Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

"Sh*t!"

"Motherf—!"

Tony Stark and Nick Fury both cursed out loud as soon as they heard Ned say that not only would the upcoming battlefield be on Earth, but the artifact that the alien invaders were desperate to obtain had also been sealed on Earth by Bor.

However, Nick Fury barely got a single word of his favorite curse out before he froze. Why? Because he suddenly realized the person he was cursing might take offense—and crossing him could be a fatal mistake.

"Wow, I really thought you'd let it rip and say the whole thing," Ned teased, flashing a wicked grin at Nick Fury. "If you had, I'd have given you a thumbs-up before personally tying you up and handing you over to Thor."

"Hmph!"

Nick Fury snorted coldly before quickly steering the conversation back to business. "Enough of this nonsense. Since we know who the enemy is and what they're after, what's our next move?"

"There's not much to do except prepare for the battle and clean up afterward," Ned replied. "I'll try to locate the dangerous artifact Bor sealed before Malekith can get his hands on it. If I succeed, taking Malekith down will be a piece of cake."

"Alright. I'll have Clint and Natasha—"

"No need for them," Ned interrupted. "This time, it's different from the New York battle a year ago. Malekith's forces are nothing but remnants of a defeated army. There aren't enough minions for Clint or Natasha to bother clearing out.

"As for their stronger enemies, they're far beyond what mere mortals can handle. So, no, we're leaving them out of this one—including Rogers. He's not needed either."

Ned continued, "I've already asked Stark to contact Dr. Banner. Trust me, we won't let these invaders run rampant on our planet."

"Fine," Nick Fury nodded, standing up to leave. There wasn't much more for him to do. He already had the gist of the situation, and the actual battle wouldn't require his involvement.

Once Nick Fury left, Ned turned to Stark. "In the limited time we have, I need you to turn yourself into an astrophysicist."

"Wow," Tony Stark replied, dripping with sarcasm. He didn't take Ned's comment seriously. He had already dealt with pre-battle prep during the New York invasion—it wasn't exactly rocket science for him.

Ned went back to lounging on the couch, casually watching a movie while waiting for Thor to wake up. Stark, meanwhile, busied himself tinkering with his armor.

Finally, after what felt like ages, Thor emerged from the guest room. "Hey, my friend! How long have I been asleep?"

"Uh… Earth time? A few hours," Ned replied, slumped on the sofa. "Stark promised to treat us to dinner, but because Pepper had to deal with something last minute, a grumpy Stark canceled dinner altogether."

It was already eight or nine in the evening, and Ned figured it was time to head home. But since Thor was awake, Ned got straight to the point. "Actually, we brought you here for a reason. That's why Heimdall sent you over."

"Back when your grandfather fought the Dark Elves, he didn't manage to wipe them out completely. Their leader and a considerable number of warriors survived. Now, they're planning to make a comeback. Please, when you return, convince Odin to prepare Asgard's army for war.

"When the battle begins, we'll contact you again through Heimdall. We'll need your help here on Earth."

"Got it, got it," Thor said, his response unclear whether he fully grasped the gravity of the situation. He casually grabbed an unopened soda from the table, popped it open, and took a gulp.

Then, with a goofy grin, he added, "But first, I need to head out. I have to see Jane. She's in a place you Earthlings call 'London.' Strange name, but no matter."

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"

As Thor spoke, he twirled his hammer, spinning it rapidly.

"Crash!"

With a deafening noise, Thor smashed straight through the ceiling of Stark Tower, which had just been patched up by JARVIS.

"F*CK! My ceiling!" Stark's enraged voice echoed through the tower.

Thor hadn't flown far, daydreaming about his reunion with Jane, when a massive, multicolored beam of light descended from the heavens and enveloped him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving a scorched mark on the ground.

"Heimdall?! Why?"

Thor burst out as soon as he emerged from the Bifrost, his little eyes blazing with frustration. But Heimdall's expression remained as calm as ever.

"It's the king's orders. He wants you to meet him immediately," Heimdall replied.

"Hmph. Fine."

Thor stormed into Odin's chamber, anger radiating off him. "Father, you—"

"Enough!" Odin's furious voice cut Thor off. "From now on, don't bring up that Earth woman in front of me again!"

"Now, tell me—what did your Earthling friends say to you?"

"Uh…"

Thor paused, hesitating for a moment before slamming his right fist into his left palm. "Father, are you talking about the Dark Elves from those children's tales? Don't worry. If they dare come, I'll smash their skulls in with Mjölnir!"

"…Sigh."

Odin stared at Thor for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. After Thor's time in exile on Earth, Odin had believed his son was finally shaping up to be a decent king. Now, he realized how wrong he was.

Thor might have the right character, but his impulsive and reckless nature made him more suited for leading a charge than ruling a kingdom.

The thought made Odin's heart ache. His gaze drifted toward the dungeon, where his other son, Loki, was imprisoned. The memories weighed heavily on him.

"Put your current duties aside and enroll in Asgard's leadership training program. Learn some tactics and strategy. Dismissed."

Odin's voice left no room for argument.

"Father… Yes, Father," Thor replied reluctantly. He hated the idea of going back to that tedious training program, which was far less interesting than Earth's linguistics classes.

But seeing the unyielding look in Odin's eyes, Thor had no choice but to obey.

After Thor left, Queen Frigga stepped out from the shadows, embracing Odin. "Our son will be the greatest leader, my love. Don't worry."

"I have no doubt," Odin replied with a soft smile. Frigga's presence was his greatest comfort, and he held her gently in his arms.