Sparking Soul: Ch.31

“Are you certain you wish to continue?”, Father asked as the two of us were the only ones present in the throne room and I smiled before nodding at his question.

“I am. The battle against Thanos showed me that I've become too dependant on the stones and had forgotten what it truly means to be Thor, God of Thunder and Storms.”

“And you believe finishing this training will return you to that truth?”

“No, but I believe it will help me develop into the Thor that I need to be, the Thor that the people of Asgard and the Nine Realms need,” I said, watching as the man studied me silently before he stood up and began descending the steps to his throne.

“You must understand one thing, son. Once you begin this trial, there is no pause and no retreat. You must see it through, whether you pass or fail,” Despite his warning tone, I didn't flinch and simply nodded with a smile.

“I understand,” I answered, the two of us standing at the foot of the steps before he walked past me and towards the door.

'Well, time to see if it's still the same.'

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'Without the stones, its presence is a lot more ominous than before,' I thought with a grimace as Father and I stood in the void in front of Yggdraisel, two branches lowering towards us before I smiled as it wrapped around my arm.

“Is it the same as last time?”, I asked as the branch slithered up my arm and wrapped around my neck, Father nodding in agreement as more branches grew downwards from the top of the tree and began to wrap me in a cocoon.

However, when the light of the branches died down, I blinked as I found myself staring at a ceiling, a bit confused as I was expecting the gargantuan godly figure from before.

“What's got you so confused this early in the morning?”

'Oh, fuck no,' Turning my head as I heard a voice beside me, I couldn't help the ache in my heart when I saw Darcy standing in the doorway of the room with a smile, a five year old girl with blonde hair in pigtails and shimmering brown eyes standing beside her with a grin.

“Mo'ning, Daddy~”, The girl greeted as Darcy put her down and I forced the tears back as I heard two more footsteps getting close before two identical five year old, blonde-haired boys looked into the room with matching grins.

“Hey, Daddy! Can we go to the football game later?!”

“Now, now, Thorkell, Thorfinn. Give your dad some time to wake up first. Ylva, why don't you and I go see if we can't make him some breakfast?”

“Pizza?”, Ylva asked, letting out an excited cheer as Darcy nodded before she turned to me with a smile.

“We'll be downstairs, though I think there are two people that would keeping you busy for a bit,” She said as she walked out, Ylva following happily after her before I turned my gaze to Thorfinn and Thorkell who were jumping happily on the bed.

Normally, I would have been enjoying this as much as I could, but on the other hand…

'This isn't real. This is probably a test to see if I would choose them over passing the test,' I thought with a deep breath as I sat up, forcing myself not to respond as Thorkell dropped beside me with a smile.

“So, can we? Go to the game?”

“No, we have lunch with Gramps, 'member?”

“But Daddy promised?”, Thorkell said with a huff, Thorfinn just shrugging as I closed my eyes to take a breath.

“I…I know, I did and I wish I could, Thorkell. I wish I could more than anything.”

“You're acting weird. Did Uncle Loki prank you again?”, Thorfinn asked and I couldn't help my chuckle when I saw my unique furrowed brown and frown on his face.

Gods, do I wish I could stay.

“No, I'm just…trying to remember what's truly real here,” I answered as I stood up, leaving the two confused boys behind and walking into a hallway that had tons of photos and framed little drawings on the walls.

'It's not real,' I thought as I kept on walking, feeling Thorfinn and Thorkell taking a hand each as we walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. As we entered, Thorkell and Thorfinn rushing to take the seat beside Ylva while I looked at Darcy who stood at the doorway to the backyard with a smile.

I didn't say anything as the two of us stood there for a while, the light of the kitchen now a blinding gold and the children's voices fading into the distance as I walked closer.

“I wasn't expecting you to walk away so quickly. I even had illusions of Ylva's graduation and your sons wielding Mjolnir and Jarnbjorn for the first time at the ready.”

“I've already lived the best parts of this in my dreams, Darcy. It doesn't mean I don't want them, but wanting something will not make it real.”

“Damnit, maybe I should have led with that,” She cursed and I couldn't help it as I stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

“You may not be my Darcy, but it is wonderful to hear you again.”

“Then stay. We could stay here and live out the rest of eternity with each other. Just you, me and the kids sometimes. Besides, what does the real world offer you other than war, loss and endless responsibility?”

“It offers truth. Even in the pain, the sorrow and the anguish, there is honor, purpose and meaning,” I whispered, letting go of her as she smiled while radiant golden light exuded from her form.

“And what if this truth of yours leaves you alone again? What if it breaks you one day?”

“Then I break and I rebuild, stronger and wiser. That is what Thor does. He endures,” I spoke with a smile, watching as she looked a mixture of sad and proud before hugging me and laying a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Then tell me once more. Who are you?”, She asked, her form fading away along with that of the kitchen, the children and everyone around us as I closed my eyes before looking directly into the two eyes in the void that was looking down upon me.

“I…am Thor,” I began, feeling Jarnbjorn taking form in my hand and hearing the sound of thunder rumbling above as a sea of golden grass formed below my feet.

“Son to Odin Borson and Frigga Freydottir, brother to Hela Odinsdottir and Loki Laufeyson, beloved to Darcy Lewis, friend to many, enemy to more. I am the god of Thunder and Storms…and I thank you,” I spoke as I knelt down on one knee, stabbing the end of Jarnbjorn into the ground while bowing my head.

A long silence hung in the air before I felt a hand on my shoulder, looking up to see my own form standing in front of me with a smile.

“How long has it been?”

“Far too long.”

“You're not dependant on the stones?”

“They've taken far too much and I was a fool trying to get them,” I spoke as I stood up, holding out Jarnbjorn out to Thor who raised an eyebrow even as he took the axe.

“You do not wish to be Thor anymore?”

“It's not that. I just…I guess when you let me become Thor, I thought my life would be different. I would have saved the Earth from Loki and his army, the world would be thankful and I'd be able to go on my own adventures.”

“Instead, you've realized that you did not even come to grasp the surface of what it means to be Thor, didn't you? Did you not have my memories and skills to help you?'

“What use are memories if one struggles to decide whether you're Thor, the god, or Thor, the former mortal?”, I whispered and Thor smiled as he swung Jarnbjorn down. With one swing, a tornado erupted into existence around us, pushing away the dark clouds above before he snuffed it out with a thought.

“So, what? You think you can just be Thor for a few years and then run because it got too hard?”

“When the transmigration process happened and I replaced your soul in your body, I expected it to be harsh especially since I've seen all but one of your solo movies. However, I don' think that I'm cut out for this life.”

“It's too late for that. You were the one who insisted on being Thor. Who do the people look to for hope when the battle gets too hard?”, He asked as he looked at me and I frowned before answering.

“Thor.”

“Who is always fighting on the frontline beside the army of Asgard because he wants to face the enemy first?”

“Thor.”

“Who never hesitates to sacrifice everything, even his pride, so that others may prosper?”

“Thor,” I spoke with a sigh, to which he nodded before grabbing my hand and placing Jarnbjorn in it.

“You may not like it and you may wish that you didn't make the choice, but it's too late for regrets. The realm needs a Thor and that fate was chosen when your soul was woven into mine,” He spoke as I gripped the hilt of the axe, palming my face with a groan as he chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“You chose this path so now you have to keep walking forward. If not for yourself, then do it for her. Show her that her sacrifice was not in vain,” He said with a smile as the world around us shattered, Thor fading away while I closed my eyes.

Opening them once more, I watched as the cocoon of branches were pulled away, staring at Yggdraisel as it stood tall before turning to Father to see him standing beside me with a knowing look with Hugin and Munin on his shoulders.

How those birds always manage to find him, I'll never know.

“How was it?”

“Did you have to go through it as well?”

“Gaia always forgave me for what I did, even when I didn't deserve it,” He answered in response and I smiled, standing tall while we stared at the tree in front of us.

“What is that exactly?”

“That is simply Yggdraisel helping you confront the guilt and anguish that you keep hidden in your heart. The first test is to show you what it truly means to be king. The second and last test is to show you what it means to be a god.”

“So, you agree with Hela that we are gods?”

“My daughter may be a bit rude and brass, but she tells the truth for lying is to her what a sin is to a priest.”

“…Something they do only when it benefits them?”, I asked with a raised eyebrow, watching as Father had an amused look in his eyes whilst nodding in agreement.

“If she heard that, I think we'd have an angry goddess on our hands.”

“I suppose we would,” He murmured, turning his gaze back to Yggdraisel while I watched the man look at peace for the first time. There was no sign of the anger and sadness from Mother's death nor the wary look in his eyes from being king.

For the first time, I found myself staring at Odin Borson, the god that was before he became All-Father.

“So, what training is left?”

“Simple. I pass on my knowledge and I die in peace.”

“…Say what?”, I asked as I wasn't sure I heard that right, but as he turned to me, I saw nothing but calm certainty in his eyes.

“You heard me, son. I have lived out my cycle and have made peace with my triumphs, failures and mistakes. Now, I pass on what remains to you.”

“But do you have to die? Can't you simply just become an advisor? We've barely had any time as father and son after I came back.”

“I wish I could, Thor. Truly I do,” he spoke softly, placing a hand on my shoulder, “But the realms need a king who still believes in them, not one who watches from afar, weary and resigned. However and most importantly, you need to stop following and start leading.”

“And how do you expect me to do that when I've only been taught in ruling like a general?”

“Then, allow myself and Yggdraisel to teach you how to rule, not just as your king but as your father,” he said with a rare smile, making me look at Yggdraise to see the tendrils of the tree descending once more before the same one wrapped around his neck and around mine.

Two wooden branches grew out from the end of the tendrils and touched our foreheads, my eyes widening as visions flashed in front of me.

I saw his first sword lesson, his first time meeting Gaia. Her beautiful dark brown hair and forest green eyes, the dark green markings on her body and her Druid Magic.

I watched as she plummeted down to the rocky ground of Vormir, a peaceful smile on her face even at her death and waking up with the Soul Stone in hand.

I witnessed as his battle with Thanos destroyed planet after planet, each of their clash releasing enough energy to wipe out a galaxy as the Odinforce and the Infinity Stones clashed with the Mystic Arts.

I felt my heart break as I was forced to seal away my daughter before my joy returned as I met Frigga, the goddess bringing my wonderful son into the world before I rescued a Jotunn boy from his demise.

I wept inside as I was forced to banish my own son, feeling proud as he returned a new man before I felt the same pain that I did for Gaia as my wife and my son's beloved perished during the Dark Elf's assault.

“I made many mistakes and few times did I try to correct them, but I can say one thing. You, my children, were the best thing that any god could ask for and I thank you for letting me be your father. Now…and always.”

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“So…he's really gone?”, Hela asked as she, Loki and I stood at the edge of Asgard, the three of us ignoring the cascading waters around us as I controlled the storming winds to push the water away.

“Aye.”

“Did he go in peace?”, Loki asked, to which I smiled as I wrapped an arm around them both before pulling them close.

“Aye.”

“…A shame. I would have liked to see him go.”

“Of course you would.”

“So, what now? Which one of you two becomes the next ruler?”

“You not going to include yourself there, brother?”, I asked, smiling as he scoffed while crossing his arms.

“As if. No, I am fine with being the thundering ruler of Jotunheim.”

“Good. Well, Hela. Do you want to be ruler?”

“You and I both know the common populace would rather have you as their ruler over my magnificent self.”

“That…is true,” I murmured as I let go of them, raising my hand in front of me before Jarnbjorn floated down from the skies and into my hand. Pointing it out into the void of space, I took a deep breath and felt the call of thunder in the distance as Jarnbjorn sparked with iridescent sparks.

“Fara með friði (Go with peace),” I whispered, feeling the Odinforce flowing through me as a beam of golden light shot out into the void before it exploded, a constellation in the shape of Father and Mother embracing each other forming in the distance while a smaller constellation of Darcy's smiling form was right beside it.

“You do realize that you just laid waste to thousands of planets with that, right?”

“As if I didn't talk to Heimdall before to make sure no civilizations was in that direction,” I spoke with a smirk, to which Loki rolled his eyes as Hela smirked.

“And now, let us bring peace to the Nine Realms once and for all.”

A/N: Honestly, this story feels a bit…lackluster. Not saying that I'm not continuing it because I am seeing this story through, but…I really should have listened to you guys when you told me that I'm going off the deep end.

Anyway, Thor is now King of Asgard, we're getting closer to Rune King Thor and we only have Gorr, The Black Winter, Surtr/ Ragnarok and Secret Wars to worry about from this point on before this story ended and each arc is going to be about ten or so chapters so yeah…just thirty to fifty chapters more and then we can move on to another Marvel story.

Next chapter: The God Slayer.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!