Midgard Mania: Meeting ThorGwen

Earth M-69793

Jafnadhrheim, Midgard

Gwen, Cindy & Felicia walked around the city they'd been dropped in, taking in their surroundings as they tried to figure out what the universe they'd been sent to was supposed to be.

"OK, we have a modern-day theme going here. But everything looks all... Viking-y," Gwen noted. The furs people are wearing, the Norse runes on the signs, the dudes all have huge beards... hell, look at the helmets the cops are wearing."

"So... apparently the Age of Vikings never ended here, huh?" Felicia said.

"Looks like it," Gwen said. "Anyway, these... Talluses should really come in handy. Apparently they're tuned to help us find those core shards... and any extradimensional visitors aside from us."

"So if Kara was here... we'd be able to track her down?" Cindy asked hopefully.

"S'what Madame Web told me," Gwen confirmed. "I'm not reading any other visitors right now, though... but these readings indicate that there's *something* here."

"You got that right," Felicia agreed, pointing out a crowd running away from something. Felicia looked over at Gwen and Cindy, who had a familiar look in their eyes.

"...You wanna go check out what they're all running from, don't you?" Felicia sighed. "Fine. Your hunch is probably right -- let's go."

The trio raced in the opposite direction of the fleeing civilians, leading them to a large town square. The area had been descended on by sword wielding undead, who were terrorizing those still in the area.

"Shit. Sword-wielding zombies? I bet MJ went to a universe full of tropical beaches and ice cream or something. Meanwhile, we get stuck with sword-wielding zombies..."

"They're called Draugr," Cindy explained. "Like zombies, but not completely mindless."

"Kind of like a revenant?" Gwen wondered.

"Something like that," Cindy confirmed.

"Huh. Guess I've got a lot to learn about the undead," Felicia noted.

The trio swung into action, doing their best to get the citizens clear of the rampaging undead. It was a difficult task, but they were eventually able to get all the civilians out of the immediate danger. Now all they had to do was deal with an undead horde armed with swords and shields...

"I could use some help over here!" Gwen shouted, using a strand of webbing to knock one of the Draugr into a pair of their brethren.

Cindy and Felicia rushed to Gwen's side, the former hitting several of the corpses converging on Gwen with webbing. She then shot a web line into the sky, swinging up onto a nearby roof. Gwen and Felicia leapt to the roof alongside her, looking to regroup.

"OK, we need a new gameplan--" Gwen started to say, interrupted by the deafening sounds of thunder. Lightning rained down and struck a number of the Draugr, obliterating them. A woman stood at the edge of the town square, wielding a hammer. She was a blonde woman with a lean, muscular build, clad in very familiar armor. "Begone, foul undead! So sayeth Thor, sworn defender of Midgard, in the name of the Allfather Odin!"

"Wait a minute..." Gwen stared at the newcomer, her suspicions about the woman's identity growing by the moment. "Is... is that...?"

"Whoever she is, she just gave us an opportunity," Felicia said. "Let's not waste it."

The three women leapt into action, assisting the armored woman in their fight against the undead. With the arrival of the apparent Thor, the tide of the battle turned, and before long, the draugr had been dealt with.

"Greetings, strangers. I know not from whence you came, but I am grateful for the aid you have provided," the blonde said, removing her helmet. Felicia, Cindy and Gwen's jaws dropped -- Gwen's suspicions had been confirmed. This universe's Thor was her counterpart. "I am Thor, Shieldmaiden of Asgard, and protector of Midgard."

"Your... 'Midgard name' wouldn't happen to be Gwen Stacy, would it?" Gwen asked, looking at her counterpart in disbelief."

"Aye, it is... how might you know that? I have shared my Midgardian identity with but a mere few," ThorGwen answered.

Gwen removed her mask, much to ThorGwen's shock. "Because I'm Gwen Stacy, too."

ThorGwen looked at Gwen with suspicion, unsure how to process what was going on. "What manner of sorcery is this?! Is this another one of your deceitful tricks, Loki?!"

"Nonononono! I'm not Loki, I swear," Gwen insisted, shaking her head and putting up her hands. "I'm you, just... from another universe."

ThorGwen eyed Gwen with a bit of disbelief, trying to make sense of the situation. "Aye... I sense no foul magic about you. You appear to be telling the truth... so you are truly from the realms beyond?"

"Yeah... we're here looking for a shard of what's called a multiversal core," Gwen explained. "We need to find them to keep our universe, your universe, and countless other universes from coming undone."

"It sounds like a powerful relic, indeed," ThorGwen noted. "Mayhaps this shard you speak of is what has enhanced the Enchantress' powers as of late?"

"The Enchantress... you mean Amora? You think *she's* got the shard?" Gwen sighed.

"Aye. She has always been able to seduce the most comely of women... but lately, she has been able to not only merely seduce, but enthrall some of the strongest willed of our Valkyries," ThorGwen revealed. "I feared that she may be using a relic to aid in her wicked schemes, and now I am more certain than ever... if Amora indeed has this shard, I must retrieve it from her before she causes any more chaos."

"Did these draugr have anything to do with Amora?" Cindy wondered.

"Aye. She has been using them to carry off fair maidens, likely to indulge in her lustful desires," ThorGwen said. "Make no mistake, I enjoy carnal pleasures as much as anyone, but she enthralls the objects of her desire and makes them into slaves -- an affront to the people of Midgard I cannot stand by and let happen."

"Well... we kinda need that shard, so I guess we're gonna be tagging along. Hope you're cool with some traveling buddies," Gwen told her counterpart.

ThorGwen let out a loud, good natured laugh, pulling Gwen into a massive bearhug. "Of course, my friend! You and your companions have proven to be most fearsome warriors, and I suspect you will be most agreeable company, too! Come, let us return to my dwelling, where we may feast and get better acquainted!"

"Hrrrrkk... that -- ack! -- that sounds like fun..." Gwen grunted, struggling to breathe in ThorGwen's mighty embrace; Felicia buckled over, howling with laughter at her wife in ThorGwen's arms. "Oh, I like her!" she chuckled, tears forming in her eyes. "You're fun, ThorGwen."

"Why, thank you, my black-clad friend!" ThorGwen responded, setting Gwen down. "And what might your name be?"

"Felicia Hardy," Felicia replied.

"I'm Cindy Moon," Cindy added.

"It is most delightful to make your acquaintance, Felicia Hardy and Cindy Moon!" ThorGwen said, offering the two a warm smile. "Now, let us be off. I've no doubt you three are weary from your travels..."