Five years ago, the war with Thanos left scars across Earth, and New York bore the brunt of the devastation. Countless buildings were reduced to rubble, including Thor's original manor. With New York plagued by disaster after disaster, Thor decided to relocate during the rebuilding process.
In this timeline, Asgard itself had suffered only superficial damage. The above-ground structures were destroyed, but the foundations of their society remained intact. Thanks to the combined powers of Asgardian magic and advanced technology, the reconstruction was swift, allowing the Asgardians to remain in their homeland.
As for the small fishing village in northern Norway—Odin's final resting place—it didn't become the refuge for displaced Asgardians as it had in the original timeline. Instead, it became Thor's personal retreat.
Five years ago, Thor used the combined energies of the Power Stone and the Tesseract to pull a meteorite from the cosmos, crashing it into the sea to create a small island off the coast of Norway. There, he built his castle—a grand fortress he named New Asgard.
By conventional law, newly formed islands on the high seas typically fall under the ownership of the first party to discover and claim them. In this case, the specifics of international law were rendered moot: there was no argument stronger than Thor's fists. With the United States and Wakanda—the reigning superpowers—offering their support, the island was officially recognized as Thor's.
Thor relocated everyone from his former manor to the island. New Asgard became his primary residence, though he still maintained strong ties to the rebuilt Asgard.
Unlike his previous manor, the island was not open to visitors. In fact, no male creature—human, god, or otherwise—was permitted within ten miles without explicit permission. Here, Thor reigned like a king.
Well, he was a king, after all.
While Thor held the title of King of Asgard, he was the very definition of a hands-off ruler. Most of the kingdom's day-to-day operations were managed by others. Loki handled internal affairs, while Hela guarded Asgard's external interests. Thor rarely attended court, content to let his siblings manage the intricacies of governance.
Loki, when he wasn't scheming, proved to be a surprisingly competent administrator. Hela, on the other hand, had never abandoned her ambitions. Though she acknowledged Thor's superiority in combat and growth potential, she had not given up her own designs for power.
Still, the siblings shared a unique bond. Despite their differences, they worked together seamlessly when it mattered most—especially when ganging up on Loki during one of his escapades.
Thor's real trouble came from Hela's… alternative plans. She had devised a convoluted scheme akin to a plotline from a Marvel comic Thor vaguely remembered reading in his previous life—something about a "New Ultimate Alliance."
Hela even had her own room in the castle of New Asgard, marked as Room 404. The ominous number served as a clear warning: no one should enter. And when Thor did, well… he often regretted it.
"Welcome back, Master!"
A crisp, cheerful voice greeted Thor as he stepped inside his castle.
The voice belonged to the Red Queen, the advanced artificial intelligence that Thor had summoned years ago. Originally a product of the Umbrella Corporation in another dimension, the Red Queen had been repurposed to serve as the steward of New Asgard.
The Red Queen managed the island with precision, overseeing everything from daily operations to its formidable defense systems. Any hostile force attempting to approach the island would face devastating retaliation within seconds.
Her abilities extended beyond physical defenses. The Red Queen could infiltrate and commandeer any network, making her even more dangerous than Ultron in some respects. Her adaptability and advanced programming had left Tony Stark equal parts impressed and envious. Compared to the Red Queen, Tony's Friday seemed almost outdated.
When the Red Queen's holographic form appeared before Thor, it was noticeably different. Five years ago, she had resembled a small child. Now, she had matured into the likeness of a girl in her late teens. For reasons Thor didn't entirely understand, the Red Queen seemed to evolve as if she were a living being.
"Did anything happen while I was away?" Thor asked, setting down his belongings.
The Red Queen nodded. "Everything is normal! But Miss Natasha brought back a group of teenagers. She said they're worth training."
Thor raised an eyebrow. "Teenagers, huh? You're not much older yourself. Why do you sound like an old woman?"