Meanwhile, over in New Mexico, things were heating up.
Agent Coulson received urgent orders and rushed over there overnight. Upon arrival at the location with the unusual energy readings, all they found was a bizarre rune marking and a large crater, as if something heavy had crashed into the earth.
Thankfully, it was in a desolate area. Otherwise, the impact could have caused serious casualties.
Coulson, seeing nothing but the rune and the crater, nevertheless ordered his team to cordon off the area. The energy readings S.H.I.E.L.D. detected suggested this could be a supernatural event.
The strange rune could be part of some cult ritual, but that would have to wait for verification from a specialized team.
Shortly after securing the site, Coulson received another update. Shortly after the energy spike, Tony Stark had been spotted at the location.
Satellite images confirmed that when Stark returned to his estate, he was holding something resembling a hammer.
That meant whatever had fallen into the crater was likely taken by Tony Stark.
S.H.I.E.L.D. now had a problem. If a civilian had taken something, retrieving it wouldn't be difficult. But Tony Stark was no ordinary civilian.
Convincing Stark to give up what he had taken would be next to impossible. Coulson would have to manage this situation carefully.
Given that Tony had already gotten involved, Coulson suspected that this was, indeed, a supernatural case. He needed to act fast, ensuring all witnesses were silenced and any trace of the event was erased. If anything leaked online, it would spark chaos.
Meanwhile, in Asgard…
Heimdall, the all-seeing gatekeeper, was startled. Thor's hammer, enchanted by Odin's curse, had been lifted — not by one person, but two.
He couldn't help but question whether Odin had enchanted the hammer properly. How could it be that, moments after sending Mjolnir to Earth, two people already met the standard to lift it?
Of course, Heimdall wouldn't dare ask Odin such a thing aloud.
Back on Earth, in New Mexico, Thor woke up in a hospital bed.
"Heimdall! Take me back!" Thor shouted as he leaped out of bed. "Heimdall!"
But despite Thor's repeated calls, there was no response from the ever-reliable gatekeeper.
Panic set in. Thor, now stranded on Earth without his hammer, was overwhelmed by the enormity of his fall from grace. No one could have seen this coming.
The commotion Thor stirred up drew the attention of the hospital staff, but he quickly fled, desperate to find Mjolnir and a way back to Asgard.
As Thor hurried down the road, he was spotted by two familiar-looking young women.
"Jane, look! Isn't that the guy from last night?" Darcy Lewis pointed at the tall, muscular man striding down the street, baffled to see him out of the hospital so soon.
After all, they had hit him with their car last night. Most people would be bedridden for at least a few days, but this guy looked like nothing had happened.
Jane Foster, hearing Darcy's comment, quickly pulled over and stepped out of the car, her curiosity piqued by the man's miraculous recovery.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Jane asked, stopping the man in the hospital gown.
"I think I've seen you before," Thor replied, studying the woman's face.
"Of course you have! We're the ones who hit you with our car last night," Darcy chimed in with a big grin. "By the way, I'm Darcy Lewis. What's your name, handsome?"
"I am Thor, God of Thunder," Thor responded without hesitation.
"Are you serious? You're not still playing make-believe, are you?" Darcy asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Last night's ramblings about gods and mythology had already raised suspicions, but now, hearing him repeat it, she was even more convinced he might be a little crazy.
"I have no time for your nonsense, woman," Thor grumbled, narrowing his eyes at Darcy.
Jane, more composed than her friend, spoke up. "My name is Jane Foster. We're sorry about the accident last night. Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Jane, look at him! He doesn't need any help. He's fine!" Darcy interjected, waving her hand dismissively.
But Jane ignored her, her eyes focused on Thor. Something about him was different. He wasn't just an ordinary man. The strange events surrounding him, coupled with the names he'd shouted last night — names straight out of Norse mythology — intrigued her.
"If you're having trouble, we can try to help," Jane offered sincerely.
Thor considered the offer. His priority was to find Mjolnir, but he was painfully aware that running around Earth in hospital clothes wouldn't help.
"Very well," he said with a sigh. "I need new clothes."
"Of course. Follow us," Jane replied.
Thor, still keen to find Mjolnir, decided it was best to follow Jane and Darcy for now. At least with proper clothing, he'd be less conspicuous.
Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 180 at patreon.com/MythicForge11.