Baldur Odinson:The light of Asgard

Chapter 6: Brothers of Thunder and Light

Baldur groaned as he slammed face-first into the dirt, golden sparks trailing from his body as his limbs sprawled out across the training ground.

Laughter—booming, unapologetic laughter—echoed across the courtyard.

"Come now, little brother!" Thor grinned, standing over him with Mjolnir resting casually on his shoulder. "Surely you can do better than that!"

Baldur lifted his head just enough to glare at him, spitting out a mouthful of dust. "I hate you."

Thor barked out another laugh, reaching down and effortlessly hauling Baldur to his feet. "Nonsense. You love me."

Baldur dusted himself off, rolling his shoulders. "You're enjoying this too much."

"Of course I am!" Thor clapped a hand on Baldur's back, nearly knocking him over again. "It is rare to have a sparring partner who can keep up with me!"

Baldur snorted. "I just lost."

"A minor detail," Thor said, grinning. "You lasted longer than most warriors. And you gave me an excellent challenge! That light-speed trick of yours almost had me there."

"Almost," Baldur muttered, stretching out his sore muscles.

Thor chuckled. "You fight well, brother. But you rely too much on your speed. Strength will always have its place!"

"Maybe for you," Baldur shot back, rubbing his bruised ribs. "Not all of us are built like a walking fortress."

Thor threw an arm around his shoulders. "You wound me, Baldur. I am not just a fortress—I am a finely crafted weapon of war!"

"A weapon with no subtlety."

"A weapon does not need subtlety when it can crush mountains!"

Baldur rolled his eyes, but despite himself, he laughed. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're strong."

Thor smirked, giving him a playful shove. "And don't you forget it!"

Baldur shoved him back. Thor, of course, didn't budge.

Instead, he grinned wickedly.

Baldur immediately regretted it.

With no warning, Thor lunged, grabbing Baldur around the waist and hoisting him over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

"THOR! PUT ME DOWN!"

Thor cackled, spinning them both around. "As you wish, brother!"

And then—he threw him.

Baldur soared through the air like a comet, flailing wildly. "YOU BIG—"

With a burst of golden light, he twisted mid-air, barely managing to right himself before landing on top of a nearby rooftop. He skidded across the tiles, barely keeping his balance before stopping at the edge.

Thor stood below, hands on his hips, looking very pleased with himself.

Baldur scowled. "That was unnecessary."

"It was entirely necessary," Thor called back, still laughing.

Baldur sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm going to get you back for that."

Thor grinned. "Then you are welcome to try!"

Baldur smirked. "Oh, I will."

It started as a simple idea.

Baldur needed revenge, and he needed it to be spectacular.

So, naturally, he turned to Loki.

"I need your help," Baldur said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall of Loki's study.

Loki barely glanced up from his book. "If this is about your ongoing war with Thor, I want no part of it."

Baldur raised an eyebrow. "What if I told you it involved Thor, public humiliation, and goats?"

Loki finally looked up. "…Go on."

Baldur grinned.

A few hours later, everything was in place.

Thor had been called to the courtyard for what he thought was an official ceremony in his honor—something about recognizing his achievements in battle. Naturally, he was thrilled.

What he did not expect was that, the moment he stepped onto the platform—

A herd of enchanted goats appeared out of nowhere.

Not just any goats.

Gigantic, shrieking, rainbow-colored goats, each of them glowing with radiant light.

They charged toward Thor at full speed, their hooves magically reinforced to ensure they could not be easily dodged.

Thor's bellowing laughter quickly turned into panicked shouting as he realized they were not stopping.

"BALDUR!"

Baldur, safely hidden behind a nearby pillar, was dying of laughter.

The goats crashed into Thor, knocking him over like a fallen tree, and the great god of thunder went tumbling across the courtyard, arms flailing, cape tangled.

The assembled crowd—warriors, nobles, even Odin and Frigga—stood in stunned silence.

And then—laughter erupted.

Even Odin chuckled behind his beard. Frigga shook her head, fighting a smile.

Loki, standing beside Baldur, smirked. "I must say, you have a certain flair for chaos."

Baldur grinned. "I learned from the best."

Thor, now covered in goat fur and sprawled across the ground, groaned. "This means war."

Baldur smirked. "Bring it on, brother."

Thor sat up, eyes gleaming. "Oh, I will."

That night, after the chaos had settled, Baldur and Thor sat on one of Asgard's balconies, drinking from large tankards of mead.

Thor took a long swig before chuckling. "I will admit, that was well played."

Baldur smirked. "Of course it was."

"Still," Thor mused, swirling his drink. "You do realize I must retaliate, yes?"

Baldur sighed dramatically. "Of course. It is our sacred duty as brothers to continually make each other's lives as ridiculous as possible."

Thor laughed heartily, clinking his tankard against Baldur's. "To that, I can agree!"

The two of them sat in comfortable silence, watching the stars.

Despite their endless rivalry, their mischief, their battles—there was no one Baldur trusted more than Thor.

And no matter what battles lay ahead—they would face them together.