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~Previously~

Examining the penetration of the sharp object, Eira sighed. "I'd say you've still got a couple days, Ryu. Go take a chill pill and stop scratching. It only makes the itching worse." At Ryu's groan of a reply, she huffed. "I don't like to hear that tone of voice from you, young man. No dinner for the next week."

"Rrrrgh?! Raaawrgh!" Ryu collapsed to the ground in defeat.

"I don't care how good my cooking is. You shouldn't have been such an immature dragon." Eira turned to the Avengers. "Sorry he put you to this. He's about to shed his skin for the first time, and it's a big thing for young dragons such as that one. Not to mention he's never had any patience whatsoever."

~Present~

"The first time a dragon sheds their skin, they mature from whatever stage of growth they're in to an adult. Honestly, I didn't think it'd happen for another few decades or so ..." Eira sighed.

"And how does this affect us?" Wanda asked.

Eira sighed. "Nidhogg. Parent dragons always look after their young and it's a big deal when their children molt for the first time ..."

"Like a graduation ceremony." Natasha nodded in understanding.

"Yup. Complete with bonfires and mass destruction." Eira sighed. "So I'm afraid that I'll not be able to make it to Stark's party."

~*~*~*~

"Ugh ..." Ryu groaned. "Mother?" He was standing in the doorway, rubbing his eye.

Eira looked up from her laptop. "What is it, Ryu?"

"I don't feel so well ... Like something's coming ..." Ryu yawned.

Eira closed her laptop. "How long?"

"A few hours ...? I've just been feeling sick to my stomach ..."

Oh, for the love of Valhalla. How?! Eira rushed over to Ryu. "We need to get you to Niflhiem before-" She was cut off by an earth-trembling explosion.

"RRRAAWRRRGH!"

"That ..." Eira said in a small voice. "Oh, gods. How?!" Eira watched as a large red dragon reared on its hind legs. It brought its talons toward the building, cutting it like a hot knife through chocolate.

Ryu stared at the dragon, then raced out. His wiry figure changed into the familiar dragon Eira was used to seeing. He roared and tackled the red dragon.

"Nidhogg!" Eira cried. "Take him and leave! I'll come for him in a few days' time!"

The red dragon started heaving heavy breaths. No. It was laughing.

"You foolish Asgardian! You didn't think I'd know what you are? I've discovered the truth: You were going to reap him and use him as your slave for all of eternity!" Nidhogg roared at the woman. "Now, I'll take from you what you took from me!"

The next thing Eira knew was a burning pain in her chest as she flew back. She broke through the bedroom wall and hit the opposing hallway wall with enough force to leave a good-sized crater. Helplessly, she watched Nidhogg take Ryu away as she lost consciousness.

~*~*~*~

The next thing Eira knew, she was back in the sick wing.

At least the burning had reduced to a dull ache. She sat up, looking around. Everything seemed a bit more fuzzy than before. She shook her head, swinging her legs over to the side of the bed.

"Oh! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Eira looked at Helen Cho. "A bit worse that usual, but better than before I blacked out. How long was I out?"

Helen looked at the clock. "A bit over a day."

"Dammit!" Eira snapped. "I've got to go. I don't care what you say, I-" As she stood up, a wave of dizziness rushed over her. She sat back down with a thump. "What happened?"

"I don't know how to begin ..." Dr. Cho looked anxious.

"Then begin where I blacked out! I just hit the wall, literally! What happened after that?!" Eira demanded.

"Steve found you. You had a gash in your chest and were bleeding profusely. None of us were sure you would make it ..."

Eira nodded slowly. "Where's Ryu?" she asked in a nicer tone.

"The dragon took him."

Eira sighed. "Damn. If only I had acted sooner ..." She put a hand over the bandages, grinding her teeth. "This wouldn't have happened."

Dr. Cho shook her head. "It's not your fault." She cleared her throat. "The Avengers wanted to know when you woke up, so I'll go tell them now."

When the Avengers got back, Eira was just finishing tying up her gauntlets. "What are you doing?" Steve asked.

"What's it look like?" Eira scoffed. "I'm going into battle to get my son back."

"How will you travel between realms?" Vision asked. "Nidhogg took the Soul Stone out of your body."

Eira stared at him, confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"There is no Soul Stone inside you."

The Asgardian sat down on the bed in shock. What? How could that happen? Is there something I'm missing here? Is that why he was so angry with me? What's going to happen to me? What's going to happen to Ryu?! Her mind wouldn't stop racing. "By all means, I should have died, then." She shook her head with a cold smile. "I'm giving chase. Who's with me?"

~*~*~*~

This was, perhaps, something akin to a mistake ... Eira was leaning against a pillar in Valhalla, having sent the Avengers to gather the Valkyrie. She was breathing heavily, and a thin sheen of sweat made her face seem to glow in the firelight. I hate to admit this, but I relied on the stone far too much. I could go off to face Nidhogg by myself, but that just guarantees my death. Besides, it's not as if I'm too proud to ask people for help ... but they've got their own lives to live. This was my mistake, and I might as well fix it on my own. Eira pushed herself off the pillar, summoning strength using her vast pool of magic.

She ordered the Valkyrie guarding her room to tell the Avengers that she went off on her own. She didn't specify where she was going, but she didn't make it seem like she was planning anything important ... or so she thought.

Traveling to Niflhiem was going to be a difficult task. Although Valhalla boasted the mightiest warriors from the realms, the pathway to the realm of fog wasn't often used. No Valkyrie in this generation had dared to travel there, on threats from the dragons themselves. However, that wasn't going to stop Eira from going there. If anything, it merely egged her on.

"Eira?"

The Valkyrie stopped, turning around to face the brave soldier who had called her name. "What do you want, Steve?" she asked. She didn't mean for it to come out as cold and harsh as it did.

Steve stopped a few feet away from her. "I know what you're doing. And I'm going to come with you, whether you want me to or not."

"Sure. Why not? I could always use the company when I know I'm going to my death. Come on. I won't stop for you if you fall behind." Eira continued on the pathway to Niflhiem.

The first thing they saw when they crossed realms was the bright glow of fires raging. The fog had all but lifted, revealing the utter massacre of the realm.

Steve stopped in horror, but Eira pressed onward. "I had a feeling that Nidhogg would go completely berserk." She stopped by a dragon with silver scales. "If he did take the Soul Stone, he would have gone mad and killed anyone he viewed as a threat." Her hand stroked the dragon's neck, gliding over the scales like water. "Which means we probably don't have much time left before he looses himself completely. Are you with me, Captain?"

Steve snapped out of his daze and nodded. "I'm with you."

Eira continued deeper into the heart of the realm, where the fires were burning brighter and hotter. The only time she stopped was when a roar sounded close to the two. "Stay hidden. There's no telling what he's going to do." Eira drew her knives and charged into the fire-lit clearing.

The red dragon that had attacked her before was fighting another dragon, with iridescent scales. The smaller dragon had no chance of living, but it still put up a fight. Its tail lashed out as the red dragon pushed it to the ground on its back. It let out a roar, pushing the dragon away with its hand-like feet. The red dragon jumped back, snorting smoke from its nostrils. It shook its head, inhaling with its mouth open.

Eira didn't need the Stone to translate what the dragon was growling. It was furious with the iridescent dragon because of the child it produced for him.

Seeing her chance, the Asgardian rushed forward, leaping onto the dragon's back and plunging her knives into the wing blades. It roared, shaking itself to get its attacker off. Eira knew that the damage would be enough to keep Nidhogg grounded for a little while. "Go!" she ordered the smaller dragon. "Get out of here!" She yelped as Nidhogg finally threw her off. His green eyes, once hazel, stared at her in a blind rage. His maw opened, grabbing her by the arm. His teeth punctured her arm as he threw her up in the air. The next thing Eira knew, she was staring into the open mouth of a dragon, ready to eat her.

"Eira!"

"Mother!"

And everything went black.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

~Previously~

Examining the penetration of the sharp object, Eira sighed. "I'd say you've still got a couple days, Ryu. Go take a chill pill and stop scratching. It only makes the itching worse." At Ryu's groan of a reply, she huffed. "I don't like to hear that tone of voice from you, young man. No dinner for the next week."

"Rrrrgh?! Raaawrgh!" Ryu collapsed to the ground in defeat.

"I don't care how good my cooking is. You shouldn't have been such an immature dragon." Eira turned to the Avengers. "Sorry he put you to this. He's about to shed his skin for the first time, and it's a big thing for young dragons such as that one. Not to mention he's never had any patience whatsoever."

~Present~

"The first time a dragon sheds their skin, they mature from whatever stage of growth they're in to an adult. Honestly, I didn't think it'd happen for another few decades or so ..." Eira sighed.

"And how does this affect us?" Wanda asked.

Eira sighed. "Nidhogg. Parent dragons always look after their young and it's a big deal when their children molt for the first time ..."

"Like a graduation ceremony." Natasha nodded in understanding.

"Yup. Complete with bonfires and mass destruction." Eira sighed. "So I'm afraid that I'll not be able to make it to Stark's party."

~*~*~*~

"Ugh ..." Ryu groaned. "Mother?" He was standing in the doorway, rubbing his eye.

Eira looked up from her laptop. "What is it, Ryu?"

"I don't feel so well ... Like something's coming ..." Ryu yawned.

Eira closed her laptop. "How long?"

"A few hours ...? I've just been feeling sick to my stomach ..."

Oh, for the love of Valhalla. How?! Eira rushed over to Ryu. "We need to get you to Niflhiem before-" She was cut off by an earth-trembling explosion.

"RRRAAWRRRGH!"

"That ..." Eira said in a small voice. "Oh, gods. How?!" Eira watched as a large red dragon reared on its hind legs. It brought its talons toward the building, cutting it like a hot knife through chocolate.

Ryu stared at the dragon, then raced out. His wiry figure changed into the familiar dragon Eira was used to seeing. He roared and tackled the red dragon.

"Nidhogg!" Eira cried. "Take him and leave! I'll come for him in a few days' time!"

The red dragon started heaving heavy breaths. No. It was laughing.

"You foolish Asgardian! You didn't think I'd know what you are? I've discovered the truth: You were going to reap him and use him as your slave for all of eternity!" Nidhogg roared at the woman. "Now, I'll take from you what you took from me!"

The next thing Eira knew was a burning pain in her chest as she flew back. She broke through the bedroom wall and hit the opposing hallway wall with enough force to leave a good-sized crater. Helplessly, she watched Nidhogg take Ryu away as she lost consciousness.

~*~*~*~

The next thing Eira knew, she was back in the sick wing.

At least the burning had reduced to a dull ache. She sat up, looking around. Everything seemed a bit more fuzzy than before. She shook her head, swinging her legs over to the side of the bed.

"Oh! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Eira looked at Helen Cho. "A bit worse that usual, but better than before I blacked out. How long was I out?"

Helen looked at the clock. "A bit over a day."

"Dammit!" Eira snapped. "I've got to go. I don't care what you say, I-" As she stood up, a wave of dizziness rushed over her. She sat back down with a thump. "What happened?"

"I don't know how to begin ..." Dr. Cho looked anxious.

"Then begin where I blacked out! I just hit the wall, literally! What happened after that?!" Eira demanded.

"Steve found you. You had a gash in your chest and were bleeding profusely. None of us were sure you would make it ..."

Eira nodded slowly. "Where's Ryu?" she asked in a nicer tone.

"The dragon took him."

Eira sighed. "Damn. If only I had acted sooner ..." She put a hand over the bandages, grinding her teeth. "This wouldn't have happened."

Dr. Cho shook her head. "It's not your fault." She cleared her throat. "The Avengers wanted to know when you woke up, so I'll go tell them now."

When the Avengers got back, Eira was just finishing tying up her gauntlets. "What are you doing?" Steve asked.

"What's it look like?" Eira scoffed. "I'm going into battle to get my son back."

"How will you travel between realms?" Vision asked. "Nidhogg took the Soul Stone out of your body."

Eira stared at him, confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"There is no Soul Stone inside you."

The Asgardian sat down on the bed in shock. What? How could that happen? Is there something I'm missing here? Is that why he was so angry with me? What's going to happen to me? What's going to happen to Ryu?! Her mind wouldn't stop racing. "By all means, I should have died, then." She shook her head with a cold smile. "I'm giving chase. Who's with me?"

~*~*~*~

This was, perhaps, something akin to a mistake ... Eira was leaning against a pillar in Valhalla, having sent the Avengers to gather the Valkyrie. She was breathing heavily, and a thin sheen of sweat made her face seem to glow in the firelight. I hate to admit this, but I relied on the stone far too much. I could go off to face Nidhogg by myself, but that just guarantees my death. Besides, it's not as if I'm too proud to ask people for help ... but they've got their own lives to live. This was my mistake, and I might as well fix it on my own. Eira pushed herself off the pillar, summoning strength using her vast pool of magic.

She ordered the Valkyrie guarding her room to tell the Avengers that she went off on her own. She didn't specify where she was going, but she didn't make it seem like she was planning anything important ... or so she thought.

Traveling to Niflhiem was going to be a difficult task. Although Valhalla boasted the mightiest warriors from the realms, the pathway to the realm of fog wasn't often used. No Valkyrie in this generation had dared to travel there, on threats from the dragons themselves. However, that wasn't going to stop Eira from going there. If anything, it merely egged her on.

"Eira?"

The Valkyrie stopped, turning around to face the brave soldier who had called her name. "What do you want, Steve?" she asked. She didn't mean for it to come out as cold and harsh as it did.

Steve stopped a few feet away from her. "I know what you're doing. And I'm going to come with you, whether you want me to or not."

"Sure. Why not? I could always use the company when I know I'm going to my death. Come on. I won't stop for you if you fall behind." Eira continued on the pathway to Niflhiem.

The first thing they saw when they crossed realms was the bright glow of fires raging. The fog had all but lifted, revealing the utter massacre of the realm.

Steve stopped in horror, but Eira pressed onward. "I had a feeling that Nidhogg would go completely berserk." She stopped by a dragon with silver scales. "If he did take the Soul Stone, he would have gone mad and killed anyone he viewed as a threat." Her hand stroked the dragon's neck, gliding over the scales like water. "Which means we probably don't have much time left before he looses himself completely. Are you with me, Captain?"

Steve snapped out of his daze and nodded. "I'm with you."

Eira continued deeper into the heart of the realm, where the fires were burning brighter and hotter. The only time she stopped was when a roar sounded close to the two. "Stay hidden. There's no telling what he's going to do." Eira drew her knives and charged into the fire-lit clearing.

The red dragon that had attacked her before was fighting another dragon, with iridescent scales. The smaller dragon had no chance of living, but it still put up a fight. Its tail lashed out as the red dragon pushed it to the ground on its back. It let out a roar, pushing the dragon away with its hand-like feet. The red dragon jumped back, snorting smoke from its nostrils. It shook its head, inhaling with its mouth open.

Eira didn't need the Stone to translate what the dragon was growling. It was furious with the iridescent dragon because of the child it produced for him.

Seeing her chance, the Asgardian rushed forward, leaping onto the dragon's back and plunging her knives into the wing blades. It roared, shaking itself to get its attacker off. Eira knew that the damage would be enough to keep Nidhogg grounded for a little while. "Go!" she ordered the smaller dragon. "Get out of here!" She yelped as Nidhogg finally threw her off. His green eyes, once hazel, stared at her in a blind rage. His maw opened, grabbing her by the arm. His teeth punctured her arm as he threw her up in the air. The next thing Eira knew, she was staring into the open mouth of a dragon, ready to eat her.

"Eira!"

"Mother!"

And everything went black.