"Love - Asgardian Style!"

by Matthew Turnage

The residents of New York City have become somewhat jaded. They often think they can't get through the day without seeing one super-hero or another. It's become so commonplace, they don't even notice anymore. That's why it's only the tourists who gasp in awe today, at the sight of a god among men streaking across the skyline. The Mighty Thor is returning to his earthly home following his adventure with Iron Man.

"Verily, these past several days have been enough to make a warrior's blood sing!" Thor thinks as Mjolnir pulls him through the air. "But of late I have neglected my duties as Sigurd Jarlson. Whilst my business partner, Jerry Sapristi, hath been most understanding in our business arrangement, I would not want him to feel as though I do not carry my share of the burden." Thor alights on the skyscraper home of Warhammer Construction, one of New York's newest and most successful construction firms. The automatic skylight opens, and Thor enters his penthouse apartment. Stamping his mystical hammer on the ground, Thor is transformed into his alter ego of Sigurd Jarlson.

Sigurd takes the elevator down to Warhammer's offices. Upon arriving, he proceeds to the office of his partner and friend, Jerry Sapristi. "Hello, Jerry," Sigurd greets as he enters. "How are you today, friend?"

"Hi, Sig," Jerry says as he finishes shifting some papers around on his desk. "I was actually just on my way out. I need to get down to the Stark Enterprises site on Long Island - just a few things to clear up after the damage caused in that fight the other day." (in Iron Man #357 - Matt)

"Well, I am certainly glad you can handle such things, Jerry," Sigurd laughs, "for I doubt my patience would go very far in such matters."

Jerry glances at his watch and then jumps up from his chair. "Uh oh, I didn't realize what time it was! Listen, Sig, I've got to run. If you don't mind, I put some papers about some new contracts on your desk. Look them over if you've got a minute, okay?"

"Certainly, Jerry," Sigurd says as Jerry dashes out the door.

Sigurd walks over to his own office and begins reviewing the contracts. However, he is soon interrupted by his buzzing intercom. "Mr. Jarlson?" the voice of his secretary asks.

"Yes?"

"You have someone here to see you."

"Send him in."

Sigurd looks up, somewhat curious as to who would be visiting him now. The door opens, and Sigurd is pleasantly surprised. "Jenny!" he exclaims as he stands up from behind his desk.

Jenny Sapristi, daughter of Jerry, closes the door behind her and and sultrily walks towards Sigurd. "Is my father here?"

"No," Sigurd answers.

"Good," Jenny smiles, and with a wave of her hand transforms into none other than Amora, the Enchantress. The Enchantress wraps her arms around Sigurd and kisses him. Then she pulls back slightly and asks, "Wouldst thou now remove thy mortal guise as well and join me in some fun?"

"I would love to, Amora, but I have business to attend to," Sigurd says, the disappointment clear on his face. Suddenly, his expression changes, as if he suddenly remembered something important.

"What is it?" Amora asks.

"After we returned from Asgard (two issues ago - Matt) you said you had responsibilities to attend in your mortal guise," Sigurd begins, somewhat hesitantly.

"Yes, I did," Amora answers, stepping away from Sigurd as she studies him.

Sigurd rubs his chin as he recalls recent events. "When I learned that you had merged with Jenny, Jerry and Connie were there. (it was in Thor #525 - Eagle Eye Matt) And yet Jerry has made no mention of it to me."

Amora sheepishly gazes at the floor. "I confess, upon our return from Asgard, I used a simple spell of forgetfulness on the Sapristi family." She gives Sigurd a puppy-dog look. "Art thou angry at me?"

"No," Sigurd says, still rubbing his chin in thought, "that seems wise. At the time, I was so pleased to know you were still alive, I never thought to ask... what exactly happened? How did you merge with Jenny?"

"One of my more complicated spells," Amora says. "The details are unimportant. The girl was dying, and so I saved her. Why dost thou still look puzzled?"

"It seems as if there is something else I have forgotten," Sigurd says. He shrugs. "No matter."

"And now may we leave this place?" Amora pleads.

"Very well," Sigurd agrees. "It is nearly time for lunch, and even gods must eat."

On the outskirts of Jotunheim, land of the Frost Giants, a lone rider approaches on his galloping horse. The rider is wearing a tattered cloak that flaps in the breeze as he proceeds towards his destination. As he approaches the border of the Frost Giants' kingdom, he slows his steed. A sentinel has been watching his approach. This is the messenger he has been sent to wait for.

"All is ready," the cloaked rider says to the giant. "Ready your forces for the invasion."

"The Frost Giants of Jotunheim," the sentinel grunts, "are always ready to make war on our hated enemies, the Asgardians!"

Sigurd walks the streets of Manhattan, with Amora on his left arm and his familiar duffle bag on his right shoulder. If Amora wasn't so enthralled by the presence of her lover, she might notice the presence of another, watching from afar by means of a spell.

"Curse my hated stepbrother," Loki spits as he watches the conjured image of the happy couple. "Why a woman as beautiful as Amora should dote over that buffoon boggles the mind. Such beauty should be the possession of Loki." Loki pauses, reflecting on the words he has just spoken. "Yes, she wouldst make a lovely trophy... certainly she wouldst present a most intriguing challenge. But cunning Loki knows a secret she hath hidden from the other gods... and think of the misery Thor shalt suffer when I have stolen his lady love! So be it! Let a new plan of mischief begin... but first, I must make my intentions known. And I know just the pawn to begin this little game..." And Loki begins casting a spell to set the first phase of his plans into motion.

"Why dost thou insist on wearing that mortal guise whilst we are out?" Amora asks as she and Sigurd continue walking.

"Because you insist on eating in public, and my presence as Thor would cause undue attention," Sigurd says.

"Attention we rightfully deserve, as gods among men," Amora opines.

Before the debate can continue, Sigurd and Amora hear screams from a bank half a block down the street. "Od's blood!" Sigurd exclaims. "Mortals may be in danger! You summon the authorities in case medics are needed. I shall attend to this." Without waiting for a reply, Sigurd dashes into the nearest alley.

"But, I can -" Amora cuts herself off. There's just no arguing with that man...

Alone in the alley, Sigurd reaches into his bag and pulls out Mjolnir, the enchanted uru mallet given to him by the All-Father. Stamping the mighty weapon upon the ground, Sigurd is engulfed in a flash of lightning, and is instantly transformed into his true identity as Thor, god of thunder! Thor spins Mjolnir and hurls it skyward, allowing it to carry him to the source of the disturbance.

Inside the bank in question, a dazed Wrecker looks around. "What the heck happened? How did I get in here? What's goin' on?"

Meanwhile, a security guard has the presence of mind to shout out, "Holy cow, it's one of them supervillains!" as he draws his weapon.

"Crap," the Wrecker mutters as he knocks the guard unconcious with a swat of his mystical crowbar. "Guess I'll have to figure out how I got here later," he thinks. "I've got to get outta here before trouble shows up."

But before the Wrecker can make his exit, shards of glass pepper the bank's lobby as Thor hurtles through the large window. Thor immediately recognizes his foe. "Ho, Wrecker! I thought thee above such petty theivery - but no matter! The son of Odin shall gladly vanquish thee!"

"This is great! I been set up!" the Wrecker complains as he fires a bolt of energy from his crowbar at the thunder god. Thor absorbs the blast with Mjolnir and advances upon his foe.

"Thy crowbar cannot match the power of Mjolnir," Thor declares. "Wouldst thou care to match thy strength of limb against mine?"

Amora decides to walk to the bank and watch the battle. There's no need to summon the police, they're already on their way. She'd love to help out, but she knows Thor prefers to fight alone when possible. Might as well let him have his simple pleasures, she thinks... and then she notices it. The definite presence of a being of great magical power. She turns to see a raven-haired man in a black business suit.

"Loki," she says with a hint of contempt.

"Hello, dearest Amora," Loki smiles. "How art thou on this pleasant Midgardian day?"

"Art thou behind this commotion, Loki?" Amora demands.

"Of course," Loki admits. "I had to give that oaf something to occupy him while I talked with thee."

"And what wouldst thou wish to discuss?"

"Amora," Loki shakes his head, "my step-brother's wretched looks are only matched by his stupidity. Why wouldst thou wish to waste thy time with such a dullard, when there is one who would suit thee much better?"

"I assume thou art referring to thyself, braggart?" Amora laughs.

"You cut me to the quick, milady," Loki says mockingly.

"Leave me alone, there is nothing thou hast to offer that wouldst interest me," Amora says as she turns on her heels.

"Art thou sure?" Loki says as he catches her before she walks away. "Odin may have been too occupied with the Weeping Dawn to notice what happened between thee and Jenny Sapristi, but it did not escape Loki's attention. And whilst Thor may be too stupid to notice thy spell..."

"Enough," Amora warns. "Do not tempt my wrath, Loki..."

"Woman, thou dost make my blood run hot!" Loki grins. "We are destined for each other, you and I."

Meanwhile, Thor has successfully deflected the Wrecker's blast with Mjolnir, and now struggles with his foe as they each grip their opponent's hands.

"Thor, I didn't want a fight, but I'll sure give you one!" Wrecker grunts as he struggles against the Odinson's powerful limbs.

"Aye, and thou shalt not find the Thunder God lacking, either!" Thor says as he increases the pressure of his grip.

The Wrecker begins to bend under the pressure, almost going to one knee. He shifts his weight to keep from going down, and then stares into his opponent's eyes. "You may be strong, Thor," the Wrecker gasps, "but I've got you at a disadvantage!"

"How so, evil one?" Thor says as presses even harder.

"You don't fight dirty!" the Wrecker answers, and punctuates his comment with a swift kick to Thor's groin.

"Od's blood!" Thor gasps as he releases the Wrecker and falls to one knee. "Thou stinking cur..."

"Hah! That'll teach ya, Goldilocks!" the Wrecker laughs as he delivers a kick to Thor's head. The Wrecker doesn't waste any more time - he quickly grabs his crowbar and strikes the base of Thor's skull with as much power as he can muster. "I still don't know how I ended up here, but I ain't so stupid I can't take advantage of a situation!" The Wrecker delivers his next blow to Thor's back with sufficient power to demolish a building.

Meanwhile, in the rear of the bank, policemen have been evacuating the customers and employees by the emergency exit. At the sound of the last blow, one officer turns to see the Wrecker savagely pounding on Thor. "Good lord, how can any man take such a beating?" he says, his voice tinged with fear.

His partner looks on in shock. "I think Thor's had it," he says as he shakes his head. "Look, we got everybody out. Let's get outta here ourselves - I think we're gonna have to call in the other Avengers!"

Just then, Thor staggers to his feet, his enchanted warhammer tightly gripped in his right hand. His eyes are daggers as he looks at the Wrecker and shouts, "ENOW! Tis Thor's turn to mete out punishment!"

"On second thought maybe we should just get outta here, period!" the police- man says before he and his partner make a hasty exit.

In the next second, the remaining glass in the bank shatters as Thor introduces Mjolnir to the Wrecker's chin. The Wrecker suddenly finds himself against the far wall, having crashed through the teller cage on his journey. He has just enough time to raise his crowbar to prevent Thor's next blow.

The Wrecker returns to his feet, and swings his crowbar as Thor swings Mjolnir. The two mystical weapons strike each other, and an incredible surge of energy is unleashed, knocking out the power on this city block.

The feedback from the blow staggers the Wrecker, but then he realizes where he's standing. Instead of attacking his opponent again, he strikes a support column he stands near. The column gives way easily, and soon the entire structure begins to groan.

"Ha!" the Wrecker laughs. "Now you can either let the building collapse, or you can catch me!"

"Aye!" Thor says, and instead of bracing the crumbling support like the Wrecker expects, Thor grabs the Wrecker and holds him as the ceiling tumbles down on the two mighty adversaries.

Seconds later, the dust begins to clear, and the rubble shifts as Thor arises from under the incredible weight of the concrete. In his grip is the dazed form of the Wrecker.

"Thou outsmarted thyself," Thor tells the Wrecker as the villain begins to slip into unconciousness. "Twas no central support column thou struck - the entire building was in no danger of collapsing, only the section directly above."

Thor drags the Wrecker outside and turns him over to the authorities. As the police thank Thor for his assistance, the indignant bank manager angrily accosts Thor. "You've ruined my bank!" he shouts. "It'll take weeks to repair the damage! And the cost-!"

"Fear not, mortal," Thor calmly explains. "Thy costs shall be reimbursed by the Mighty Avengers. As for the damage, be grateful the Wrecker did not do as much as he wished." Not waiting for further reply, Thor takes to the air.

Returning to the secluded alley where he left Amora, Thor changes back into his identity as Sigurd Jarlson. Rejoining with Amora, he asks, "I hope you were not bored during my absense."

"Oh no," a slightly distracted Amora responds.

"Are you troubled?" Sigurd asks.

"No, no, it's nothing," Amora reassures Sigurd. But she most definitely is worried. If Loki knows, how much longer can she keep her secret...?

The Golden City of Asgard.

One of the city's finest warriors bursts into the main audience chamber of the All-Father, Odin, ruler of the gods. "Thou returns with thy report?" Odin simply asks.

"Aye, my liege," the warrior replies. "It is true - the Frost Giants are arraying their forces against us. Tis a full invasion they intend!"

"Very well," Odin replies. "Call the warriors together - war is once again coming to Asgard."

The warrior bows and leaves the chamber. Once he is gone, the Grand Vizier leans close to Odin. "My liege, I sense more troubles thee than this invasion alone."

"Aye, thou art most perceptive," Odin says. "There is more than simple invasion afoot here... no, something much more sinister is about to rear its head."

Next Issue: Loki makes a serious play for the Enchantress, and Thor's none too pleased. But will he be even less pleased if Loki reveals Amora's secret? Guess you'll just have to read Thor #530 to find out!

...but before that, you may want to check out the X-O Manowar/Thor crossover, coming soon to the Valiant fanfic page. It takes place in between this issue and the next, and features Loki's next attempt to get Thor out of the way while he makes another play for Amora - and that's just how the story starts! It's written by none other than Barry Reese, so you'll be guarranteed high quality entertainment!

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