Asgard

"Ah, here we are! Asgard's up ahead." Walt said. "I told you we'd make it."

"Was that an honest to god dragon back there?" Shocket asked.

"Which one?" Gwen asked. "I counted two. The first or the second one?"

Linda shook her head. "I dunno. I stopped paying attention after that one giant dead thing started talking and we flew directly into that collapsing worm hole."

"Urgh... please don't say dead things," Jubilee said covering her mouth. "I'm trying not to remember the other place. Eating before we left was a bad idea. Thought I was gonna toss the cookies..."

Jen nodded. "Same. You all can't tell because I'm normally pretty green but right now it's not from being a Hulk. I don't usually get motion sick but..."

Walt shrugged. "I said it'd get us here... not that anyone could do it or would want to. Besides... that actually really was kind of tame. I was expecting so much worse."

Shocket shook her head but then chuckled. "I did get to use one of those bombs you had me make. The look on that big icy guy's face was funny! Heheh... we're not going back that way are we?"

Walt shook his head smiling. "Oh no. Provided things go halfway decently while we're here the trip back will be much less interesting I'm afraid. Pity really."

Shocket laughed but Linda said, I'm reading energy signatures closing on our position. They're..." she blinked. "I don't know? I've never read anything like it before..."

Shocket pointed. "Because we've never seen anything like it before. Flying boats and winged horses!"

Walt smiles. "Local welcome wagon. Nobody make trouble. They don't get a lot of visitors from beyond coming that way and almost never any good so let's all be on our best behavior?" He turned the controls over to Shocket.

He sighed opening the docking bay and heading that way to greet their welcome party. The place already looked somewhat differently from the last time he'd been here... but it would be. Asgard had been through a lot of changes or so he'd heard and even when Walt was a regular visitor to this instance getting into Asgard itself to explore around in had not been easy. The important connections he'd made were gone. Odin and Heimdall were both dead apparently.

It made him feel his age a bit. He'd been 'younger' then. At least he was looking forward to seeing Valkyrie again. So he was surprised when it wasn't Brunhilde who rode into meet them but- "Jane Foster?"

Valkyrie looked up at him confused. "I'm sorry. Do I know you? Have we met before?"

Walt thought fast. *Did Jane and I ever cross paths outside of observation?... yes, once!* "Well it was a longtime ago. That little fracas in the Republic of San Diablo. You were a nurse then I believe..."

She blinked then smiled. "Oh my! That was a very longtime ago." She chuckled. "Longer than I'd care to admit! You helped with some of the wounded if I remember right. You're looking well... hmm, I'm afraid I've forgotten your name. Will?"

Walt chuckled. "Close! Walt." He held out his hand. "Walter Stark. It's nice to see you again Jane. You haven't aged a day. It appears we've both come a long way since those days."

Jane smiled taking his hand but then it faltered. "It's nice to meet you too! Agaun! Uhm, but... I'm Valkyrie now and as such I can 'sense death'. Do you need help?"

Walt smiled and shook his head letting go if her hand. "I'm fine... I've changed too. I'm not 'marked for death' the way you think... at least I hope not! It's funny because that's actually how I met Brunhilde. Is she...?"

Jane shakes her head smiling somewhat sadly. "Fell in battle fighting Malakith."

Walt sighed and nodded. "I see... then she died the way she would have wanted. I'm certain she has no regrets. Thank you for telling me. I shall drink to her memory later. Well might as well get this over with." He cleared his throat and bowed. "We come in peace humbly seeking an audience with the Allfather Odinson. With me are five companions, three of whom are with me here Ms Jubilation Lee, Ms Gwendolyn Stacy and Ms Jennifer Walters. On the bridge I have two more Ms Shocket Raccoon and Ms Linda T. Duck."

Valkyrie shook their hands smiling. "Welcome to Asgard! We don't get as many visitors from Earth er, Midgard anymore with the Bifrost out of commission. You've come a very long way. Let's find someplace for you all to land and then accommodations!"

---

"Swanky," Shocket said drinking out of a fancy chalice. "Looks like Ass Gaurd does well for itself!"

The others made similar comments... except for Jen and Walt. "The rooms nice enough," he said. "Accommodations are what I'd expect for 'Asgard'." He said the name properly with emphasis at Shocket who rolled her eyes. "But... well..."

Jen nodded. "Yes there weren't many people on the way here. The food...," she picked up a bowl of fruits all of which looked good but it was only half full. "Isn't as lavish as expected. It was more impressive on a previous visit."

Walt nodded. "They're struggling. I'd heard they'd had several setbacks. Leaving Asgard, resettlement on Earth in New Asgard, then having to rebuild that two or three times before making it back 'home' again. They're a strong and proud people... but it's not been the best of times for them lately." He grabbed some of the grapes. "Make sure to eat it all. It would be an insult not to do so..." he walked over to Shocket and took the empty goblet out of her satchel. "And lets try not to insult anyone while we're here, hmmm?"

Linda shook her head at her sister. "Really?"

Shocket shrugged. "It'd be insulting to not try to steal just a little. Like Walt said don't let their generosity go to waste!" She looked around the opulent quarters. "And this place screams..." she sighed nodding and put the golden tableware in her pockets back on the table. "Desperation. It silently screams gilded desperation."

They all nodded. Something was going on.

A pretty young dark-haired maiden entered carrying scrolls and knelt. "Honored guests," she held out the scrolls palms up like an offering. "You have an audience with His Majesty as well an invitation to dine later, grand master and mistresses."

Walt strides over and takes the scrolls from the the young ladies hands. She stayed bowing until Walt said, "Enough of that. Please rise." She did but didn't make to leave... probably expected to bare a reply or message back. Walt unrolled it smiling and then read. "Honored guests lists our names here and so on, audience with the king granted yadda yadda banquet dinner with festivities blah blah blah..." the girls laugh and even the servant cracks a smile. "Oh! This is interesting. 'This meassage borne here and delivered by Elyia Looksfun whom shall have the honor of serving as your handmaid on loan for the duration of your stay. I hope you will find her dedicated and eager to please. Some more drivel. As dictated by His Majesty as set down by his scribe on the etcetera on the etcetera sincerely etcetera.' Looks like you're with us temporarily Ms Elyia. Sorry about that."

Jen shakes her head and addresses the fourth wall. "Seriously? Looksfun?"

Walt and the author both shrug. Names are hard sometimes.

"Well she does kinda look like a girl from the those spy movies all pretty and sexy," Jubilee said shrugging. "I mean look what my folks named me! I ain't gonna throw any shade!"

Walt sees the others throw up their hands and shrug. "She might as well," Gwen said. "Would be rude to refuse and probably get her in trouble. It's up to you."

Walt nodded. "Exactly. When in you're in Asgard, do as the Asgardians do." He pulled out a chair for Elyia and bade her sit. "But as the song goes, we'll do it 'My Way'. Elyia we're not big on bowing and scraping. If you really feel you must a simple perfunctory bow or courtesy is fine. No need for that other stuff. Same thing drop the Grand or Honored from Master/Mistress thing. Heck you can just call most of us by name if you'd like." He starts pointing. "Walter or Walt. Jubilee or Jubes. Gwendolyn or Gwen, Jennifer or Jen. Linda and Shocket." He blinked. "We ain't gotten to that point yet have we? Lins and Shockey? Think it over ladies. Anyway we won't be around long enough for it to become habit forming... probably." He winked while the others grinned and 'Lins' and 'Shockey' just shook their heads.

Elyia laughed but quickly covered her mouth. "Apologies, honor- er, Master Walter. Thank you all for the very kind and warm welcome. Most kind."

Walt grinned. "Tell me Elyia are you good at dictation?"

Shocket chortled. "Didn't get enough 'Dick-tation' earlier?" The others chuckle and Walt does too shaking his head.

"Not that," he said. "No worries Elyia nobodys like that here. I'm assuming that the second scoll she's carrying is a blank for our formal acceptance reply?"

Elyia smiled and nodded. "You assume correctly! That's exactly what it's for, the formal reply."

Walt sighed and nodded. "Well it looks like the formalities must first be observed before they'll let us ditch them. Please have a seat." He pulled out a chair for her and poured her a glass if water dispite her protests and objections. "Nonsense. You're our servant, yes? So what kind of master doesn't take good care of his servants?"

Elyia knew the answer he was getting at but she only nodded instead and said with a slight smile, "I'm sure a simple servant like myself wouldn't know, Master."

Walt chuckled. "Right... well we'll leave it that but that was well spoken! Shall we start composing that reply?"

Elyia smiled and nodded. "Happy to, Sir!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

Thunder

Coming Soon]