Garfield once remembered a very important rule.
When a woman says don't go… you should consider listening very carefully.
Then doing the opposite. He opened a portal without hesitation and stepped through.
The instant the portal closed behind him…
"AAAAAAHHH~YOU, ORANGE BASTAAAAAARD!!!"
A terrifying surge of energy erupted from the depths below, followed by Hela's furious scream.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
"Oof… oof." Garfield winced.
"Yeah," He muttered. "She definitely triggered the seal."
Judging by the intensity, Odin's containment array had not been gentle.
Tragic, but also deserved.
After all, it was Hela herself who had cut off every possible retreat back then, attempting to kill her father and wiping out the Valkyrie Legion in one stroke.
Frankly, the strategic thinking was abysmal.
Garfield had never understood that move.
If Odin truly wanted her dead, there would have been no need to send the Valkyries. He could have mobilized the full force of Asgard and ended it instantly.
Hela failed to grasp one simple truth.
Odin had never wanted her dead.
The portal Garfield opened emerged on a familiar cliff, the very place where Odin had once stood, suspended by his own seal, gazing out at the sea.
The moment the doorway opened…
Golden light flooded the world.
A tall figure stood there, staff planted firmly against the stone.
One eye.
A presence so heavy it bent the air around him.
Garfield waved cheerfully. "Hello!"
In a universe where almost everyone inexplicably spoke English, this greeting felt appropriate.
Odin looked down at him with authority.
"Orange cat," He said sternly. "Who sent you here?"
Garfield tilted his head. "If I said I was passing by… would you believe me?"
He pulled out the Tesseract.
"Cosmic Cube." Enough to confirm Garfield's suspicion.
Odin really had tossed the Cube to Earth on purpose… just like the Reality Stone was later handed to the Collector.
A classic case of misfortune exported elsewhere.
The Collector, after all, had died very happily.
Garfield raised a paw. "Want it back?"
Odin didn't even hesitate. "No. Keep it. But don't lose it."
That tone… uncomfortably familiar.
Like a father speaking to a troublesome son.
Garfield froze. Wait.
Could it be…
Was this orange body created by Odin and the Ancient One together? Some bizarre experiment? Turned into a cat, failed halfway, then quietly abandoned into the universe?
The more he thought about it… the more plausible it sounded.
Σ(°△°)
Odin's single eye narrowed dangerously.
"Orange cat," He said slowly, "You are thinking something extremely disrespectful."
Garfield snapped out of it immediately.
"How could that be?" He said earnestly.
"I, Garfield Pando Godzilla Pendragon, am an honest, trustworthy, kind, optimistic, helpful orange cat also very good at collecting money."
He blinked at Odin with exaggerated sincerity.
Odin's eyelid twitched.
"…I admit." Odin said reluctantly, "Your attitude is exceptionally thick."
He sighed.
"I truly don't understand why the Ancient One accepted you as an apprentice."
"Talent?" Garfield suggested.
"…Perhaps."
An awkward silence followed.
The two stood side by side at the cliff's edge, gazing at the endless sea.
Ten full minutes passed.
Finally, Garfield looked up.
"Old man Odin," He said, "It's getting late. How about we talk another day? I'm going back to eat the Cosmic Cube."
Odin nodded. "Go. I'll stay here a while."
Garfield opened another portal.
Before he stepped through, Odin added calmly.
"I suggest that when you consume the Cube, you let the Ancient One hold the Time Stone and observe."
Garfield paused.
Then smiled.
"Thank you," He said. "You're a good father."
He hesitated, then added.
"I recommend you find a chance to talk properly with Hela. It might untie the knot between you."
The portal closed.
Odin remained alone on the cliff.
He sighed deeply. "A good father…"
"My eldest daughter resents me."
"My eldest son is like an oversized child."
"My younger son is clever but never truly belongs."
He rubbed his forehead. "And Frigga… the Ancient One…"
Odin stared out at the sea.
The Nine Realms were in chaos, and even his own household was beyond repair.
For the All-Father of Asgard… life felt unbearably exhausting.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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