingly more pressing than the last yet all he could do was just stand still and stare. For the first time in his life, he was experiencing complete failure of his mind as it was overwhelmed by what his mother, or not his mother as it turned out, was saying to him.

Frigga just waited to look at Kal whilst he processed what she was telling him, it was not a quick affair second turned into minutes and the minutes dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. She did not try to rush him, and in fact, she believed this was a good sign his silence, as he had not flown into a rage as she had feared, or at least she hoped it was.

She was not certain how long they stood there in silence, occasionally Kal turned looked at her and was about to speak before he closed his mouth again and went back to staring, his mind evidently not sure what he wanted to ask first. Eventually, however, he finally decided what he wanted to ask.

"Why are you telling?" Kal's voice was as soft as a whisper.

"Because I heard what you said to the Lady Sif and with everything that is going to happen with your brother becoming King, I felt that you needed to know," Frigga replied gently.

"Know what? That my life is a lie, that I am what a relic, a tool that fath- …... That Odin has kept like these trinkets in case he has use for them. That I AM WHAT A WEAPO-?" Kal's voice was building in rage and his eyes started to glow.

"My son," Frigga said calmly causing Kal's fury to disappear. "You are not a weapon, nor a tool, you are our son. I am telling you this because you need to know that your life is your own, that have your own destiny, that maybe not tied to Asgard."

"You want me to leave?" Kal face was shocked at what his mother was saying.

"No, unless it's what you want. I have watched you all your life and I could not be proud of the man that you've grown into. But you have based every decision every choice on the belief that Asgard is all your future holds." Frigga stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her son's arm.

Kal just looked into his mother's eyes and saw nothing but love emanating back, which was calming the fury he was feeling boiling inside of him.

"I'm telling you all this so that you can decide what you want to do with complete certainty, no doubts, no secrets. In truth, we should have told you long ago." Frigga sighed deeply.

"Why didn't you?" Kal asked the question which was at the forefront of his mind.

Frigga sighed as she tried to put her thoughts into words carefully.

"A multitude of reasons, many not worth repeating. Mostly we didn't want you to feel different and we have very few answers to any questions you might have had, …. But in truth, I think we were just scared." Frigga voice was slightly solemn now.

"Scared? Of what?" Kal asked confusion starting to replace his shock.

"That in telling you, we would, I would lose you, that you would stop seeing yourself as my son, and I know that I am not really your mother, I just want -" Frigga's voice was cracking as a tear threatened to break free from her eyes.

She was cut off by Kal who surprised her with a hug that caught her completely off guard. It was brief but comforted her, and Kal spoke with a small smile as he stepped back.

"Of course, you're my real mother, that is never going to change. I just, I am processing is all." Kal spoke truthfully his voice still filled with conflict.

"This belongs to you, your father found it inside with you when he discovered the pod. I believe it may hold answers" Frigga handed Kal the small black pendent.

Kal took it hesitantly, he remembered seeing it before all those years ago when his father had given Gram, and he vaguely recalled that it had shown him something when he had first touched it. Reaching out he took it in one hand and excepted something incredible to happen, a vision or my message.

Instead, nothing occurred, and the small frown on Frigga's face told Kal that he too was not the only one expecting something to happen.

Kal examined the pendant turning it over, running a finger along all its edges but could tell nothing, in all it just seemed to be a piece of black crystal. He then turned his attention to the metal pod hoping that perhaps the pendant was merely a key, he soon found a small hexagonal slot in the side of the ship and holding his breath placed the pendant inside.

He stepped back, as the pod started to hum, he gently and silently took his mother's hand in his own as they waited for whatever was about to happen.

The ship glowed brightly and then suddenly stopped, going silent then an image appeared forth from the ship, an image that caught the attention of both Kal and Frigga.

It was a man and, in a moment, both Kal and Frigga knew who he was even before he spoke, he was clearly Kal's biological father. The projection before them was the nearly spitting image of Kal, he was tall like Kal, his chest was wide and his shoulders were broad, he had the same shade of jet-black hair Kal had, and he had the same square jawline as well. The only difference was cosmetic to Frigga's eyes, the man was less musculature than Kal, his hair had also started to grey, and his eyes were different, Kal's were crystal blue and held a hopeful look, the man's eyes were brown and held an inquisitive gaze even whilst resting like he saw the world as a puzzle to be sold.

"My son, I am Jor-El your father, and if you are watching this message then all the hopes me and your mother had, have been realised." The image spoke in a voice that sounded so much like Kal, yet very different, it was refined and analytically, yet the man's voice also carried so much emotion. "You may have wondered why you are not like the others around you, why you are different, it is because you are different from them, you are the last son of Krypton. Your name, your true name is Kal of the House El, and you are my son."

Frigga turned to look at Kal, who was mesmerized by the image in front of him, he had the same look he had once had when he looked at her as a child, a look of pure wonder and interest, the look every parent sees on their child's face at least for a little while. Kal instinctively stepped forward as if by getting closer to the image he would somehow become closer to the heritage that was being revealed to him.

"You Kal are the last of the people of Krypton a once mighty and proud people who by their own hand have destroyed themselves." The image of Jor-El sighed as he delivered the news to his son, the weight of the words pressing down on him. "YET in you survives the very best of us, the hope of tomorrow, I wish I could tell you more, but it is not safe to reveal all in this message, take the pendant from this craft and search Kal, you will find the answers in the stars."

The image of Jor-El gave a small smile out towards where Kal would have been standing if he hadn't moved in so close to look at the image, then suddenly the projection of Jor-El disappeared and the glowing of the ship ceased, and everything returned to normal. Much to the surprise of both of them, who just stared at the craft that had delivered a message that had lasted no longer than a few minutes at best.

Kal blinked and just stared at the pod, hoping something more would occur that another message would play, but all he got was silence. After a few moments, he moved forward and placed a hand on the pod hoping his touch would force something to occur, nothing happened, in growing frustration, Kal moved toward the pendant, he placed his hand there and heard a hiss, as the pendant was released.

Kal grabbed the pendant as the image had instructed hoping something would occur, a message, or a map to appear, even just the pendent to have some words written on it now, but there was nothing, nothing but the cold silence of the vault.

"Come on! Do something!" Kal's voice broke the silence as he flicked the pendant out in his hand, hoping the act would cause something to happen.

He then tried to place the pendant back in the slot expect this time the ship would not take it, he started trying to force it in, his face becoming a picture of fury, but the ship would not budge. In growing anger Kal roared and struck the ship hard, he winced as his fist bounced harmlessly off the strange metal, evidently made to withstand even Kal's present strength.

Frigga moved forward, and gently placed a hand on her son's shoulder, as Kal suddenly slumped down onto the floor, his rage and anger leaving him exhausted as he stared at the pod that had changed his life and now refused to do anything.

"Kal, I am sorry, so sorry I thought the pod would hold more, I am truly sorry" Frigga's voice was gentle as she reached out to Kal, hoping this would not deepen the crisis of faith she was trying to alleviate.

Kal at first said and did nothing, he just stared at the pendant in his hand and then back at the ship that was doing nothing. He stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity his eyes revealing nothing as he just stared at the metal pod before him.

"Why did you keep me?" Kal finally asked from his half-seated position on the floor, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Because you are my son," Frigga replied to her voice slightly odd, as she knew what Kal meant but hoped to avoid it.

"No, when first found me, why did you keep me, there must have been a reason. Fath- ODIN always has a reason" Kal's voice was strangely detached as if he was away from his himself like the whole situation was just too surreal for him to understand.

"I will not lie, your father thought that you would be a boon to Asgard, both in terms of your abilities and for the knowledge we thought this ship would hold. BUT That is only why we took you in, we kept you because we love you, I have loved you from the moment I held you in arms and you looked up at me with wonder." Frigga spoke with all the love she could muster, as images of her baby boy returned to her.

Kal was silent for a few moments before he looked up at her his eyes looking so lost as his world "So, father doesn't know that you are telling me this, does he?"

"No, and neither Thor nor Loki know of this. I can come with you when you tell them." Frigga offered, squeezing her son's shoulder hoping that her offer of support would help him ease the pain he was feeling.

Kal's went silent as he started thinking about everything he had just learned and what the truth might do to his relationship with his brother, after a few moments he replied to her. "I'm not telling them, not yet at least, not until I figure things out more".

"It's your decision," Frigga offered her son a smile and a small nod, before continuing. "But when you do, I will be right next to you if you want me."

"Thank you, I want to speak to father about this, is that okay?" Kal asked as he held the pendant back out to his mother,

Frigga gently pressed the pendant back into his hand, "Keep it, it is yours after all, and let me speak to your father first, then together we can all discuss this."

Kal looked at his mother a hesitation in his eyes before he gave a small unsure nod indicating that he agreed to her terms. However, there was something about Kal in that moment that felt off, like he was hiding something, but given what had happened Frigga decided not to push her son just yet, instead offering a little more comfort."

"I am sorry that the ship held no answers my son, but I can tell you what little I know of Krypton, it is not much, but it might help." Frigga offered hoping that her strangeness in her son was just her imagination and that he was just a little lost at the moment.

"Thank you, maybe later, I do have questions, but if it's okay I want to be alone for a little while," Kal asked his voice quiet as he looked at the pendant, his eyes leaving his mother..

"Of course," Frigga offered quickly her voice a little worried, however. "But please know that I and your father love you very much and that you will always be a son of Odin and a child of Frigga." Frigga offered a small comforting hug to her youngest son as she left him alone with his thoughts.

As she left, Kal's mind was mostly still in shock he was not Asgardian, he wasn't even from the Nine realms, he was Kryptonian, the word sounded so foreign in his head, so abnormal, but that what he was Kryptonian. A member of a race that was more myth than fact. A race whose existence was whispered about by the higher races of the cosmos; due to the power they had once apparently wielded.

A race that was completely and entirely gone. And all he had left was a small black crystal pendent, a metal pod and a cryptic message about searching for answers.

Kal just stared at the pendant in his hand willing it to do something, yet still, nothing happened, he sighed as he closed his fist around the pendant. For a moment he was tempted to crush it, to destroy the only thing that proved that he wasn't who he had always known himself to be, to destroy the key to a door, he had never wanted to know existed, behind which lay answers to questions he didn't want to ask.

But as he moved to do it, he just couldn't, something inside of him wanted to ask those questions, needed to ask, wanted to open that door. It was like there was now a piece of him missing that he had never known wasn't there until now and it was crying out for him to finally find it and make himself whole.

In truth, he was not doing well and the only reason he was not currently tearing the place apart in rage was because of his mother, he had seen the pain telling him had caused her and that had been enough to stay his hand.

His mind was also swarming with questions as well, and he knew who would have them, the person that always had them, the one person that knew the answers to all the questions before he thought to ask them. One of only two people Kal had always trusted to be honest with him, to teach him what he needed to know to become his own man.

He found himself moving, a voice that sounded like his mother's begged him to stop and think, however, he ignored it. There was a rage building in Kal, a dam about to burst and it blinded him to anything else in that moment, but getting the answers he knew he deserved.

The guards didn't even try to stop him one look from him and they stayed at their post as walked down the long corridor to the large wooden doors, behind which answers lay. He pushed open the large wooden doors and look at the aged man that was busy reading over a tome inside, the man who would have the answers Kal wanted.

"Father, I need to talk to you," Kal asked calmly.

"What about my son?" Odin asked his smile disappearing as he saw his youngest face.

Kal merely lifted up the pendant.