Harry's mirror was vibrating, but he didn't want to answer. After Sakaar, he was still emotionally exhausted. His magic was brimming, he had slept well, but he wasn't in the mood for people. People sucked.
"Harry." Natasha admonished when she noticed him ignoring the mirror. "It could be an emergency."
"Okay, fine." Harry sighed and picked the mirror up. He answered the call and said, "Yes?" in as polite a voice as he could.
"Commander Potter!" came the familiar voice of Nova Prime, but in what seemed like a blind panic. "We have an emergency! Thanos has come!"
Harry was up in an instant. The image through the mirror was not good. The roof was falling in several places and fires were burning. The sound of screaming was heard in the background. "What's happening?!" he asked urgently, instantly dressed in his armour and ready to go.
"One of his ships just appeared above us and started firing on the Nova Corps Headquarters!" she said. "Can you send support?"
"I'll have Midnight there as soon as I can!" Harry promised. "Protect the people, forget the headquarters!"
"But-" she started.
"Not buts!" Harry yelled at her. "A building can be rebuilt! People can't be fixed once they are dead!"
Nova prime looked at him for only a moment before nodding and disconnected.
Natasha was already next to him and holding his shoulder. He apparated them away to the bridge of Midnight. "Director Brand." He said gratefully when he saw the woman sitting at her post on the bridge. "One of our allies are in need of our assistance. Xandar is being attacked by Thanos' people right now! We need you in orbit to shoot the bastard out of the sky!"
Brand was instantly off her seat. "We'll be there in five minutes." she said instantly. "Get the Magic Corps there now and deliver what support you can!" Then she turned to the side and pressed a button. Instantly lights started flashing and sirens started blaring. She pressed another button and spoke into a receiver. "Midnight is mobilizing! I repeat, Midnight is mobilizing! This is not a drill, people! I need everyone at their stations and portal control setting a portal above Xandar, on the double!"
Harry did not wait to hear more, he was instantly in EPI, where sirens were also blaring and people were running to their posts.
"What's happening, Potter?" Fury asked as he arrived at the command centre, where Harry had appeared.
"Xandar is under attack. Midnight will be there in five. We need support units there now!" Harry said.
Fury stepped to his control station and pressed a button much like Brand had. "We need all staff at their stations! We're sending support to Xandar! Repeat Xandar is under attack! Magic Corps and relief squads go to the designated portal rooms and-"
"Xandar HQ is their primary target from what we could tell." Natasha interrupted.
"Correction, secondary portal rooms! Repeat Secondary! We're sending ground support!" Fury corrected.
"You can handle this?" Harry asked.
"Go!" Fury said angrily.
Harry didn't wait. He activated a portkey through one of his rings with intent and also arrived at the secondary portal site. It was the same ring he stored his suit and gear in. He had found he could activate anything he needed that was stored in that pocket dimension through it, so he added a bunch of goodies into it, including all the portkeys he could need.
The secondary landing spot was on the outskirts of the city, but he could apparate from there. When they arrived, it was to the sight of a giant circular ship hovering above the Nova Corps building and it was unleashing a devastating array of weapons fire on the building. Harry didn't know their goal, but doubted it could be good.
"You know what to do?" Harry asked her.
"Go do your thing. I'll help what people I can." Natasha urged him on.
Harry didn't wait. He flew up and went invisible instantly. His aim was for the weapons. As much as he'd like to try and destroy the ship, the falling debris would simply rain on the city, costing many lives. Harry arrived at the first array of weapons and instantly started bombarding the ship with explosive spells. It wasn't working as well as it should, though, as only about half of the damage seemed to stick, so Harry doubled his efforts and started doing some real damage.
He was slowly taking out the cannons, when something came flying out of the ship. A stream of smaller flying vessels were on the lookout for whatever was causing the damage. Harry didn't let up, but he did apparate to the other side of the ship and started focussing more magic. This worked for him for two good shots until the same vessels came around the ship and started firing indiscriminately in his direction. Harry cast a shield and continued his bombardment. His shield took a couple of hits, and that seemed to get more of their attention and his shield wasn't going to be able to take much more, so he apparated again.
He wasn't given the time this time around, as the smaller vessels came rushing around the edge again. He'd go insubstantial, but had found that some energy weapons would still affect him and he couldn't take the risk. He decided to focus on them then. They were waiting for some indication of where he was and were flying around the area he had been in last time. Harry started bombarding them then. This worked out much better for him as the machines were quite small and exploded on impact.
Harry spent a good few minutes getting all of them off him before he turned to go back to attacking the ship. He found it strange that it wasn't shooting anymore, but it turns out they were just sent to distract him. He saw a white beam of some sort descend into the hole and then it retracted just as quickly.
A moment later the ships gigantic wheel started turning faster and it lifted into the sky.
Harry fumbled for a moment but got his earpiece in his ear. "Director Brand, do you copy?" he asked urgently.
There was static for a moment and then. "Potter. We're in orbit above the city."
"Good." Harry said. "Blow that thing out of the sky the moment it won't just fall on the city again!"
"Understood." Brand's voice said back. He could practically hear her vicious smile.
Harry flew back down to land next to the building and started healing the wounded he saw. The Magic Corps had arrived with their medical support units. They were treating people where they could as well. The Magic Corps themselves were using their magical capabilities to phase people through walls and to lift rubble off of wounded people. Others still were carrying wounded from what still stood of the ruined building.
Harry was still working on one fellow, whose leg was broken at the joint, when he heard Brand's voice. "Target destroyed, but an escape vessel of some sort was ejected and went through a jump point."
"Fuck!" Harry swore. "Those bastards took something from the building! They got what they came here for!"
"We couldn't stop it!" Brand defended herself. "The damn thing was on the other side of the wreckage!"
Harry calmed himself before releasing a frustrated breath and responding. "Sorry about that. I'm just not a big fan of losing so many people for nothing. Please send word to Fury to send some more medical staff and temporary shelters."
"Understood." Brand said. "We're returning to base."
"Potter out." Harry said, noticing Natasha run up to him as he did so. "Give me a number?" Harry asked.
"We're not certain. The Magic Corps are still pulling people from the wreckage." Natasha said. "We've sent many people to the medical stasis storage. They'll be busy for a couple of days. Nova Prime was among them. We don't know how bad the damage was."
Harry sighed. "We'll have to speak to someone to find out what was taken." Harry said. "Let me know where I'm needed."
"The wounded will be sent off. I suggest you help extract survivors." Natasha said softly.
"Understood." Harry said and lifted into the air.
Four hours later and Harry had extracted mostly corpses, but with every three corpses one person had held on long enough to be rescued and sent to stasis to await a doctor. Four hundred and fifty dead was the final tally. Several hundred needed stasis extraction and just over two hundred were healed in the emergency centres sent through with the mobile bunker ships. They were basically enchanted the same way, but with medical staff and much larger space on the inside.
Nova Prime had followed his advice and had ordered everyone to evacuate. Just under a thousand people had escaped the attack relatively unscathed. Apparently the enemy had focussed their attack on the Nova Corps fleet first and then the Command Centre, before focussing on breaking its way into the vault.
When they finally got someone into the vault to look, it was discovered that the Power Stone was taken. This was a devastating loss as the stone could potentially decimate an entire planet in one attack. They had no doubt that Thanos would not hesitate to use the stone if he thought there was no other way to get to another stone.
They returned to EPI HQ to give their debriefing when Harry's mirror vibrated again.
"Yes." Harry answered instantly.
"My Prince. Someone has snuck into the vault and unleashed Surtur!" Heimdall reported urgently.
"Shit!" Harry said and focussed through his ring. "Has Odin activated his bracer?"
"Yes, my Prince. He is lifeless and many fear him dead." Heimdall said. There was a flash as the emergency portkeys activated. Heimdall could be heard grunting, before the mirror was once again on him. "You have activated your failsafe?" he asked.
"Everyone is safe. Odin only sleeps. It is called the sleep of living death. Do not fear, as it is keeping him in a form of stasis." Harry said as he grabbed Natasha to apparate them to the safe location he had set up for the Asgardians. He ended the mirror call as his mother was on him almost instantly, having heard Harry's words.
"Thank you, Harry! Thank you, my son!" she cried as she held him in a strong embrace.
"We're not out of the woods yet." Harry said. He walked to Heimdall and whispered something in his ear before returning to his family. "I'm going to need to go to Asgard to confirm its situation." Natasha latched onto him and Harry nodded. "I wasn't planning on going without you."
"And me!" Thor said as he also latched onto Harry. Loki said nothing, but grabbed onto him as well.
"Mother, please stay with father." Harry said. "We'll be back once we've witnessed it."
"Witnessed what?" Frigga asked. "You're not going to fight that creature!"
"We are not." Harry confirmed. "Until Asgard is destroyed, we cannot awaken Odin. It is the only way he can live. The prophecy must come to an end."
Frigga had tears in her eyes as she stepped back from them. "Be safe?" she asked.
"We'll be in no danger, I promise you." Harry said. He turned to Heimdall, "Can you see it?"
"I can." Heimdall said. "How?" he asked with a hint of something else in his voice.
"That doesn't matter now." Harry said as he levitated those that would go with them up. Fawkes, having sensed Harry's sadness, appeared and landed on his shoulder. Harry nodded at him sadly in thanks for the support, before casting his space bubble spell and activating the portkey he had made for the occasion. It would include the space bubble. They appeared floating in space above Asgard and saw the damage the creature was doing.
They watched as it screamed its vengeance on the city it so loathed and then with a bellow drove his great sword into the heart of Asgard. There was a moment's silence before the entire thing exploded. Harry re-enforced the bubble with shields as strongly as he could and after a minute they looked to see only rubble where Asgard had once been.
"It is done." Thor said with tears in his eyes at the loss. "The home of my people is no more."
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated, focussing any excess energy he could pull through the ring. Natasha, who knew Harry's plans, spoke up, "As Asgard falls and comes to an end, a new beginning awaits you. Asgard may have fallen, but it lives in your heart and your people. But you must not fear." she intoned, "For as a phoenix rises from the ashes, so shall Asgard be reborn."
As they watched, Harry started to glow brighter and brighter. Then it stopped suddenly. They noticed that some of the debris from the explosion had disappeared. "It is done." Harry said simply. "Asgard will live once more."
"What did you do?" Loki asked, not understanding.
"I activated the last of my backup plans. It will be a while, yet, but Asgard will live again." Harry said mysteriously.
Just then Harry's Mirror vibrated again. "Oh, god, not again?!" he said as he answered his mirror.
"Potter, get your ass back to base! Someone was in the vault!" Fury's voice ordered urgently.
"Fuck!" Harry swore. He returned them to base, as instructed and instantly apparated to the vault, not caring that he had his brothers, Natasha and Fawkes still with him. "I'm here now." Harry told Fury, through the still active mirror. "What am I looking for?"
"The Darkhold." Fury said. "We only picked up on the disturbance after the fact, when we did an inventory. I had everyone perform a sweep and the camera system picked up a flicker. It was like the Darkhold disappeared and reappeared the next moment."
Harry rushed to the location he had placed it two days before, on Earth at least, with all the other high importance items. He stopped when he saw it, still on its rack, but Loki replied, "That is an illusion."
"What!?" Fury could be heard over the mirror as Harry sent a pulse of magic to the item and it disappeared.
"We must check if anything else is missing." Natasha insisted. She instantly started moving in the direction of the sceptre.
Harry nodded and followed, knowing what she was going after, followed by the others. Upon arrival, they found that it too had been replaced with an illusion. "They took the sceptre as well." Harry said as he sent a wave of magic to dispel any further illusions. "Nothing else was taken. I'm thinking they used the Darkhold, somehow, as a Trojan horse and took it with them for its power."
Just then Harry's mirror vibrated. Again. Harry couldn't handle any more at the moment. So many dead, Asgard destroyed, the vault infiltrated and now someone else. "Sorry, Fury, I've got a feeling this is more bad news." He hung up the connection and answered apprehensively, "Yes?"
"I'm afraid it's as you fear, my Prince." Heimdall said. "The Dwarves of Nidavellir were attacked. Thanos himself, is there. Most of them activated their emergency portkeys, but Eitri stayed to secure the Sword of Gryffindor and was captured."
Harry did not answer as those with him grabbed him quickly and he disappeared again. They appeared in the conference room they had used to meet with Eitri and Harry added them all into their invisibility, so that they could rush to their friend's aid and help him. He sent Fawkes off to the Dwarves, to keep them calm.
They found Eitri, kneeling in front of the Mad Titan himself. He was not doing very well.
Around them was arrayed most of the Black Order, Thanos' gang of attack dogs. They called themselves the children of Thanos, but they were just his tools, used to conquer.
Harry remembered their training sessions, where Nebula or Gamora set them up in the Room of Requirement, to fight the enemy that they didn't know, at the time. As he looked at them, he listed their capabilities to himself.
'Proxima Midnight – She uses a three-pronged spear. Deadly hand-to-hand specialist. Strong and fast.'
'Cull Obsidian – His hammer can turn into a claw and be fired at a distance with a chain, to grapple. Strong and tough.'
'Corvus Glaive – He uses a double sided pole-arm capable of cutting through anything, supposedly even on an atomic scale. Fast and deadly.'
'Thanos – Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, immortality and invulnerability, supposedly. Insane, but not irrational. Monster.'
All of their hobbies included genocide. They would not be spared, when the opportunity arose.
Another figure stepped out of the shadows, her slim figure having been hidden by Thanos' large frame.
'Amora/Enchantress – Manipulator, sorceress. Sword-fighter, spell caster.'
Harry placed a hand on Thor's shoulder and indicated for him to keep his calm, when he saw him notice too.
"You have done well, Dwarf." Thanos was saying. "With this, I can finally return balance to the universe. It's a pity your fellows weren't here, but it doesn't matter, they will also be culled." He was looking at a golden gauntlet, on which sat two of what Harry supposed were infinity stones.
"You will not succeed." Eitri said, from between bleeding lips.
"Ah, yes." Thanos laughed. "Your allies, Asgard. I'm afraid your faith is misplaced. Asgard has been destroyed." He pointed to Amora. "One of their own ensured their destruction."
Eitri looked up in shock, before shaking his head. "No. She doesn't possess the power. She only wishes she does!" he spat in her direction.
"Yes," Thanos continued, "her perpetual quest for power. She only wants one thing for her efforts, and that is for the power of the sorcerer. Harry Potter. Did you know that he is right now fighting for his allies on Xandar?"
Just then hurried footsteps were heard rushing through a far door, luckily on the opposite side from them.
Harry recognized him too.
'Ebony Maw – Telekinesis. Genius level intellect. Herald of Thanos.'
He approached and kneeled before Thanos. "My lord, I have acquired for you the Stone of Power, as you requested."
"Maw?" Thanos queried, a look of frustration crossing his face. "You are meant to still be causing havoc on Xandar. Why have you returned?"
Maw turned to Amora and sneered, "The witch underestimated the power of the sorcerer. His spells struggled for only a moment to break through her protections and the attack drones only delayed him long enough for me to retrieve the Stone." He bowed low again. "I humbly beg your forgiveness. The ship was destroyed by an unknown energy blast when I exited the atmosphere. I only escaped in a pod to ensure that I bring you this." he said as he held a round container of some sort out.
As Thanos reached for the container, Harry quickly cast a spell at it at the same time as he turned Eitri's clothes into a portkey and he disappeared to join the rest of the Dwarves at the receiving area on the moon. The container wasn't even touched by his spell as Thanos, somehow knowing the spell was incoming, ripped it from his subordinate's hand and away.
"He's here!" Amora exclaimed in mad glee as she felt the familiar magic.
Thor, Loki and Natasha had started spreading out so that they could be more useful and give Harry cover if needed. Harry revealed himself, to try and keep their attention. If his brothers or wife died, he would never forgive himself. They had practiced these manoeuvres, however, and Harry knew that they knew when to activate their emergency portkeys as well. They would be focussing on targets that they could disable while Harry tried to do what was before unthinkable. Kill Thanos. They wanted to avoid a war if at all possible.
"Hi there!" Harry said with a fake smile. "My ears were burning. Were you talking about me?"
"So you are the sorcerer?" Thanos asked.
"I'm a wizard." Harry said. "Big difference." He strolled closer as he noticed Thor take up a position behind the big one, Cull Obsidian. Natasha was still inching closer to Amora, having decided she would be the better target. Loki was moving towards Corvus Glaive. Harry wished he had thought to bring the other Avengers. "So, what's the deal? Why are you so angry? Do you have Daddy issues, too?"
"You dare!?" Ebony Maw, the herald said as he shot up and approached Harry, lifting his hand and summoning the tools of the dwarves and pointing them at Harry. "I should kill you where you stand. You are but a worm standing before a God!"
"Nah." Harry said vanishing all the tools that the man had summoned, except for a few that apparently had Uru in them. Maw did lose control of those, however, and they fell to the floor. "I've met gods. We party together all the time." Harry pointedly looked at Amora, who had started objecting to Maw's statement that he should kill Harry, "You, on the other hand. You will die when I get my hands on you, for the destruction of Asgard."
"You didn't even feel me hiding in the Skull of Surtur. You do not know everything I can do!" She countered with a mad smile as she enjoyed Harry playing with the man, who was now breaking the floor apart to send things at Harry, but Harry simply cast mending magic on the pieces, forcing them back into their original position.
"So that's how you did it?" Harry nodded. "Clever." After the last repairing spell, he stopped walking.
"Thanos, I will give you this one opportunity to surrender." He said, suddenly serious, as he cast a killing spell on the telekinetic in front of him. The man was quick to pull more debris into the way of the spell with a smile. He did not know of the concussive after effects, though, as the spell exploded against his make-shift shield and shrapnel pelted him as he was blown back to land in front of Thanos.
As the spell hit, Thor swung his Hammer and crushed the skull of the man in front of him and Loki stabbed the pole-arm user through the throat, from behind. He didn't even know what hit him before his spine was severed and he fell to the floor like a ragdoll. Loki used the moment, before anyone saw him fall to move to a new location, but Thor's hammer was covered in skull fragments and brain matter and his invisibility unravelled.
Natasha had decided to stick with an old favourite. She aimed to hit Amora in the head with both her stun batons. Natasha was shocked to find the woman was an illusion, but she had maintained her own invisibility and quickly moved off.
"My children." Thanos said dangerously, his eyes suddenly on Harry. "I will kill you for that." he promised, pointing a finger at Harry and activating one of the Stones on the gauntlet. A beam of pure power rushed towards Harry and he hurriedly cast a shield. The beam went right through it, destroying it easily, but as it was supposed to hit Harry it dissipated a few inches from his skin.
Thanos let up on the beam of power and turned to Thor to perform the same function, but then he noticed Harry was still standing there, just as shocked as him. "How?" he asked incredulously.
Harry didn't waste his time and fired a killing curse at Thanos, who lifted his gauntlet to protect himself, knowing that it would be indestructible. The spell, however dissipated before it could touch the gauntlet. Harry was shocked but only for a moment, before he took his scabbard and had Urubane fly at Thanos as well. Thanos parried it with his Gauntlet and a lot of force, sending it off to the side. He looked at the supposedly indestructible gauntlet and noticed a gash cut almost all the way through it.
"My Lord!" Maw pleaded, when he saw the look of confusion on his lord's face and the amount of power Harry was bringing to the fight. "The mission is more important. Once you have all the stones you can rectify this, but we must leave now!"
Thanos seemed to pull himself together and as Thor's hammer, Loki's daggers and Urubane came flying at him again, another stone activated and he stepped backward avoiding the hits as he entered a portal. "This isn't over. I am inevitable." Thanos promised before he disappeared along with Ebony Maw and Proxima Midnight.
Harry fumed as he summoned his sword back to its scabbard. "Damnit!" he screamed. Natasha was rushing back to him to check him for injury. That blast of power looked deadly. Thor and Loki were not far behind her.
The next moment, he felt a stab in his side and he looked around to see a smiling Amora. "You're mine." she whispered to him sweetly, as Natasha screamed her anger and concern and the world went black.
-Natasha POV-
Harry's eyes had suddenly gone wide, before he turned his head and Natasha noticed Amora slipping from the shadows that had magically hidden her. Something was in her hand and it was connected to Harry's back. "No!" she screamed and rushed to get to him, but they both vanished in a burst of green flames.
"Harry!" Thor and Loki screamed as they rushed to where Harry had stood. Loki instantly started feeling around with what detection magic he could muster, before shaking his head.
Natasha had been urgently trying to apparate to Harry's side, but he must have lost consciousness as he needed to be aware to allow it to happen. "No! Harry, come on! Let me come to you!" she pleaded focussing all her mind on the ring, but nothing would happen. Tears started leaking from her eyes, but she refused to accept it as she angrily wiped at her tears and kept trying.
"Natasha!" Thor said shaking her. He had been trying to get her attention for a while now.
"What!" she snapped at him.
"We must leave and report what has happened!" Thor urged her. "We must tell our allies! Maybe one of them could help!"
"Perhaps someone on the island has a magic that can trace him?" Loki agreed. "If he's in another galaxy, Fury's people will surely send the warship, but they can't help us until they know he was taken!"
Natasha's face showed her fury and she wanted to object that she could get to him, but finally nodded, when her brain started functioning and the guilt hit her. She should have been there by his side. Why hadn't she gone back to him, when she couldn't hit her target? She was meant to protect him!
Thor and Loki exchanged a look and took her shoulders, activating a portkey back to EPI. When they landed, Fury was already there waiting. He looked them over and noticed Harry was missing and Natasha's face and the tear-streaks down her cheeks. "Motherfucker!"
"It was the Enchantress. She took Harry once Thanos ran." Loki informed him.
"Hill!" Fury said urgently.
"On it, sir!" Maria Hill said as she turned and put a finger to her ear. "Harry Potter has been captured by a hostile! I repeat Harry Potter has been captured! We need someone down by the Asgardians! Get Heimdall to look for him! Someone should also contact Doctor Strange. He might have a way of tracking him!"
"I'll go speak to Luna, she knows divination. If nothing else, she may be able to point the way." Loki said as he turned to Natasha. "Do you want to accompany me or stay here?"
Natasha didn't answer, so he looked up at Thor, who looked at Fury. "Take her with." Fury said. "Luna gave up her whole world to join him here and she knows something. Get what you can from her."
Loki just nodded and grabbed Natasha in a hug before activating his portkey. He was not surprised to see Luna there, waiting. She was smiling at him, but then noticed Natasha and her state. "Hi there Loki, Natasha. Have the Wrackspurts taken Harry again? This always happens. They love him."
Natasha looked up suddenly. "Wrackspurts! You said you could use the Wrackspurts to find things right? Can you find Harry?!" she asked hopefully.
"There aren't any Wrackspurts on the island Natasha. I told you that already." Luna said cocking her head to the side. When Natasha's face fell, she stepped forward and patted her shoulder. "You know what Harry is, right? You know he won't die?"
Natasha looked up at her again, realising she was right. Death itself had even said so. She nodded and started getting her emotions in check. After a minute she looked up, now with determination. "When he gets back, I'm never letting him leave the island again!" she promised.
"Ooh, you'll have so many babies!" Luna rejoiced.
"Can you help us find him in another way?" Loki asked. He had noticed her calming Natasha down and had let her have a moment.
"You want me to divine for him?" Luna asked. She cocked her head to the side again and thought. "I suppose I could try. Can you bring me a map of the country he is in?"
Loki sagged. "I doubt she'd bring him to Midgard." he said in defeat, knowing that such things would get more difficult the farther something is. What would he tell Frigga? "I could have been there. I should have been there!" he spat in disgust at himself.
Natasha was shaking her head. She was about to correct him, when Luna stepped in and hugged him. "You're a good brother." she said. "I'm sure you did all you could."
Loki was shocked at the embrace, but didn't mind as he was still blaming himself for the failure to protect Harry. He cleared his throat and said, "Thank you, Luna."
Natasha's mind had not returned to worrying, she was now thinking of what she would do to the bitch who stole her husband when she found them and she would find them.
"You don't need to worry about him." Luna said. "I've always believed in him and he's still alive and still fixing things. I like to believe the prophecy that says he's going to save many worlds."
"There's a prophecy that says that?" Natasha asked, knowing about Harry's beliefs.
"Oh, I'm sure there is, somewhere." Luna shrugged. "Do you want me to go write one down?" she asked with a serious look on her face.
Loki looked at Luna in wonder. "Nothing ever breaks your spirit does it?"
"Why would I let anything do something like that?" Luna scoffed. "Of course, I'd like to be useful, rather than sitting on the island. Harry might not need me, but I'd like to help."
"Luna, I don't think Harry would like you in the middle of all this." Natasha tried.
"Then he can try to convince me when he gets back." Luna said with another smile. "I'll help heal people if that makes you feel better. Fawkes can even join me."
"Fawkes!" Natasha and Loki both yelled. Of course! He could always find Harry by his magic! He was able to cross barriers between realities, surely he could find Harry!
The bird in question appeared and landed on Natasha's shoulder. "Can you take me to Harry?!" she asked urgently. "He was taken by an enemy."
Fawkes cocked his head to the side, seemingly searching for something. Then he lifted up off Natasha's shoulder and flew in a circle, twisting his head every which way. A minute later he landed on her shoulder with a sad note escaping him, as he shook his head.
Natasha's sudden hope was crushed. A tear escaped her eye and Fawkes crooned softly at her, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry, Fawkes. She needs him alive, and while I can feel his magic in this ring, I know he's still alright."
They were soon back at EPI. Luna had wandered off to the medical wing to see if she could help any of the many victims of the attack on Xandar. She wasn't a mediwitch, but she had a good couple of spells that might help. Nobody thought to ask how she knew people needed healing. Everyone just assumed someone had told her.
They had received word back from Doctor Strange. Apparently he had tried a spell, using something Harry had put his magic into to trace his magic and it had found him, but couldn't make a connection to his location. He suspected there was a ward over wherever he had been taken. He would continue trying and look for another method, but he sounded dubious.
In the meanwhile, the only thing they could do was to update their allies and continue with the plans they had in place. Bruce had soon been informed of Odin's state and turned up at the Asgardian Barracks, which was just a very large chamber with many rooms around its boundary for people to get some rest. The warriors of Asgard, however, were standing at the ready, refusing to rest while their prince was in peril.
When Bruce showed up, he made a beeline to Frigga. "Your majesty." he said as he arrived. "I have the cure for the Draught of Living Death here." He said handing her the vial.
"Thank you Doctor Banner." Frigga said with relief as she turned to go to the room in which Odin had been placed.
"Um, your majesty." Bruce stopped her. "Have you ever heard the tale of sleeping beauty?"
Frigga had no problems mouth-feeding the potion to her husband, so to speak. It was just a short while later that Odin re-joined his people. He was not happy to hear about Harry's predicament. Not happy at all. Both Thor and Loki had apologised to their father for their perceived failure to protect Harry from the Enchantress.
"Nonsense!" Odin said angrily. "It's not your fault! It's that damned witch! We should have let Natasha kill her when she had the chance! If anything this is my failure. I should have changed the law. Or let Frigga declare them wed. Everybody could see how devoted they were!" he raged, blaming himself, much as everyone else had.
"But this does not end here." Odin continued. "When we find her we will make an example of her!" Unbeknownst to him, the Warriors of Asgard were paying close attention and they rallied at his final exclamation, cheering at his words. Odin turned to them, "Prince Harry has saved us all and we owe him a debt. When we find that woman and her allies, we will slay them to the last!"
As Odin rallied the troops, Loki turned to Thor, "Do you think he's forgotten that you're the King?"
"Brother, I think you might be right." Thor said with a small smile. He'd not seen his father so lively in years. "But let's let him have this. He's not leading the army, after all. When Harry comes back I doubt he will allow father in the front lines anyway."
As the warriors of Asgard started preparing for war, Wakanda was reeling from the news that King Harry was taken. They too were preparing for war. Many had started considering Harry both a messenger from the gods and some sort of High Priest in his own right. He'd always followed and respected their traditions and there wasn't one tribe, cult or faction that didn't feel the need to act. When T'Challa called for them, they'd be ready.
The Guardians of the Galaxy had also been informed and requested a portal to bring them in. Midnight, now portal capable, was able to use the image through Quill's mirror to open a portal for them to come to Earth. It wasn't what it was designed to do, but Brand didn't really care. It was a capability they had, so she used it. Any allies they could muster would be appreciated.
Only Gamora knew where the Soul Stone was, but she suspected Thanos might decide to question her again, so she knew she needed to do one of two things, forget the knowledge, or die. The first thing she did when she arrived on Earth was to confess that she had knowledge of the Stone's whereabouts and that she needed a contract to keep it away from Thanos. Fury had no trouble setting her up with one of the contracts and adding the stipulation that that knowledge was protected. They signed the contract and Fury thanked her for coming forward. 'Fuck you, Thanos!' he thought.
A call had been made to Yondu as well, who made a call of his own and soon the Ravagers were on board. They were a scattered people, so it would take some time, but they started pulling a hefty fleet together. Thanos' plans were no secret after all. If he succeeded, all of them would lose either their own lives or someone they cared for.
The Nova Corps had also been recalled. They were a very wide-spread peacekeeping force after all. Most of their fleet were off world most of the time. The attack on Nova Corps Headquarters had forced them to return and ready for battle.
Everyone knew that Thanos had the Space Stone and it would only be a matter of time before he showed up to collect the rest. The only problem was, nobody knew where the rest were. The Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj had not elected to tell the rest of the universe after all. When Steven Strange showed up at EPI and requested a contract to have a conversation with Fury as well, he was not pleased. The contract was signed, however, and he confessed that the Time Stone was in the possession of Kamar-Taj and that it had been for a long time.
Finally it made sense to Fury why Harry had insisted that Thanos would definitely come to Earth. It wasn't just the sceptre, which they suspected contained one as well. It was because the Time Stone had been there all along. He had always suspected Harry knew more than he was saying, but he also knew he would have good reasons for not giving the information away.
It didn't matter now, though. They needed to protect that Stone no matter what, so he told Stephen to bring all the monks to EPI, where they were at least protected by Fidelius. Thanos would need to be able to beat Harry's magic to get to them, which it appears he couldn't, if the report from the fight was accurate, and he had watched the memory himself. Thanos was able to cut through a shield easily enough, but he couldn't detect Harry's invisibility. The Fidelius was far more comprehensive than simple invisibility.
That left them with the problem that Thanos very well might unleash the Power Stone on the entire planet to flush the remaining stone out. One way or another there would be a fight. The only positive thing would be that they could choose the field of battle. He called in a strategy meeting and started making plans for what was about to come.
Natasha had personally called in all their powered friends and was surprised at the turnout. There were even a few surprise visitors, which she welcomed wholeheartedly. When Thanos came, he would not survive the encounter.
-Harry's POV-
Harry woke up slowly. He had a feeling that something was wrong, but couldn't place his fingers on it. He opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling. That wasn't necessarily new. He tended to spend time visiting foreign worlds often enough. There was an empty space on his side and he suddenly realised he could not feel Natasha next to him. He looked and realised he was tied to something. His arms were manacled to the bed he was lying on. He closed his eyes and focussed on reconstructing his last conscious memories.
"Have you finally awoken, then?" a voice asked from across the room.
Harry now knew what happened and realised he had been knocked out. Again. Natasha would have his hide for this! "Oh, it's you." he sighed.
"You remember me? I'm honoured." She laughed in her sultry voice. "But you don't know me. Not like you will."
"Where are we and how long was I out?" Harry asked.
"You are in a specially secured place. Nobody could find you here even if they knew which world to look on. The Darkhold has many powerful secrets. And for the better part of a day, I'm afraid." she said.
"Let me go, Amora." Harry said, trying to focus his magic on releasing him, but something was wrong. He couldn't channel his magic past the manacles. Magic suppressing, no doubt.
"I think not." Amora said as she walked closer, into his line of sight. "You, my dear, are going to give me all of the power you possess and in return, I'll promise to leave that cow of yours off my list of people to kill slowly."
"All the power?" Harry asked. "Are you sure you can handle that?"
"I'm a goddess of magic. I have the blood of gods running through my veins. I can handle a lot more than you can fathom." she preened. "You are but a mere mortal. You have great power, yes, but your time is limited and so I will have to take every drop of power you possess, before you die." She walked around and sat next to him, placing a hand on his bare chest, "I could make the experience enjoyable. I hear you were considered a god of pleasure before it was decided that your tinkering was your primary aspect, adopted as you are, by Asgard and her people."
"Asgard, which you destroyed." Harry reminded her after snorting at her suggestion.
"The power was never in the land." Amora said. "I knew you had taken steps to save the people. I could sense your power suffusing the people. I could tell you had given one and all a way to escape. Had it not been for that, I may have decided to just take the Stone, but Asgard vexed me so they deserved to be punished."
"How do you intend to do this anyway?" Harry asked. "You cannot expect me to do it willingly."
Amora smiled that mad smile of hers and got up. She put one knee next to him and straddled him. "I have many ways to drive a man to do what I want. Surely you don't think I'm called the Enchantress for nothing?" she said as she pressed into him and was surprised to find he was not enjoying her attentions as she had hoped. "Trust me when I say this is the easier option for you. The other method is… unsavoury, even to my tastes." she said as she pulled a face like she tasted something sour.
She then focussed her magic on him and attempted to enter his mind. Harry felt the pinprick of an attack and decided on his plan. He allowed her past his first mental shield. He could see her eyes widen at her success and then she focussed, feeling him trying to keep something from her, something tantalizing. A way to enslave him to his own power.
Harry allowed her to struggle for a bit, keeping the information he wanted her to find just out of reach. Suddenly she surged her power and he let her glimpse the idea he wanted to feed her.
"A contract, signed in magic?" she asked hungrily. "One that binds you to its words? Oh, I like it! You could not even betray me if you wanted! What a marvel you have created!"
"No!" Harry shook his head and ejected her. He took a moment and breathed a little heavier, as she shook the pain of the backlash from her head as well.
"It's too late!" she smiled. "I know you have these contracts on you!" she reached forward at where she knew his pouch should be and he allowed her to grasp and see it. "Ha!" she exclaimed when it appeared in her hand. She lifted it off his neck and opened it. Harry allowed her to remove a contract and she smiled maliciously at him after inspecting its magic. "With this, you will be mine in any way I please." she said with a smile of pure longing, breathing heavily for a moment.
"That's not how it works." Harry said through gritted teeth. "I still have to agree to the bargain. Each of us needs to receive something we want. That's how contracts work. Equal exchange, bitch!" he spat at her.
Her magic flared for a moment at the insult, but she knew how to make him see reason. If not, with a little effort, she could delve his mind again. His magic being blocked must be weakening him. "We have time yet." she said easily. "Once Thanos destroys Midgard to flush out the Time Stone, I won't have to worry about anyone coming to rescue you and in your grief, you will be weakened."
Harry knew this was a bluff. She was too greedy to wait. If he played his cards right, he could be out of here in hours, rather than days. "A bargain then." He said like his hand was being forced. "If you allow me to help my people and save them. I will return to you and give you all the power you can handle and more." he offered while scowling at her.
"No." Amora said. "You will give me what I want and Midgard will die!"
"Fine, have it your way." Harry said then, laying back. "Knowing Thanos, he'll kill me anyway, when he reaches his goal. We'll both lose. At least I'll be with Natasha again and you'll be sent to Hel." Amora looked shocked and then thought about it. It was true that Thanos did not care for her and after losing his children, he was angry at Harry. Enough to kill him first even. Then he'd turn on her, for not protecting his Herald's ship like she said she could.
"Fine." She said. "Let's bargain then. I'll let you leave to help your people, but you will give me half of your power first. If you defeat Thanos, you will return to me and give the rest of your power, and your body, to me."
"No deal." Harry said. "My body is off limits. It belongs to Natasha. I can live with half my power, though. It should be enough to kill Thanos. When I defeat him, you will wait for my power to fully refill and I will give you another half. You'll then have your own power and an equal amount of my own. Then I can return home."
"No." she countered again. "I can agree to what you stipulated, but that cow must suffer for humiliating me! I'll take the deal, except you cannot return to her. You will then become my servant and I will have access to your power until the day you die." She looked at him with finality written in her eyes. "This is my final offer. I'll even add that I will not be allowed to harm her, besides keeping you away from her."
Harry seethed for a moment and then controlled himself, shaking in anger. She was really making it easy, since he didn't need to act angry, after her insult. Then he ground out, "You may also not take steps to have her harmed. That is my final offer."
Damn! He had seen the opening in that one. "Fine." she agreed. "I will set up the contract. You can wait there."
"If it doesn't say exactly what we agreed on, I will not sign it." Harry called after her. "You only have the one chance with that contract."
She stopped and nodded to him, before continuing. She needed to hurry though. With Thanos owning the Space Stone, he could already be looking for her. She had no doubt that he'd be able to breach the ward with that blasted Stone in his possession! It's how she breached Harry's protections on Midgard, after all. She had also seen how Harry's magic had protected him. Not even the stones could harm him. If she had that power, she'd be invincible. She could even take the stones for herself!
She returned ten minutes later with the contract filled out. She had pored over it to make sure it said exactly what they agreed on. She realised that there was nothing about him not harming her, but if he killed her, he couldn't give her his power, so that would be a breach of contract. She smiled when she realised that. The mortal probably thought he had outmanoeuvred her. She held it out so that he could read it. Fortunately she had remembered to write it in English. She wouldn't want him to have an excuse not to sign.
Harry pored over the contract and finally nodded. "We have a deal." he said.
Giddily, she handed him a pen and he signed the contract. Then she signed it. There was a flash and the contract became active. She inspected it one more time to confirm it had done as promised. It was as it was supposed to be. He'd even agreed to be her servant!
She walked to the bedside and removed a key from her cleavage, turning so he could see as she did so. "Just imagine. If you had agreed to be my plaything, you might have found this." she said victoriously. She proceeded to free his hands and he sat up.
"Wow. That's better." he said as he rubbed at his arms. "Did you have to make them so tight?" he asked, with a bit of a smirk on his face.
"I had to be sure." she said. "Now, I'll take that power you promised." she said waving the rolled up paper in front of him as she stood back.
"No foreplay? You just want me to fill you up?" Harry asked. He really wanted to destroy this bitch, but he could play a role when necessary, at least for a short while longer.
"We can discuss that after you've given me half of your power." she said, the glint of madness back in her eyes as he stood up to stand in front of her.
"Just a moment, please." Harry said as he summoned his armour from where she had stashed it. It flew into the room and Harry quickly donned it. "Ah, that's better. I don't like standing around in my under things." He looked at his hip and noticed his sword was missing. "Where's Urubane?" he asked.
"Your sword is mine now." She said flippantly. "I'll not give it back."
Harry sighed. "Blood bound, bitch." He said as he lifted his hand and he heard a crash, then another one. "Where did you hide it?" he asked incredulously. Finally the sword came flying into the room and into his hand.
Amora's eyes were weary as he approached her still with the sword in hand. "You cannot attack me!" she yelled. She had seen what that sword did to the Gauntlet.
"You're wrong." Harry sighed. "I really can, but if I kill you, I'll be in breach of the contract and the penalty clause will activate."
"Exactly!" she exclaimed victoriously.
Harry rolled his eyes. There was no penalty clause. She hadn't added one. Fortunately this magic was still somewhat foreign to her, so she didn't know that and pointing it out would work against him here.
"You have no idea how long I had to sit with lawyers learning about how to phrase things so that I didn't leave loop-holes in my contracts. That thing in your hand only protects you so much, but it does guarantee you half my power. If I'm not the one to kill Thanos, for example, I don't have to return to you, so I can just leave the killing blow to someone else. But I'm a man of my word and I won't shame my family by breaking the contract." Harry smiled, enjoying the build-up to the finale. He'd treasure this memory forever if everything went to plan.
Amora was amazed at the stupidity of this man. He had a perfect excuse to torture her if he wanted, so long as she lived, but he was giving her what she wanted anyway. She walked forward, the madness slipping into her eyes again. Harry put one hand on her shoulder and the other on her chest, above her heart. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry asked a final time.
"Do it!" she insisted.
"Okay." Harry said dubiously. Then he started feeding her power. Amora stood there with her eyes dilating. Her breathing became heavier and her chest started to heave. This seemed to give her some sort of sexual pleasure. Harry kept the flow up. He'd not even started pulling on his ring yet. He'd wait until the right time for that.
Amora started to pant and moan as she became drunk with power. Perhaps when she had more power than him, she'd ensnare his mind with her power and use him, before allowing him to leave. The contract stated nothing about delaying him or controlling him before letting him go. He'd be powerless to defend himself from her charms after all, as she'd be more powerful than him. She'd break him and then when he begged her to keep him, she'd send him back, leaving him wanting nothing more but to be her plaything.
She smiled at the thought. It was not a pretty smile. She soon reached a point where she expected the man to stop, but the stream was still constant. How much power did this man possess? She'd enjoy using it to do whatever she wanted. Perhaps she'd take over Midgard? Thor so loved that realm, or perhaps she should take Thor next. She'd have the power to compel him no matter how strong he was.
The power kept filling her and the man never stopped, never even looked like he tired. Maybe she'd rather keep him. Once he was under her spell, she could simply destroy the contract. He could sate her lust for power for a long time, depending on how long it takes for him to recover from this. "You're so powerful." she moaned, her knees starting to buckle under her.
Suddenly she realised there was a chair behind her. She wasn't thinking clearly anymore. It just felt so good. She fell into the chair, Harry following her with his hands and her one hand started rubbing a thigh and one slipped up to her breast. She fondled herself, giving the soon to be ensnared man a show he would likely never forget.
Harry was disgusted with the woman before him. She lusted so much for power that it affected her this much. He started upping the power, to finish this bit of unpleasantness quicker. He wasn't enjoying himself anymore. Amora started screaming her ecstasy as the power increased, but he only started funnelling everything he had the moment her eyes shot open in realization that it wasn't stopping.
"I have had enough." Amora said panting. "You may stop." Harry continued pouring it in. "I said, you may stop!" she insisted, now trying to push his hand away.
"The contract states I'll give you half my power. So far, I've not given you one percent." he said.
Amora's eyes focussed on him, realising he was not lying. "But you can't! This is an attack!" she said, now desperately trying to get him off her, but he'd long since activated his enhanced strength. Combined with his Asgardian blessings, she couldn't hope to release herself.
"No. This is what you asked for. I'm going to follow the contract exactly and try to give you half." he said triumphantly. He tapped the ring fully and started channelling the power through himself once his own stores were filled. Amora started screaming, fear now the prominent emotion on her face.
"Stop! Please stop!" Amora begged, realising he was not moving and not releasing her. She tried a last ditch effort to overpower him and formed a fireball in one hand, intending to hit him in the chest, to drive him away. As she brought her hand forward to hit him, the contract, which she had dropped when she started fondling herself, flew into its path and was burned to cinders, as the force pushed Harry back a foot, but she was still in his hands and he just pulled her with him. Her attack had destroyed the contract and he didn't even look singed.
Realising the situation for what it was, she started struggling harder as her instincts began blaring at her to stop the flood. "Stop!" she screeched. Finally, "I'm begging you! Please stop!"
Harry's face held an evil grin, "Or what? What will you do if I don't, you snivelling cow? Or do you want to make a deal for your life? Do you think there is any mercy in me, anymore? You are a disgusting power whore, who would stab me in the back for a drop of my power." he spat. Harry's eyes had started glowing with the emotion that was driving his actions now.
"Don't you get it? I have the power of many worlds suffusing my power. I gained it through helping them. Through effort and time. How long have you lived? Had you shared your power, like I did, you would have vast oceans of power more than me, but you don't because you hoarded it for yourself. This is what happens to people who seek only power. They are consumed by it!" Harry spat again.
"I'll sign a contract! Anything! Please allow me to live! I'll do anything! I'll be your toy, your plaything! You can use me to sire a sea of children! Just let me live!" she begged of this man, no, monster.
Harry was conflicted. He didn't care for her offer, but he didn't like doing what he was doing, either. He was essentially torturing this woman now. A little voice in his head was telling him that this was enough. That she would now understand. To be the man he knew he was. He really wanted to have her greed cause her death. It would be so wonderfully symbolic.
In the end Harry's nature and the voice won out. He stopped the flow, but bound her in place and petrified her body. "I would not soil myself with such a diseased creature." he said in disgust. "Instead, I will bind you into service and ask Hela if she's interested in being your keeper. She will know how to keep you in line, or simply kill you if you cause problems. Now hold your venomous tongue or I shall remove it."
Amora had just been about to object, but realised that if he could do what he just did, there would be no safe place for her to run to escape his vengeance. She could say nothing after everything she had done. In the depths of her mind she knew what she had done was wrong. She sat there in silence as he started on her final imprisonment and started weeping.
Harry quickly extracted a contract and modified the magic to be a blood bound contract. He would not trust her to lift a finger, or she might try to escape. He then worded the contract in such a way that she would be in the service of himself or anyone he designated. He did not want her near his brothers or parents. Hela, however was not going to stand for any shit.
When he was done, he conjured another chair and read her contract to her, forcing her to listen when she only cried harder. When he was done, he made sure she understood and then pricked her finger and let the blood drip on the contract. She could not believe her ears. He had even given her limited freedom. She was to be given food and shelter and everything she could need, but she would be assigned a warden, whose instructions she'd have to follow. There was even a clause for destroying the contract and re-evaluating if she was eligible for a form of parole in a timeframe to be later decided, pending a full mental check by a trained psychiatrist and/or telepath.
After Harry had her signed into the contract and vanished it to storage, she asked, through her tears, "Why are you being so lenient?"
"Where I'm from, even prisoners have rights." Harry said. "I'm trying to make the world better, not worse." Then he stood up. "Now, how do we get out of this place?"
---
Natasha was feeling something happen through the ring. She had instantly tried Fawkes again, with similar results. She called the Avengers and Loki and they gathered in Avengers Manor, just in case something happened and Harry needed them. They were all geared up in minutes and standing at the ready.
"Something huge must be going on." Natasha was saying. "I can feel Harry channelling a lot of power."
"Are you sure you can't take us to him?" Tony asked Fawkes, who was sitting nearby. He just shook his head. "Damn!" Tony swore. "We're implanting Harry with an instant recall portkey or something. I can't stand this!"
"At least you know he's alive and fighting." Fury said through Steve's mirror, where he was also standing at the ready.
"Something's changed." Natasha said worriedly. "He's losing himself again!"
Fawkes flew onto her shoulder and sent calming feelings towards her. She instantly understood. She needed to focus on getting Harry to calm down. He gave her direct access to his magic, his soul. She held her hands and focussed her mind on the task, begging Harry to calm down. To be the man he knew he was. It took a minute, but finally she could feel him exerting control again.
"It worked! Thank you Fawkes!" she cried tears of pure relief.
"What's happening?" Steve asked. He wasn't as close to Harry as some of the others, but he still considered him one of his best friends. He had blamed himself just as much as the rest that he wasn't there for Harry, but he'd also be having a word with him about calling for them in those situations.
"I think I helped him calm down and he's in control again." Natasha said. There was a sigh from most of the assembled. All of them had been made aware of his past to different degrees. They had all been shown the memory of the time he rescued Natasha and had almost killed a defenceless man out of pure rage.
They continued waiting for fifteen more minutes and then suddenly Harry appeared beside Natasha. She didn't notice his guest as she jumped into his arms and he held her. "I'm so sorry, love." he whispered.
"No, it wasn't your fault. It was that… Bitch!" she exclaimed as she finally opened her eyes and saw Amora standing behind him with a look of fear on her face.
The other Avengers had not missed her appearance and a vast array of weapons were pointed at her, most of which were from Tony.
"Why is she still breathing?" she asked dangerously.
"I couldn't kill her, Nat." Harry said. "It would be like torturing someone to death."
"Why not just cut off her head?" Sif asked in a tone that stated she'd gladly do so now.
"I kind of had to trick my way into escaping her." Harry said. "She had me almost naked and shackled in magic suppressing cuffs."
Natasha's eyes went flinty. "Naked?" she asked dangerously.
"Almost!" Harry corrected her.
"I swear to you, Lady Natasha. My master never once touched me inappropriately, even though I tried to seduce him." Amora admitted bitterly. "He is faithful like no man I have met."
"Master?" Loki asked, with a smirk now on his face, suspecting what may have happened.
"I am bound by contract until my Master feels I am capable of being around civilised beings." Amora said. She made it sound like it was her idea. Her pride would take another hit once he got around to actually sending her to Hela. He hoped she'd take her.
"Welcome back Mister Potter. Glad to see you're in one piece." Fury's voice broke in. "There are some people who will be really happy to hear you are safe, but before that, I think it's high time we find out what the hell has been going on and I think we just found our best source of information."