Before they could delve further into their reflections, a sudden portal materialized, and from it emerged Ben, accompanied by Sigurd and Maria.
"Who are they?" Brunnhilde inquired, straining to see from a distance. The rest of the group also wondered about the newcomers, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected arrivals.
"Dad, we are so late; it's already destroyed," Maria lamented, gesturing toward the devastation of Asgard.
"One thing always remember, there is nothing impossible when your dad is present, Alien X," Ben reassured, invoking the power of the formidable Alien X.
"Now witness the miracle, my daughter, and my son, Sigurd. Always remember what your dad can do," Ben declared to both of them. With a confident gesture, he directed his hands towards the location where Asgard lay in ruins, ready to showcase the extraordinary capabilities of Alien X.
"Reverse it," Ben commanded, and as if a miracle unfolded, time began to rewind. In a breathtaking spectacle, Asgard gathered itself together, undergoing a remarkable recovery. The entire realm was restored to its former glory, and the damage inflicted by Hela was undone. Miraculously, Hela herself was revived as the flow of time reversed.
The awe-inspiring scene left everyone astounded. Asgardians couldn't help but cheer, witnessing the resurrection of their realm and the return of Hela.
"Who are they? How can they achieve this?" Brunnhilde inquired, her curiosity mirroring that of the entire onlookers who were unable to discern the identities of those responsible for this extraordinary feat.
"He is your friend, bro. He is amazing, bro. What's his name, bro?" Korg inquired, with an enthusiastic nod from Miek.
"Heimdall, can you see them, who are they?" Thor directed the question to Heimdall.
Heimdall nodded, then focused on the newcomers. "No, I can't see one of them, one is a girl, and one is—" Heimdall abruptly stopped, a look of shock crossing his face.
"Who is Heimdall?" Thor pressed for an answer.
In a sudden realization, Heimdall exclaimed, "One is our Prince Sigurd, the future king of Asgard!" The proclamation reverberated, and as Heimdall's voice reached the ears of the Asgardians, they erupted into cheers, chanting, "Prince Sigurd, Prince Sigurd! Long Live Prince Sigurd!" The joyous celebration echoed the newfound hope and promise embodied by their future king.
Brunnhilde, confused by the revelations, questioned Thor, "Thor, who is Prince Sigurd?"
Thor, uncertain of how to respond, explained, "He is the son of Sif and Ben Tennyson. My father has proclaimed him as Prince Sigurd."
"What? Sif is married? And she has a son? And you're not the king of Asgard?" Brunnhilde fired off a series of questions, her confusion deepening.
Before Thor could offer further clarification, the spaceship began its journey back towards Asgard. Brunnhilde, alarmed, exclaimed, "What are all of you doing? Surtur is there, Hela is also there. You will all get killed." She perceived their actions as reckless and tried to bring them back to the reality of the impending dangers in Asgard.
"No, since our Prince Sigurd is there, nothing is going to happen," Heimdall assured, his confidence in Prince Sigurd evident. He realized that the reason he couldn't see the other person was because he was Prince Sigurd's father, Ben Tennyson.
Aware of Ben's formidable abilities, Heimdall remembered how Ben had repelled attacks from the Ether and had once saved Xandar by defeating Ronan The Accuser, even when confronted with the Power Gem.
"Who are you?" Hela questioned, bewildered by the sight of Asgard's revival before her eyes.
"And who are you? How dare you stop my Ragnarok?" Surtur pointed his sword at Ben, demanding an answer for the interference with the prophesied destruction.
"Maria, sit here and hold Sigurd," Ben instructed, handing the Sigurd to Maria. With Sigurd in her possession, Maria took a seat on the Bifrost Bridge, a magical sight newly materialized.
As this transpired, a spaceship descended, heralding the arrival of Asgardians who began to joyfully embark from the spacecraft onto Asgard. Some might perceive their exuberance as idiocy, but it was also a manifestation of their unwavering belief in Prince Sigurd, the Slayer of Malekith.
Encircling Sigurd, they orchestrated a ceremonial display, even bringing down a majestic throne from the spaceship and placing it beside Sigurd and Maria.
"Prince Sigurd, sitting on the ground doesn't suit you. Sit on this throne," Heimdall advised, his voice carrying the weight of respect as he gently lifted Sigurd and settled him onto the throne. The scene unfolded with a regal grandeur, blending the mystical essence of Asgard with the earthly presence of Ben and Maria.
While the rest of the Asgardians knelt down in front of him, a chorus of voices resonated, chanting in unison, "Long live Prince Sigurd."
"This is your Prince Sigurd," Brunnhilde declared, her gaze fixed on the child. The uncertainty lingered in her eyes as she observed the young boy, unsure of how this small child could be the answer to their prayers. After all, he was just a five-year-old.
Sigurd, however, had seamlessly settled into his elevated position. Unlike a typical child who might have been overwhelmed, he remained composed. This composure was not by chance but a result of Odin's continuous training from Sigurd's early years. The habit of receiving praise had been instilled in him since childhood, much like the times he sat on his grandpa Odin's lap.
"Yes, he is our Prince Sigurd," Heimdall affirmed with profound respect. His reverence for Sigurd surpassed even that for Thor. It was a decree from Odin the Allfather himself that Sigurd would be the future king of Asgard. All that remained was for the young prince to grow into the role destined for him.
"How can he save you? He's just a kid," Brunnhilde questioned, her doubt apparent as she grappled with the decision to seek help from a child.
"Brunnhilde, forget about everything and focus on the fight," Thor urged, redirecting their attention toward the imminent confrontation with Ben and Surtur.
Valkyrie, still marveling at the living miracle of restoration that Ben had brought about, asked, "Who is he?" Her gaze fixed on Ben, intrigued by the extraordinary power he wielded.
"He is the father of Sigurd Tennyson. He is Ben Tennyson," Loki replied, recalling the scene where Ben had effortlessly rendered Malekith powerless, even in the presence of the formidable Aether.
"I am Ben Tennyson, and Asgard is the kingdom of my son, Sigurd Tennyson!" Ben proclaimed loudly as he soared towards the colossal face of Surtur.
Hela, too, watched the scene unfold with a mix of amazement and recognition. She couldn't help but recall that even Thor had never commanded such respect as the five-year-old Sigurd was receiving.
"Whoever you are, standing between me and the destruction of Asgard, you will be destroyed as well!" Surtur bellowed, brandishing his formidable Twilight Sword and directing its immense power toward Ben.
As the colossal sword approached, Ben intercepted it effortlessly. With a display of incredible strength, he wrested the Twilight Sword from Surtur's grasp, leaving everyone in awe of the unexpected turn of events.
"How is this possible?" Surtur roared in disbelief as his powerful sword was effortlessly snatched from him. Undeterred, he lashed out with a fist towards Ben, only to have it effortlessly caught. Ben, displaying extraordinary strength, lifted Surtur slightly before slamming him forcefully onto the ground. The fiery demon body of Surtur proved ineffective against Ben's might.
Undeterred, Surtur attempted a fiery assault, releasing flames towards Ben. However, Ben effortlessly punched and dispelled the flames, then swiftly closed the gap to deliver a powerful blow to Surtur's head, causing the colossal figure to crash down once again.
Despite the evident fatigue in Surtur's movements, he taunted Ben, "You can stop me from bringing Ragnarok, but you can't kill me." The confrontation between the unstoppable force and the indomitable will unfolded, and the fate of Asgard teetered on the edge of destruction.
"Yes, you are right. I can't kill you," Ben acknowledged, and hearing it Surtur started laughing.
He continued, observing Surtur's laughter, "Your laughter will end in a few seconds. I can't kill you, not because I am unable to kill you, but because you will become a merit in my son Sigurd's name."