The two apparated out of thin air above a table and slammed into it with a thud. The two groan in pain as they roll different directions and flop onto the floor. The people sitting at the table voiced complaints and waved hands around but didn't attack the two.

Michael peeled himself off the ground and rubbed his arm. "Unless you managed to land us in a Viking themed bar during a convention, I don't think this is home."

"I told you I needed focus and you kept bothering me. This was s your fault. You did this on purpose didn't you?"

"No!" Michael paused for a bit "Okay, maybe. But I definitely won't try that again. That shit hurts. Where are we anyway?"

Hunter gets up by using the bench that people were sitting on to get up. "Ugh…. Ah Hel."

"What, someplace bad?"

"I was talking literally. We are in Helheim. I'm not sure if it's because it was the most recent place I've been to besides Earth and where we just left or because it's someplace I consider safe but that's where we are and now I'll need to rest again before we leave."

"So we are in the real world location that in mythology was the bad place for people when they died and you are saying it's safe?!"

"It used to be a prison colony. So it's kinda like Australia. Giant lizards and spiders included. However I know the person who runs this place so we are safer here then the place we just left."

"I'm just going to roll with the insane shit you are saying. It's a lot easier for me that way."

The two brush themselves off while people around them are eyeing them up and murdering amongst themselves.

Hunter waved awkwardly "Hey everyone, it's me."

One of the patrons then says. "He's back, blow the horn." A second one replying with "But he brought someone with him this time, should we-"

"The Lady said if Hunter comes back, to let her know by blowing the horn. Then we scatter for a bit. This place will still be here when we get back." A third person blows a horn and everyone clears out of the tavern area.

Michael looked confused. "What was that all about?"

Hunter shrugged. "Beats me, I haven't a clue."

The tavern is empty and quiet, it's easy to hear somewhat heavy footsteps coming down the steps further in. Down them in a regal fashion. Instead of her normal dress however she has something more silky on. The dress is a really dark red that brightens up under the right light as is definitely nighttime attire. "Welcome back Hunter~ I didn't expect you back so soooon~" she stops dead in her tracks when she sees Michael and puts her arms over her chest. "Who the fuck is this guy?"

Michael is dumbstruck. This tall woman who minus maybe the mask looked like a goddess, considering she was likely the lady in charge she might as well have been. It finally dawned on Michael who this was. This was Lady Hel, the queen of this area. Someone the ancients considered a goddess. The confusion came from the fact this absolute bombshell was projecting such sexual energy at Hunter of all people. "Would you…. Care to explain how that goddess is speaking English and why she's so….. casual with you?"

Hunter stammered for a bit "uhhh. Uhhh… ummmmmmm…… She inherited a gift for languages from her father. Lady Hel, this is my older brother Michael. Michael, Lady Hel."

Michael does a little bow before brushing his hair back with his hands. "You know I'm somewhat gifted with tongues myself. In fact one could call me a cunnilinguist." He then does a little eyebrow wiggle.

Hel makes a face of disgust that she then does her best to hide. "Hunter has mentioned you, briefly. It's a surprise he would bring you along with him anywhere considering what he's told me."

Michael was a bit surprised he was mentioned at all to be honest. "We've…. Resonantly started patching things up. I grabbed his sword and we teleported while he was trying to get it away from me. How was I supposed to know the thing was magic and alive? Then again he could have told me and I would not have believed him. I… interrupted his focus when he was trying to go home hoping to keep our little brother's adventure going. Kinda worked."

Hel sighed "You're exactly what I'd expect from what Hunter has told me. Could you…. Give us some privacy?"

Michael shifts a bit as his eyes jump from Hel to Hunter. "Are you two…." He points a finger at each and moves them both back and forth crossing his hands as the pointing fingers swap targets "Are you…. You know?"

Hel got a devilish grin on her face as her stance went from formal to more provocative and her tone changed to match. "I'll have you know your brother has shared my bed and we have seen each other naked~"

Michael let out a snort. "Did you pick up the "creating deception by wording the truth oddly" thing from Hunter? You sure did dance around that."

Hel's smile fades a bit. "I'm done being polite Michael, find another room for a bit so I can talk to Hunter alone."

Michael puts his hands to the air. "Yeah yeah, I'm gone." He then goes outside the building where all the patrons are just standing around. "They're totally going to bone."

None of them understand a word Michael says.

Meanwhile inside the building Hunter and Hel have a private conversation.

Hel walked over to Hunter and grabbed his hand "Hunter, I don't know if you believe in fate, I know Vidar doesn't. He feels destiny and fate are just the result of our choices, and that although we can't control everything we can control how we act in a situation. However, ever since you confided in me about what my father told you, that himself and Odin conspired in secret to ensure that the realms survived in freedom and peace even if they themselves were seen as villains and tyrants. I can't help but feel like us meeting and connecting like we have was something they would have seen. All the pain Odin put me through, all the torment, all of it led to this." She grasps his hand with both of hers. "You don't have to rush into anything, I can give you all the time in the world to figure things out. All I ask is a chance to walk a path with you, together."

Hunter blinked at her with a blank expression. He really shouldn't be confused at this point. Despite struggling to connect with others for most of his life he was now doing so with a strange and paradoxical ease. Hunter's heart sank. He really wanted to let go, to let himself truly connect with someone and be happy. What was the point though? In the end he was going to have to sacrifice it all anyway. Then again, you can't really call it a sacrifice if you have nothing to truly lose. Hunter grasps Hel's hands in return. "I… I didn't tell you everything your father said to me before he passed."

Hel tilted her head, a bit confused as to where this was going. "Whatever it was, it couldn't be that important. Otherwise you would have said something."

Hunter's heart sank. "He told me how my story ends, that regardless of how things went after a set point I would always choose to walk the same path. He told me knowing that even if I knew for a fact the ending of my own story I would still choose the same ending. In a million permutations and possibilities because of who I am and the man I've chosen to be despite being given the option to walk another path I never would."

"You… know how your story ends?"

"Odin and your father flipped to the last page of my story and saw how I would choose to end it. The path I walk…. Is the path of martyrdom."

Hel's hands drop and she takes a few steps back as this sinks in. Hunter just dropped a metaphorical bomb on her. Loki had told him that he and Odin had both seen Hunter making the ultimate sacrifice for some greater good and the benefit of others. They have flipped to the final page of this story, and Hunter dies in the end.

Hunter once again made eye contact with Hel. "To be honest, it's kind of a comfort knowing. Sacrificing myself for the benefit of others is just the kind of person I am. Knowing my death is going to actually mean something and do good is actually kinda nice."

"Do you know how long you have, until you die?"

"Well I've still got three more realms I've yet to visit and he said something about me being a bridge between the worlds for an upcoming conflict. So however long it takes to help form an alliance between most of not all the realms so we can have a united force against the King in Yellow."

"Oh, great. That's great! Just fantastic! First I learn you are on borrowed time and now I find out the fucking King in Yellow is coming back! Awesome." Hel was clearly being sarcastic.

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Michael burst back into the building and it was clear only he had stuck around long enough to overhear this last part. "What is this about you dying?! What the hell man, we just started working things out and now I hear that you aren't long for this world. What is it, cancer?"

Hunter waved dismissively. "Nothing like that. I was simply told by someone who had seen the possible futures that I was going to sacrifice myself to ensure the realms were safe, free, and happy."

Michael blinked a few times as that sank in. "Oh, so that's how it is. Once again you chose to hold a massive burden on your shoulders and refuse to let anyone know just how bad you are being crushed. I'm not going to stand by and watch you metaphorically crush yourself under everyone else's shit. Not a third time. You don't have to do this alone, shit you can't do this alone. I'm going to do my best to have your back Hunter."

"That's nice and all Michael but I'm far from alone this time. Besides, I'm not sure there's even much you can do."

"If your scrawny ass is going to be on the front lines there's sure as hell something I can do. I just gotta figure out what that is."

Hunter sighed, he knew Michael was too stubborn to drop this. "Fine, whatever. All the help we can get and whatnot. But first I'll need to make sure you know what you are getting into and have some equipment. To start with an autotranslator and something to fight with."

Michael nodded satisfied, at least for now, with the current arrangement.

Hel cleared her throat to get some attention."Sorry to interrupt but, and I don't mean to sound selfish here, what about…" she took to pointing fingers that moved between herself and Hunter.

Hunter knitted his eyebrows "knowing I have what is most likely a very limited time, do you even want that? I mean I could have as little as five years."

Hel thought about it for a bit. She had kinda hoped to have someone by her side in her lonely little post. Knowing that she'll be left alone again anyway changed things. She had hoped she would have all the time in the world to figure things out like what she really wanted and how she really felt. "I… honestly don't know. But what I do know is I want to help you when it comes to making alliances and fighting the King in Yellow."

Hunter nodded. "We can go together to talk to Vidar and I think we'll have to go visit Nidilver as well. For equipment and probably to get a way of realm travel for others available. Can't exactly fight a united front when your allies are effectively stuck on another planet."

Michael felt a bit lost "Okay, so we have a plan. I assume. One question, who is the King in Yellow, and why is he a problem?"

"That's two questions, dumbass. One: Hastur, The King in Yellow, is an eldritch entity that was represented in some of Lovecraft's works. Apparently around 25000 years ago he tried taking over the realms to install a perfect order. Even enslaving and modifying early humans to be the perfect slave race. However the various kingdoms of the realms, including the ones of Asgard who were seen as gods, banded together to push back his scouts and created a barrier around the realms to prevent his return for as long as possible."

"Ah cool, so we are fighting against unending madness and the obliteration of free will. Nice. I just volunteered myself into the worst kind of hell. That's with two Ls, it has nothing to do with you or your home my dear lady."

Hel rolled her eyes "The only reason you haven't been slapped is because you are Hunter's brother and I would probably kill you without trying. Don't test me Michael, even my patience can run thin."

"Are you really going to let your girlfriend talk down to me like that Hunter?"

"I would let my hamster talk down to you like that."

There is a pause from the entire group for a moment. Hunter didn't say Hel wasn't his girlfriend~ Shut up and let me have this.

Michael made a face. "I almost forgot to be mad at you for being an idiot."

Hunter looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You are stupid and are going to die a virgin. I can't believe how stupid you are. This quite literal goddess basically confessed she had feelings for you earlier and you basically turned her down. Mister average as fuck can't get a girl to save his life." Michael slapped Hunter on the back of the head playfully. "Moron. If I were you I'd be laying pipe already."

Hunter rubbed the back of his head. "If you were me you'd have half the women you've met across the realms pregnant by now."

Michael raised his hand with an up pointed finger "I…" the hand went down "No, that's fair."

Hel chuckled a bit but stopped mid chuckle when she realized there was a second implication there. "Wait a minute, that implies you have multiple women interested in you."

Michael was taken aback with shock "Oh shit, yeah. I didn't catch that myself."

Both of them closed in on Hunter staring him down. Hel was the one to address him. "So Hunter, tell me, how vast are your options?"

Hunter felt the air get heavy around him. "Counting Lady Hel? Seven ish."

Michael was dumbfounded. "You have seven women who want a piece of your dorky ass?"

"O-one is a dude actually."

There is a pause among the group for a bit before Michael yells out a "Bro!" Then after a short pause continues. "What the actual fuck Hunter. You couldn't land jack shit back home and now you are telling me you have a god damn harem! Fuckin A. You better narrow that list down real fuckin quick before someone murders your ass."

Hunter shuffled away a bit and shifted around. "How am I supposed to do that? Whoever I chose to try anything with won't get long. I won't even be alive long enough to see forty."

Hel put her hand on his shoulder. "Then you should let these people know that. Anyone not willing to stick around for what little time you have would be a quick elimination. I mean… elves, Jotun, and Asgardians live much longer than humans and will likely have more than enough time to move on even if they got access to your full natural lifespan."

Hunter grumbled "Great, it's nice to know that whoever I chose to be with will have plenty of time to forget I existed after I'm dead "

"That's not what I- look, all I'm trying to say is the less time you have the more precious it is. You shouldn't deny yourself a chance at love just because you know they'll outlive you and grieve your loss."

Michael pitched in as well. "Besides, you gotta leave behind a legacy. Just because you won't have a chance to raise them doesn't mean you shouldn't have kids."

Hunter thought for a bit. "I guess. I'm going to have to narrow things down fast then. Even if I thought I could pull it off, I'm not exactly the type to try polygamy."

Michael chuckled. "But Hunter~? What about the ladies that'll be disappointed you didn't pick them~? I mean if you really wanted to make everyone as happy as possible you'd give them all as much as you could~"

Hunter rolled his eyes at the teasing. "My time is already limited, splitting it between multiple people feels like I'd just be giving everyone zero time."

Hel seemed a bit confused. "Couldn't you just spend time with multiple people at once? I mean normally that's the point of a harem."

"Do you want to share me with others?"

"Fuck no, I'm the jealous type."

"Exactly. So I'll narrow it down to one person and give them what I can I guess. Assuming anyone wants that."

"Who knows how long it'll be before I can find someone that's able to see all of me and accept it. Could be another five thousand years. I will do my best to enjoy it while it lasts."

"So that's at least one person still down Hunter, no hitting zero now."

"I'll set up a spare room for you two to rest in. That is, unless Hunter wants to share my room again~"

"Well I sure as shit ain't sleeping in the same room as Michael, he'd be talking shit all night. I'd like to actually get some sleep."

Hel chuckled "Well I only have the one spare bedroom in the palace area. So it's either share a room with him or with me."

"That's fine. I know you won't try anything without my consent."

"Oh sweety, I don't have to~" she lets out a giggle and winks.

Michael made a face "I'm just going to point out that the giggle and cutesy stuff just looks off coming from her."

Hel glares at Michael a bit then gives him directions to the guest room. Everyone goes to bed and nothing interesting happens because Hunter is dull and boring sometimes. Like seriously, I can't believe I'm agreeing with Michael here but Hunter should have definitely been having at it with Hel here. All three of them kept logs and not one mentioned any funny business that night. I'm not asking for an erotic novel level of detail or anything, I just want Hunter to have gone for opportunities more often when he had them. Anyway, back to the story.

The next day Hel cooks up some food for the two herself. However since her skills are limited compared to Hunter she makes a simple stew

"Here you go you two. I'm both too tired to put in the effort and lack the skill for anything elaborate."

Michael poked at his meal with a spoon. "What is it?"

"It's a simple Dreki stew. Nothing fancy."

Hunter starts eating. "No worries, anything edible will do right now."

"What… is a Dreki?"

Hel did her best to explain while knowing little of Midgard. "It's a type of lesser dragon, a drake. They live in the swamps here and can get pretty big."

Hunter chuckled. "It's like an oversized alligator with the zapping cells of an eel. I haven't encountered one myself yet but I've done some reading."

Hel nodded "Yeah, what he said. Whatever an alligator is, I'm sure the comparison is spot on."

"It's a large lizard. It's long, drags its belly around, and tends to live in swamp and marshlands. They are most well known for their jaw strength. Their hunting tactics involve hiding and slowly sneaking up on prey before biting down on them and rolling around with the animal in its mouth till the prey is dead from a snapped neck or twisted spine." Michael explained quickly. After all, they were one of his favorite animals.

Hel was the first to finish her stew. "Yeah, that's not far off. Though I imagine they are smaller then Dreki."

The two boys shrug.

"So Hunter, what is the plan anyway?"

Hel puts in a request while Hunter finishes his meal. "I'd like you to take me to Idavoll. If we need to get the realms onboard for a joint defense we'll need Vidar's help."

"I agree, but do you really think it's wise to go to your ex first?"

"He has what's left of the boat that could travel realms. If we can get him to agree to lend it we can have a dwarf rebuild the Bifrost engine."

Michael then finished his stew and spoke. "I remember something about Helheim having a magic boat too. Made from fingernails or something gross like that."

"Naglfar" Hunter replied "In stories it was made from fingernails and toenails and could float."

"It might be big enough for a Bifrost engine. Doesn't hurt to have more than one realm traveling boat. We'll definitely need a team of dwarves."

"I know just who to ask in Nidavellir. I did manage to spend some time there."

"Alright, then we have a plan. The three of us will travel together. First to Idavoll then to Nidavellir. Gathering as much support and resources for the coming battle. I'll go pack."

As Hel went to pack her things Hunter and Michael had some time to talk.

"So Hunter, am I going to get a cool weapon too?"

"I'll talk to the dwarves about getting you something cool."

"How about some armor?"

"Yeah yeah, I'll make sure you are fully equipped since you insist on coming along."

"Cool. Can't wait to see more of the realms. Who's this Vidar that Hel used to apparently date?"

"Vidar the Silent, youngest son of Odin, King of Idavoll. Basically rules over what's left of Asgard after Ragnarok."

"Wait… Ragnarok? Isn't that supposed to be the final war in Norse mythology?"

"Bit of an oversimplification and misunderstanding of the lore. Short answer, no. It was more like the end of an era."

"Got it, not an ending but rather a new beginning."

"Don't worry about food and water, I've got plenty. Some spare outfits too."

Michael nods and Hel comes back in her normal attire with a strange wooden staff. It looks knotted and twisted and has a small thing on top that resembles a devil's finger fungus stalk. "Alright boys, I'm ready to go. Let's go-" she pauses and lets out an exasperated sigh. "Let's go talk to my ex."

"What should I expect from King Vidar, personality wise?"

"Uhhh…. He's a bit rough around the edges. For someone known as Vidar the Silent he sure does talk a lot of shit. So try not to get worked up and punch anyone. It won't end well, trust me."

"You know I can't promise anything. If someone starts something I'm going to probably throw hands. You know better than to even ask."

Hunter sighs. "I really should but I was hoping you had changed in the last few years. Alright, huddle up. Taking two people to the opposite side of Yggdrasil is a lot of work so no shenanigans whatsoever as I focus.

The two nood as they get in close so Hunter can put hands on and grip their shoulders. He has plenty of time to focus and activate the shift.

While floating in the in-between looking at the blue-purple void with bits of branches around, Hunter took some time to get a good look at the area. This transition wasn't as smooth as last time. While in mid transit Hunter saw something form in front of him that looked like a net made of energy. It caught the three and pulled them off course. Once on the other side, thanks to the combination of the longer trip and being violently pulled off course mid transit Hunter started throwing up violently once he hit the ground on the other side. He couldn't even gather the strength to get off the ground and barely managed to move enough to not pass out in his own bial.