"You know about Hela, don't you?" the Ancient One asked calmly.
Garfield nodded immediately. "Of course. Lunatic. The one who slaughtered the Valkyries."
As Garfield listed her crimes with growing conviction, the Ancient One nodded in agreement.
"That was true." She said.
"But after you spoke with her in the submarine prison last time… Hela struggled for a long time."
"And then," she continued, "She woke up."
Garfield tilted his head, disbelief written all over his fluffy face.
"That's impossible," He said firmly. "Hela is a war maniac."
"I didn't believe it at first either." the Ancient One replied.
"But two days ago, I used the Eye of Agamotto to observe the past and fragments of the future."
Garfield swallowed. "And…?"
The Ancient One's gaze flickered faintly.
"There is a small possibility." She said slowly, "That the future has shifted because of your existence."
Garfield immediately shrank back.
"Master," He said cautiously, "You're not about to blame this disciple, right?"
He rubbed his head against her leg.
Rub. Rub.
Meow. Meow.
The Ancient One calmly tore the orange furball off her thigh.
"Relax." She said flatly. "Since I accepted you as my disciple, I won't do anything to you."
"Otherwise, I would have thrown you into the sun while you were still an egg."
Garfield trembled.. He instantly curled into a ball and continued pretending to be cute.
Watching her orange-haired apprentice, the Ancient One finally smiled faintly.
"Enough. Stop acting adorable. Things aren't as terrifying as you imagine."
She gestured for him to sit.
Garfield straightened instantly, sitting upright like a well-behaved child.
"Yes, Master."
The Ancient One continued.
"After you left the submarine prison in Norway, Hela experienced an epiphany. No one knows exactly why, but she later reached an agreement with Odin."
Garfield interrupted immediately. "Don't tell me I have to marry her."
The Ancient One rolled her eyes. "Dream on. With your current strength, you couldn't conquer Hela even if you tried."
"She swore by her true name that she would not return to Asgard before Odin's fall. In exchange, she agreed to give up a portion of her own blessing."
"As a condition, Odin granted her freedom to travel the universe."
"And." the Ancient One added, "She made one special request."
Garfield stiffened.
Here it comes.
"This is why Odin sought you out," the Ancient One said.
Garfield asked cautiously, "Master… what was the request?"
"The blessing Hela gave up." the Ancient One replied, "Must be entrusted to you."
PFFT
Garfield spat out saliva in shock.
"Wait, why me?! I only went to chat with her!"
The Ancient One rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Perhaps because." She said,
"You are weak enough that Hela can easily reclaim what she gave up, after Odin falls."
Garfield thought about it.
…That actually made a terrifying amount of sense.
He really wasn't Hela's opponent.
In truth, most people severely misunderstood Hela's power. Asgardians weren't what the movies portrayed… daggers, dramatic hair, and shouting.
Even ordinary Asgardian berserkers could tear steel prison bars apart with their bare hands.
Earth's conventional thermal weapons couldn't pierce their skin. Even the weakest Asgardian soldier, fully equipped, was half a Superman by Earth standards.
The films had simplified everything, special effects were expensive, after all. Most of the budget went to the 'chosen one.' The soldiers were only armored background props.
"Alright, Master. I understand now." Garfield sighed.
Then he looked up curiously. "So why does Odin want me to go to Asgard? Is he planning to take me as an apprentice?"
"No." The Ancient One shook her head.
"He wants to adopt you."
GROUNDHOG-LEVEL SHOCK.
Garfield's soul nearly left his body.
"Master… is Odin insane?"
The Ancient One replied with a short, meaningful sound. "E'o'ah."
Then she added calmly, "I thought he was crazy at first, too. But judging from his expression, he's clearly thought it through."
"Just go along with it." She continued. "There's no harm in it for you. Is there?"
Garfield thought about it carefully. Asgard actually wasn't bad.
Golden everywhere, perfectly aligned with his aesthetics. The people were passionate, straightforward, and lively.
And… the girls of Asgard were cheerful and bold.
Garfield couldn't help but think of Sif.
If nothing else, maybe he could finally free her from that long, painful, impossible unrequited love for a hammer.
Before all that, though, there was something more important to do.
Hela.
"I need to go to the prison in Norway first." Garfield said.
"I'll talk to Hela and while I'm there, I'll give instructions to my seven giant snakes by the prison as well."
The Ancient One nodded. "Go ahead. And on your way, call Pandora out. I need to speak with her."
Pandora?
Garfield was immediately suspicious.
Before he could say anything, Pandora emerged from his body on her own, glaring furiously.
"Smelly cat, get lost!"
The Ancient One very cooperatively opened the door, grabbed Garfield, and tossed him straight outside.
As the door slammed shut, Garfield rolled across the ground.
What did I do wrong?!
What is Master even planning to talk about with Pandora?
And why am I the one being thrown out?! Garfield snorted indignantly.
Women…
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Entering the prison, Garfield followed a route he knew all too well. Step by step, memory guided him to the special chamber where Hela was confined.
When he reached the door, Garfield froze.
Inside the cell sat a blonde woman in a gorgeous robe, reading calmly. She radiated warmth and authority, nothing like the madness he expected.
Garfield blurted out, "Hela… why do you suddenly look so mature?"
The woman looked up and smiled gently, like a mother indulging a child.
"You must be Garfield." She said warmly. "I'm Hela's mother. Frigga."
"…What?" Garfield's brain stalled.
At that moment, Hela leaned halfway out from behind Frigg, her familiar sharp gaze peeking through.
"Mother, this is the orange cat."
Frigg nodded. "I know. Odin told me about you."
She studied Garfield thoughtfully.
"I truly didn't expect that the hatred between you and your father could soften through only a few simple words."
Hela's expression hardened. "No, Mother. You're mistaken."
"Our hatred won't end so easily."
"I'm willing to admit my mistakes and atone for them, but that doesn't mean it's over."
"After I gain enough power from the universe, conquering it will still be my greatest ambition."
Listening to her oath, Garfield smiled faintly in his heart.
Hela, Hela…
You're young.
You don't yet know how dangerous the universe really is.
Wait until you step out there, until some nameless boss in a forgotten corner beats you senseless.
Then you'll finally understand how much Odin protected you.
As a kind orange cat, Garfield still offered sincere advice.
"Hela." He said gently, "The universe is extremely dangerous."
"Anyone stronger than your father can be hunted, torn apart, and turned into prey by hyenas and locusts of the cosmos."
"Take care of yourself. Be careful out there."
Hela's arrogant expression barely changed.
But Frigg glanced at Garfield again, her eyes filled with interest.
"Not bad." She said softly. "He's a good child."
Garfield felt a chill run down his spine. That look…
That was unmistakably the look of a mother-in-law judging a prospective son-in-law.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
Garfield immediately took a step back. Then another.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream