“NOVA!” EB raced across the tops of the computers all the way down to Nova, slamming into him so hard that Nova stumbled back five feet and had to catch himself before he fell over. EB was now attached to Nova’s chest, hugging him furiously. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, BUT THEN YOU CAME BACK AND THEN YOU FOUGHT AND YOU WERE SOOO AMAZING, BUT KINDA SCARY, IT WAS ALL SCARY, AND SHE WAS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PERSON, AND THERE WERE THESE SHADOW MONSTERS, HUGE ONES, AND THEN THE WORLD WAS ALL DARK AND EVERYTHING WAS ALMOST DEAD AND I COULDN’T BREATHE, I WAS CRYING SOOOOOOOO HARD BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER AND YOU WERE DEAD, BUT YOU CAME BACK AND HAD WINGS AND A SWORD AND WERE ALL LIT UP LIKE THE SUN ITSELF, AND THEN MIDGARD SHOWED UP, BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT. HEY HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? WHY ARE YOU BACK? I SAW YOU WITH A KNIFE IN YOUR CHEST. I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE ALIVE!”
“EB!” Nova attempted to pry the bunny off of him, but failed.
EB swooned, “OH, I LOVE THAT IRATE YELL. I HAVEN’T HEARD THAT IN SO LONG. JUSTIN YELLED AT ME, BUT NOT LIKE YOU. MY BESTEST, BEST BUDDY!”
“Get off me!” Nova finally removed EB from his chest.
EB hopped down and was bouncing up and down with excitement. “What happened?”
Justin led the others down to the front of the room. Everyone, save perhaps Torrik, was misty eyed at the sight of him.
“Sir,” Justin softly said, betraying his failed attempt at holding down his own emotions. “Are you really back?”
Nova smiled and nodded. “Yes. And, to answer the question the world wants to know, Lady Echidna is forever gone. We cannot kill Lady Echidna, but we have contained her in a way that will hold her at bay until time itself stops.”
Santa said, “You have told me much about yourself. You confided many secret details to me, yet I was not prepared for what we witnessed. How did you survive? What… what are you?”
Nova looked around the people in this room, all waiting for this answer with bated breath. “I am Nova, defender of this world. That is all you need to know about me.”
Torrik asked, “You seemed to have a pretty good idea of what was going to happen. How come you let her rise to power and do what she did if you knew how to defeat her?”
“I didn’t know exactly how it would all play out. But I knew I needed to let her advance her plans far enough that she tapped into all her monsters she created. They were the true source of her power. Once she harnessed them, she had nothing left here to give her strength. Defeating her would mean she could never regain that power again. However, by allowing her to harness her power meant the fight would be at her strongest. I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I needed Midgard. He was far stronger than I.”
“What about Midgard? Where is he?” Justin asked.
Nova looked back at a monitor that displayed the space outside. “He is where he needs to be.”
Justin said, “Now that the world is truly safe from her, we can put our efforts into rebuilding.”
Nova nodded, “Yes. However, I am afraid that my actions have truly tarnished my image. I ask that you stand in for me for a while longer. I don’t know if I will ever be welcome again in this world.”
“I will be…”
“ABSOLUTELY NOT! I WON’T LET THE WORLD HATE ON YOU. NO SIREE!” EB hopped around Nova.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Would I ever do anything stupid?” EB grinned as Nova let out an annoyed sigh.
“I can’t stop whatever you’re planning?”
“Nope.”
***
Four weeks passed as the world recovered from what Lady Echidna had done. On a select date, set by Nova, the celebrations began. Heroes and dignitaries filled the field of the Orbital Arena. Where the League Wars would normally occur, people walked around in exquisite outfits and enjoyed an elaborate party.
Nova walked with Chase, who wore an incredible red sequined dress. An ambassador and his wife both stopped and bowed to Nova and then walked on.
“I must admit, EB did a good job.” Chase took a flute of champagne from a passing tray.
Nova greeted a Prime Minister and then continued walking with her. “He spent two hundred million dollars on a huge publicity campaign to promote me. News stories about my victories in the past, constant interviews with heroes and BADGE agents to talk about how good I am, and those commercials reminding people I saved the world from the horrible darkness that spread. I’m surprised he hasn’t commissioned a full-length movie...” Nova saw a funny look on Chase’s face. “Don’t tell me... “
“Well, he has good intentions. And I think Chris Hemsworth would do a fine job of playing you.”
“He didn’t?”
She cleared her throat and looked over at the beefy Australian actor signing autographs. “I think he wants to talk to you about how to portray you.”
“This is insane.”
She fixed his bowtie on his tuxedo and said, “Go, talk to him. BADGE needs a good image and Hollywood blockbusters can help.”
“You go talk to him. Find out about this movie and let me know the details.”
“Fine.” She left Nova for the hunky Australian star.
Arx walked up behind Nova and said, “Why didn’t EB ask me? I’m twice as handsome as that bozo, and I have a perfect body. I don’t need a high-dollar trainer and fake tan.” The jealousy dripped from every word.
Nova laughed, “I think it’s still a good idea for you to stay out of the limelight. The last time you were in Hollywood, you nearly destroy the city.”
“Fair point,” Arx said.
“Did you need something?” Nova asked.
“Oh, yeah, we have a minor problem. EB caught someone who isn't supposed to be here, but he claims he was invited.”
“A gatecrasher? I think the security drones can handle that.” Nova waved at the Canadian Prime Minister.
“Well, they claim you invited them.”
Nova turned around and found EB standing next to Rutkowski in the far corner of the room. The gangster tethered by a long, magical cord made of licorice. “Actually, I invited him.” Nova left the crowd to get to the guest.
Rutkowski glared at Nova, “Is dis how yous guys treat an honored guest?”
EB tightened his magic cord, “Honored my furry butt. You’re here to scope out some sinister heist or something. Lots of expensive jewelry walking around this room.”
Nova said, “EB, let him go. I invited him.”
“Really? Oh, uh, okay.” He let go of the cord and it flopped to the ground.
Rutkowski fixed his 1930s striped suit. “See, told you I was invited. But, don’t get me wrong, I ain’t accepting no hero title or nothing.”
Arx asked, “What is he talking about?”
Nova said, “I heard that Rutkowski and Peyton worked together to help save Neo Utopia during the worst of the crisis. It impressed me that Rutkowski was the one who thought of it and never asked for anything in return. So, I thought it was time that he received some respect.
“I shoulda got some respect years ago.”
Nova said, “You might find being an honest man pays better than being a criminal. And, since the world knows how honorable you acted, you have a pretty good start.”
Rutkowski scoffed, “Great, now I gotta knock over a bank on da way home so I can fix my street cred.”
Nova laughed at that and walked away.
Rutkowski pulled out his cigarette case.
“No smoking!” EB jumped up and slapped the case out of his hand.
Rutkowski rolled his eyes. “Aw, come on.”
“Here, try these.” EB hopped up and handed him some carrots.
Rutkowski chomped on one and looked surprised. “They aint half bad.”
***
Nova walked into the middle of the extensive field as he greeted people along the way. He stopped at a hovering microphone and the lights dimmed so he was under a spotlight. Everyone watched him with great curiosity. The screens came alive around the stadium as they would during the League Wars. Across the planet, people in grand parties stopped to witness this.
“Thank you for coming to this celebration. Tonight, we aren’t here just to recognize the end of a terrible time during the Lady Echidna crisis. I called you together to pay respect to a hero that has given his all for the safety of this world. However, this is no memorial. He will be with us tonight, shortly, and will explain. I believe he is coming now.” Nova stepped aside.
A bright light shone down from outside the clear dome over the arena. A figure appeared in the light and stepped out. Midgard, in his human form, joined Nova.
“I told you I didn’t want a big celebration.” Midgard said to Nova.
Nova responded, “The world has the right to celebrate you, especially with what you are here to say.” He stepped back, giving Midgard the floor.
Midgard approached the mic and spent a moment looking uncomfortable. Finally, he said, “Hello. You know me as Midgardsormr, or possible as Jormungandr. For several thousand years, I have been with you, most of that time in secret. I forgot who I was for a long time and slowly gained a reputation. While I enjoyed my power, Nova drove me to understand honor... even when I rebuked his lessons. He is a good man, better than anyone truly knows. Centuries ago, we made a plan. We knew that our greatest foe would return and precise steps had to be taken to ensure the safety of this world. Regrettably, those steps would cause damage and cost some lives. However, we would achieve the goal. Lady Echidna is locked away as she was before. We have locked away Lady Echidna as before, but now all her power is sealed away with her, preventing her from feeding off this world. Even so, she is clever and dangerous. To make sure she never returns, I vow to stand guard in the void and restrain her for all time.”
There were many gasps and murmuring as he said this. He continued, “This world is a safer place because of BADGE and I know Nova will see to that. So… this is goodbye. It has been an interesting ride. Don’t mess it up.” The crowds applauded him as he stepped away from the mic.
The mic flew away as the ambient music returned.
Arx, Chase, EB, Gar, Justin, and Torrik joined Nova and Midgard.
EB’s lip quivered, “So... you’re leaving us for good?”
Midgard let out a hefty laugh. “Don’t tell me the puny little bunny now cares about me.”
“You aren’t so bad. You saved everyone. I’m gonna miss you.” He walked over and hugged Midgard’s leg.
“Gah, this is what I didn’t want, a mushy farewell. I’m Midgardsormr, not some Dorothy saying goodbye to the scarecrow!” He shoved the bunny off.
Chase laughed, “There’s that Midgard attitude we’ve come to love. Well, I’m gonna miss you too.”
“Bah! I’ll come back once a year to kick all your collective butts. Gotta remind this world who the real badass is.”
Justin asked, “What do you mean?“
Nova answered, “I agreed to a battle once a year. Midgard will return and fight the heroes in an epic showdown. No one kills anyone and nothing gets damaged. But the heroes will test themselves against one of the most powerful beings to walk this earth.”
“Ha! I like that. Never let anyone forget I am the strongest!” Midgard looked up. “I’ve been gone too long already. I need to get out of here.”
Nova walked up and took Midgard by the wrist in a powerful show of friendship. There was a glisten of a tear in his one good eye. “We’re going to miss you. You were a true hero, even when you pretended not to be. You touched all our lives and made this a better place. We owe you so much.”
Midgard replied, “Thanks. Coming from you, that really means something.” He pulled Nova in and came close to his ear, whispering something. He backed away and let go of Nova’s hand. Midgard grew brighter for a moment and then faded away.
Chase asked, “What did he say?”
Nova, who had gained a worried expression, said, “Don’t worry about it.”
Justin said, “I’m going to miss him.”
Nova quietly watched the stars above them. In a soft voice, he said, “He isn’t gone, not really. As long as we remember him, he will always be with us.”
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