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"I still don't fucking like it!"

Walt smiled and nodded. "I know, Jubes... I know." He finished donning the simple grey robes he was going to wear and sighed fussing with the collar. "Dang it! Can't even make this look right..."

"Here," Jen said walking over to help him.

Walt smiled. "Thanks. Not like I won't be taking most of it off anyway..."

Gwen crossed her arms. "And being hung from and impaled upon a a great big tree... I'm with, Jubes. I don't like it either even if you have done similar stuff before."

walt nodded. "Honestly I expected you all wouldn't like it... and I am sorry for that-"

"But it's something that you have to do?" Jen said straightening his robes. "It's actually necessary for Asgard."

Walt nodded. "My people have similar tradition. You've seen the scars. It's symbolic and spiritual rejoining the umbilical cord only with the world, the great earth mother... but it's more than just ceremony. I will be connected to Yggdrasill and then through it the Bifrost. I'll become connected to all the realms for a time. Odin did it as did Thor. I'll be at a step removed using the smaller tree so it should be safe enough... still it'll be taxing."

"And you'll be pinned to a big fucking tree," Jubilee said still not happy about this.

"At the mercy of this Loki guy while wrestling with cosmic powers," Gwen added.

Jen finished making him presentable. "There you go."

Walt smiled. "How do I look?"

Jen shook her head. "Like you're all dressed up for a crucifixion... but you're actually going to go through with this." She sighed looking him in the eyes then smiled and kissed his cheek. "Your mind's made up... so go get 'em! Welcome to the Avengers."

He smiled. "No... we're going to be better than that. Avengers. Defenders. Guardians... we'll do all that jazz and it our way."

Jubilee and Gwen smiled and nodded. "You bet we will!" They kissed him too.

Walt nodded. "Alright... time to Merlin, this shit." He headed for the door. "Dr Strange... eat your heart out!"

---

Walt smiled as he approached the tree. Loki had already setup everything. 'He' gave Walt a surprised look. Walt nodded. He'd already set things up on his end too. He'd had Friday release a bunch of the seals that he used to limit his power, specifically quite a few arcane ones as well as health and healing/regeneration. To someone like Loki, Walt was like a walking, talking reactor. He had to struggle to keep it all contained... especially the touch of the divine that Senko had given him. Walt wasn't an Asgardian, let alone a god, but all those blessings combined with his powers made up the difference.

He entered the big circle Loki had made around the tree. Loki approached. "All is in readiness if you'd care to inspect it?"

Walt nodded and smiled. "Thank you but no... I trust you." Which was true... Loki wanted this more than anyone else. This was his show as much as anyone's. He wouldn't mess this up.

Loki smirked but nodded. They understood each other. Walt chuckled thinking about his bond with Neo and some of the others, his friendship with Charles and many of the 3S characters he employed. *We're all a bunch of rogues one way or another,* he thought.

"Why don't you go around with this much power all of the time?" Loki asked whispering.

Walt smiled. "Because it's isolating... restricting. I enjoy being a somewhat ordinary person. Why do you or Odin or others sneak down to the mortal realm to go to just go to the movies or have a quiet afternoon in the park? It's the same for me only opposite. I don't mind 'powering up' from time to time... but I don't want to live that way all of the time... at least not yet. It's usually quite unnecessary. Most people who do have 'god' and 'power' complexs are pretty juvenile?"

Loki blinked. "Was that directed at me?"

Walt shook his head. "Not at all. You've always had power and abilities so it's natural to you. Someone like Jen who never had power before said it gives her the confidence to do what she wants to but she's quite restrained and reasonable in how she uses and exercises it... and that's really what it's about. This is natural for you, your brother and others. Me holding myself back is what's a 'comfortable fit' for myself."

Loki shook his head. "So that bit of theatrics earlier..."

Walt smiled. "I could have done that myself but why bother? It wasn't necessary. You handled it perfectly because it was your script. I merely acted out the part you wrote... but yes, I am a 'wizard' amongst other things for lack of a better term... though I think Archmagus or Archmage fits better, personally."

Loki smiled. "You're also a gifted performer in your way. You're a funny sort of person. I think I shall greatly enjoy working with you."

Walt smiled and nodded. "Likewise... let's get this over with."

While Loki and the rest preformed their parts, Walt did his. He started by weaving enchantments of protection around the Tree. Then he stripped out of the robe, baring himself to the waist. Taking his postion he looked to Sif.

She held Hofund in hand and gave him a look. He smiled reassuringly and then nodded. She nodded back and gripping the blade tightly they summoned the Bifrost together while she ran him through, pining him to the tree with Hofund and Thor unleashed the Odinforce. All five of them were connected. Sif, Hofund, Walt, the Tree and the enchantment of the Bifrost... and then beyond to Yggdrasill itself and the Realms themselves.

---

"That was well done."

Walt blinked. He was in a park. Laughing, excited children and their parents tossed a bit of change in his hat as they ran off to go home or play now that the show was over for today. "Excuse me. I was distracted there for a moment."

The familiar old one-eyed man smiled and repeated himself. "I said, that was well done. I quite enjoyed the proformance." He turned to his equally familiar tall companion who sat on the bench next to him and wore strange eyeglasses that made his eye's look peculiar. "What did you think watching, Heim-*Ahem* Donald?"

Donald Velez hardly moved but said in a deep voice. "Agreed, Wulf. More than adequate."

"It was ok. Not enough sex, if you ask me," Said Deadpool looking over from the checkerboard nearby after moving his checker piece then looking at the fourth wall. "But no one did. I'm not even sure why we're here."

Stan grinned and jumped all of Deadpools remaining checkers. "'We' are here to watch the show and get out of that cramped apartment for a bit. 'You' are here to lose at checkers, Red. I win again!"

"Dammit," Deadpool said snapping his fingers. "Everytime... alright, what do you guys want this time?"

"Hotdog," Stan said reaching for his wallet. "Buddhist."

"One with everything," Deadpool said. "Gotcha. You guys want the same?"

'Wulf the One-eyed' and 'Donald Velez' both say, "Same" and look at Walt.

"Oh! Uh, hang on a sec. I got this Stan," Walt checked through his tips and nodded counting out enough dollars, pieces of eight, gold pieces, rupees, gil and other assorted currency for one, two, three, four... "Yeah same for me and get yourself one too, ok? Thanks, bud."

Deadpool nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. "Five dogs with the works, coming up!"

Walt smiled and turned back to Wulf and Donald. "Thank you, I'm glad you guys enjoyed the proformance." He started to carefully put the puppets away. "Damn. Thor's dropping his hammer again..."

"Here," Wulf said holding out tape as he and Donald got up off the bench and walked over. Stan meanwhile reset the checkerboard.

Walt grinned and took it. "Thanks, I don't want him losing it again." He started taping the small Mjolnir into Puppet Thor's hand. "He's a crowd favorite but such a pain to work with sometimes."

"That's why he's one of the favorites," Stan said nodding. "Way better than that other guy from the other place from planet crypto currency and Snoozevile."

"Indeed," Wulf said. "People enjoy a story like that. Heroic redemption and rising again and again. Stronger still," He touches the Loki puppet. "I do too... but I also really like the Trickster. A more complicated character to play with, I would imagine." He smiled. "But you do it well."

Walt chuckled. "Thank you. I try. Honestly that's what makes those types fun to play with. Which isn't easy," he glances suspiciously at the 'villian box' of puppets some of the usual ones seemed to have worked their way to top again somehow. "Sometimes I swear they don't want to stay in the box. Speaking of have you seen my fliers?"

They nod and Donald said, "We have searched the Park but your missing puppets are nowhere to be found."

"They're either cunningly hidden," Wulf said. "Or they've most likely been removed from the Park entirely to who knows where."

Walt sighed. "Well, it was worth a try and no one else has turned any in... so they're out there somewhere... I hope they at least found good homes. Boy howdy, that other guy really made a mess of things." He clutched his side. "Damn a stitch. I guess age is catching up to me if I'm popping as many stitches as the puppets." He chuckled.

Donald touched the Sif Puppet. "And you're going to give her the 'sight'?"

Walt nodded. "That's the story I worked out. I think it's fitting. She takes up her brother's post and perhaps her old romance again for herself. I just have to sew on new eyes. What do you think?"

He nods and smiled. "Appropriate." He takes off his glasses and puts them into his pocket and pulls out something else. "Here." He places two shiny buttons in Walts hand. "Do you think these will be sufficient?"

Walt smiles looking at the buttons. They're both dark and light at the same time. Shining like the milkyway on a perfect night. "They're perfect! I'll attach them right now. Are you sure you can part with them?"

Donald smiled watching him pull out the needle and thread. "They're old and don't fit with my new wardrobe anymore. With the hair as dark as night that Loki got from the dwarves after shaving hers off..."

Walt smiled nodding, his fingers moving quickly and steadily with a practiced speed... which was odd because he generally wasn't that great at it... or he didn't used to be. "It makes sense her eyes should be as bright as all the stars. Thank you for this."

"You're totally welcome!" Deadpool said butting in returning with the Hotdogs. "You bought after all and you didn't need to do that so thank you!" He started handing out the hotdogs with their white wrappers with big red 'V's... but pointed at Walt. "Ketchup."

"Hang on," Walt said putting the final stitch on Sif's new eyes. "There... perfect! What do you think?"

"I think you've got Ketchup on you," Deadpool said as Stan facepalmed muttering, "Way to stay 'not involved' guy. Well, I better eat this Valhalla dog quick!"

Walt looked at the red on his shirt and starts trying to find something to wipe with. "Well damn! I wonder how that happened? I hope I didn't get it on anyone or the puppets. You only just returned with hotdogs. I usually don't make a mess until... I start eating... wait a minute... that's not ketchup."

He looks up at them as the scene starts to fade into a prismatic haze. "Oh hell..."

"Not quite," Wulf said. "Nor the other place. Right now we're closer to the borders of Valhalla but it's time you were on your way, Starborn. There are other places for you to visit and more work for you to do before the Old One's find you. You upset some of them with that Atlantis business... well more than usual."

There's a completely inhuman, unearthly and unsettling sound in the distance. Donald has already been carefully packing Walt's things. The more puppets he puts in the box the smaller it becomes strangely enough. Stan wiggles his fingers in a goodbye wave as he stuffs his mouth.

"Ohmigawd," Deadpool said stuffing the hotdog under his mask. "There's sho mwuch... fo fell you... buw I gotta eat dis... bebore be dishappwear awong wib you- *Cough* -urk!" His mask eyes go real wide and he starts pointing at his throat desperately pantomime that he's choking!

Donald Velez- No, Heimdall... he handed Walter his things... the things that were precious to him. "Take good care of and watch over them... and thank you."

Wulf, who was certainly Odin, grinned and gripped his hand handing him something. "That goes double for me! You'll need these. On your way now. Ride hard and luck in battle!"

Walt nodded and grinned. "It was a pleasure seeing you again my old friends." He waved to Stan who was patting Deadpool on the back and placed his hat on his head, and his clothes changed to a long duster as he slid his knife home in it's sheath and holstered his gun.

There's that horrid alien sound again, closer now, and a 'wrong' feeling as strange smoke starts to appear around obects with angles. "Hounds of Tindalos, eh?" He chanted and gestured and summoned forth a ghostly, spectral steed and mounted quickly. "If they're after me let's lead them sonsabitches a merry chase across the rainbrow bridge! Hah!"

The 'Hounds' started appearing, though the smoke that always heralded their arrival... though that was inaccurate. They looked like canines created by an alien thing that only had never actually seen one and only had a vague description of what canines were supposed to be like. Assembled with parts, more feline, reptilian, insectlike and... other into a wholy alien, 'canine' form. There was that alien cry again as they drooled a noxious, viscous fluid from the long, hollow tongues or proboscises to drain victims' body-fluids. Their bodies excreted a strange blue pus or ichor.

He dug in and rode hard for the Bifrost with horrors worse than hell at his heels.

[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

Bifrost and Beyond

Coming Soon]