A Deal of False Love

693 B.C - Xandar: Asera's Apartment

The goddess tossed and turned in her bed, a troubled look on her sleeping face.

She was currently dreaming, though a dream might not be an entirely accurate term.

Inside of the girl's mind, she was back on Asgard, though no one seemed to notice her, as if she was a ghost.

What had drawn the girl's attention though was that Scáthach was there aswell. The woman was standing in a similar cell to her own from when she was still there. She had a ragged look on herself. She had scratches and bruises on her face, most likely even more under her clothing.

The spear wielder had a scrunched up face, looking down at the ground with her eyes closed. Then, suddenly she looked up and stared at Asera intently.

"Oh thank goodness." Scáthach said, relief replacing the scrunched face that she had. "Asera, I need your help."

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693 B.C - Xandar: Asera's Apartment

Esrie had been trying to wake her partner for a few minutes now, the concern marring her features never once leaving her face.

She had woken up when she felt large amounts of movements on her and Asera's bed, seeing that Asera was having a nightmare.

"Asera, Asera." Esrie said, a calming tone in her voice. The concern she felt for the girl not making it into her voice. "Please wake up, it's just a nightmare."

Asera shot up out of the bed, falling off the bed in the process. Asera had a wide-eyed look in her eyes, breathing raggedly.

Esrie stepped out of the bed, bringing the glossy eyed girl into an embrace.

The two broke contact, Esrie seeing that Asera had a downcast look in her eye.

Gently placing her hands onto Asera's cheeks, she placed a light kiss on her forehead, "What is wrong Sera?"

The dark haired woman wiped the small tear that flowed down Asera's face.

"I'm sorry." Asera said quietly, repeating it slightly like a mantra.

Esrie shook her head, "My love, you have nothing to be sorry for. Please, just tell me what is wrong."

Asera pulled Esrie's hands down from her face, another tear silently streaming down her face. "I have to go."

Esrie gave the girl a confused look. "Why? A-And where will you even be going?"

Asera gave her first love a sad glance, before looking back down, a shamed frown on her face. "I have to go far, far away from here."

Then, quietly once more, she mumbled that she was sorry.

"B-but...." Esrie, said, silent tears flowing down her face. "What if I came with you?"

Asera look up at her quickly, a happy look gracing her face before she frowned once more. "No, you can't. It's far to dangerous."

"Asera, where ever you go, I promised I'd go with you. Please, let me come with you."

Asera looked at her, backing away slightly. "Fine, if you can hit me one time, I'll bring you with me."

Esrie frowned at the ultimatum, not wanting to hit Asera in the slightest. Then again, she wanted to be away from Asera even less.

Esrie sighed, throwing the best punch she could at Asera, only to see Asera simply swipe it away easily with her hand.

"I'm sorry, but it has to be this way Esrie." Asera said, tears once more streaming down her face.

The goddess quickly pulled her into partner into a quick, chaste, kiss. She brushed the wet tears off her partner's face. "I'll be back, I promise my Love."

Then, Esrie watched as her girlfriend faded into motes of green light.

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693 B.C - Xandar: Empty Field

Asera, with her eyes still glossy, tossed a rather large gem into the empty field she now stood in.

She watched as a pedestal formed with the cube holding the space stone on top of it. She had created a bounded field when she first arrived, making all the inhabitants of the planet ignore this area, but as an extra caution, she made it so the cube stayed invisible, the gem being the only one-time key to disillusion the cube.

With one final wipe to her eyes, Asera grabbed the cube and opened a portal.

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693 B.C - Greece: Fields

Asera stepped out of the portal, relishing the the amount of ambient mana in the environment, instantly noticing the calling of the stone she had escaped from when she went to Xandar.

Luckily, she had a far more important goal than finding why the stone was calling to her.

In her dream, Scáthach had explained why she was in the dungeons of Asgard.

Apparently, Odin had been angered he had still yet to find her, so he went through out the Nine Realms trying to find people who might know where Asera was.

The only person who the Norse could actually take without starting a war was Scáthach, so they decided she would be the best choice.

Also only choice, but that's besides the point.

Sadly, Asera knew she wouldn't be able to get Scáthach out of Asgard on her own, so she came to Greece.

She wanted to have large amounts of backup for when she decided to invade Asgard to retrieve her mentor.

So, now that Asera had a good look at the mountain she wished to go to, she once more used the stone to teleport.

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694 B.C - Greece: Mount Olympus

Asera watched as the Greek Deities flashed into the throne room, golden flashes signifying their arrival.

"Why have you come here Asgardian!" Zeus said with an extremely angered tone, leveling his Master Bolt at the girl.

Hera tried calming her husband, not wanting to have him start yet another Pantheon War.

Asera held up her hands, in the universal sign of surrender. "Zeus, I come in peace, I just wish to talk, and make a deal if possible."

Zeus had a thoughtful look on his face, before he lowered his Master Bolt.

Asera let out a sigh of relief she didn't know she had been holding. "I wish for you to help me start another war."

At this, the Olympians all started shouting objections, before Zeus once more silenced them.

"Why would you wish for that, and what makes you think we want one."

"I wish for the death of my father, and I know you wish to be the only gods left. So, the deal is that I will help you win the Pantheon war, you help me destroy Asgard."

Of course, Asera didn't actually want to destroy Asgard, she simply wanted the Pantheon War to be a distraction.

"Now, before you object. As you know, last time, every Pantheon was evenly matched, none having the edge over the other. But, with me helping you, you'd would win easily."

Zeus had a thoughtful look on his face, making another Olympian pipe up.

"Father, she has a rather good point. The Asgardians are all strong on their own, their god's all being very strong. The only reason we were evenly matched last time was because of our numbers. With even a single one, we could demolish all the other Pantheons." Athena said, her gray eyes looking in interest at Asera.

"Very well Asgardian, but I want assurance you won't betray us. You must swear it on River Styx, we will as well if you wish." Zeus said, complimenting himself in his mind.

"Zeus, that is not entirely fair. The Styx oath would have far more hold over me than it would you. We are not a Faith-based Pantheon like you are. If any of you swore the oath, you wouldn't be obligated to hold it besides losing a large amount of honor. If I broke the oath, not being a Faith based being, I would be decimated." Asera said, scowl on her face.

"Fine, how about a joining of Deities then. If you were to marry and Olympian, you would be joined within our Pantheon and if either you or your future spouse break the deal, you'd both lose your divinity."

Asera had a troubled look on her face, but she knew this would likely be the best deal she would be getting. She was mainly troubled though because of Esrie. She very much loved the girl, and she didn't like the idea of marrying someone else at all.

But, Asera did have to think about the future, and she knew Esrie didn't have a very long lifespan compared to her.

"Fine, but I have a request." Asera said. "Can you atleast make it so my spouse is a woman, no offense, but most of the men in this Pantheon are rather.....how to say this kindly... too experienced for me."

"Very well, "Zeus said, slamming his Master Bolt on the ground like a gavel. "Does any goddess wish to be the spouse of Asera, the Goddess of Time?"