Chapter 5, Phase 8 - Storybook

Response To: 'The World Without You'

Grimara and Nightfall had spent weeks preparing an army fit to ravage Ulfrheim. Deep within the frozen reaches of Niflheim they had gathered followers, the darkest of magic wielders, and readied themselves beside the portal resting beneath Frostfall Lake. Helvalla had never truly been their destination, not really. It was the Crescent Throne they wanted. To get it they would need to go to Ulfrheim first. But what they had not prepared for was Neebo.

In his panic to protect both the Brunnrekka and Yggdravixen, he had sealed the pathways entirely, collapsing the bridge between the two realms before Grimara could force her army through it. Every attempt to reopen the crossing by both her and Nightfall had failed. That was until Skorgrim of course.

The moment Grimara realized who he truly was, how could she possibly say no? Aurora may have possessed blood capable of answering Helvalla itself through her fated ties to the island, but Skorgrim sat before her now like a gift placed carefully into her paws by fate itself. Fenrir's bloodline. Powerful blood that would surely answer her call. Enough, Grimara hoped, to force the veil apart.

Very quickly after Skorgrim's blood hissed eagerly into the flames, Grimara realized something was wrong. The portal convulsed violently before them, crimson and gold magic thrashing outward hard enough to batter everyone standing too close, as though the breach itself was lashing out in pain.

"No..." Grimara breathed sharply, staggering backwards as she fought against the violent bursts of magic. "No, that's impossible!"

Just hours prior, Ylva had guided Hel's two fjord horses slowly toward the highest peaks of Helheim's Gate at Hel's request. The journey had been agonizingly slow, Hel barely able to keep herself upright for more than a few moments at a time. Ylva hated the look of pain etched into her features as the carriage rolled over the rocky terrain. She hated the weakness in her movements. More than once Hel caught Ylva staring at her with that same unbearable grief she had carried ever since Haldor's Pass. Hel couldn't help but feel responsible for it.

Maybe if they had never become soulbound to begin with, Ylva would still have her family. Maybe she would still be seen. Loved openly instead of spoken about in whispers and judgemental glares. But none of that mattered now. Hel had promised Ylva she would take them somewhere safe, and she would be damned if her injuries stopped her from giving the two of them peace at last.

Weakly, Ylva helped Hel onto all fours as another violent cough wracked her chest.

"Are you sure you're alright, love?" Ylva spoke softly.

Hel lifted her gaze toward Ylva, finding strength in the devotion that reflected back at her through tear-glossed eyes. "I'm alright, my love," Hel whispered back softly. "Step back please."

Ylva hesitated, but eventually retreated as instructed while Hel dragged herself toward the edge of Helheim's Gate. Darkness churned violently beneath the mountain peaks, the void below groaning as blackened eosteric magic slowly spread outward beneath Hel's now trembling paws. She closed her eyes tightly to focus.

"As above..." she whispered beneath her breath.

The void answered immediately, its roar shaking the mountain itself as Ylva attempted to ground herself.

"...so below," Hel finished.

The tallest peak erected before them burst into a radiant and blinding light. The pulse exploded outward violently, racing down through Helheim's Gate and deep into the winding paths below as stone cracked apart beneath the force. Massive boulders splintered free from the cliffsides as they thundered downward into the darkness beneath. And in that exact same moment, Grimara's portal ruptured.

Blood magic collided violently with eosteric magic as both portals opened simultaneously across both Ulfrheim and Niflheim, the forces twisting together into something corrupted and unknown. Crimson and golden light folded inward upon itself as though reality itself could no longer withstand the pressure between them. Every soul caught within either portal was consumed instantly, light swallowing everything and everyfel whole.

You were battered by the raw and unshaped magic, elemental forces tearing you around so quickly your mind could hardly comprehend what was happening. Fire became ocean, ice became rain, and wind screamed loud enough to deafen everyfel before collapsing suddenly into silence. You plummeted for what felt like an eternity, the silence embracing you, until a sudden and jarring impact brought you back to reality with startling focus.

You groaned softly as you pulled yourself back onto all fours, savaged by yet another portal after what felt like endless years tumbling through nothingness. Golden shores stretched endlessly around you beneath unfamiliar heavens above, glowing softly below strange constellations overhead.

Nearby, Ylva was already helping Hel steady herself while Grimara stared openly in disbelief at the landscape surrounding them. Skorgrim quickly pulled himself upright, shaking out his coat, while Aurora slowly rose further down the shoreline, confusion painted clearly across her expression. For a long moment nofel spoke. Then finally Ylva broke the silence.

"What happened?"

Hel looked just as unsettled as everyfel by the answer as she spoke it.

"I opened a portal to Hymnlaeja," she admitted, glancing around at the others now gathered along the shoreline. "What are all of you doing here?"

Aurora's ears pinned back tight against her head as Grimara explained their own attempt to force passage from Niflheim to Ulfrheim. Realization slowly surfaced in Hel's expression.

"The portal I opened..." she began carefully, "was only meant for Ylva and I. It was a one way ticket, so there is no intention to return."

You exchanged a confused look with Aurora, though Ylva refused to meet either of your gazes. An awkward silence settled over the group before Hel finally cleared her throat.

"There is another way. Jormungandr was my gift to Loki. Because of that... I can still call upon a portal to Jormungandr. Even here."

The moment Loki's name left Hel's lips, something dark flashed across Aurora's expression. It was painted in clear shades of frustration, bitterness, and pain.

What in Fenrir's name was she preparing for?

Stay tuned for the next Storybook prompt!

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