In distant Asgard, Heimdall, the gatekeeper, stood atop the observatory, his hands resting on the hilt of his greatsword as he monitored every movement across the Nine Realms...
Previously, to stop Loki from forcibly destroying Jotunheim, the home of the Frost Giants, Thor had shattered the Bifrost with Mjolnir.
The massive energy surge from the Bifrost's destruction had plunged the Nine Realms into chaos and turmoil.
For Asgard, the Rainbow Bridge which was forged in ancient times held immense significance. It was not only a formidable strategic weapon that capable of channeling vast energy tides to annihilate an entire planet, as Loki had attempted with Jotunheim, but also a cornerstone of Asgard's dominance...
With its advanced spatial teleportation technology, Odin could project his authority to every corner of the Nine Realms at will. Should anyone dare challenge Asgard's might, the legions of Asgard could mobilize instantly, crushing all opposition in its infancy.
Thus, repairing the Bifrost became Asgard's top priority...
Day after day, Heimdall witnessed wars and slaughter erupting across the realms. Without Odin's suppression, conflicts among the races of the Nine Realms had erupted violently, showing no signs of abating.
Only the once backward and remote realm, Midgard, remained strangely peaceful... Relying on science and knowledge, those seemingly frail humans had even shed their reputation as a barren wasteland.
Had Thor not returned from his travels on Midgard, Heimdall would never have believed that such a primitive world, one unlikely to ever birth a brilliant civilization, was now rapidly rising...
In the blink of an eye (compared to the Asgardians' five-thousand-year lifespans), Earth had progressed at an astonishing pace.
The last time Asgard had descended upon Midgard was during the war with the Frost Giants, when Laufey sought to use the Casket of Ancient Winters to plunge the planet into an ice age, creating a second home for his people.
Odin had led his armies to stop him.
Since then, Asgard had styled itself as the protector of the Nine Realms, with Earth, then still in its primitive stages, included...
Heimdall's gaze could pierce all Nine Realms, but lately, his attention had lingered on Midgard.
He couldn't help but marvel at humans, a peculiar species brimming with boundless creativity and imagination.
Yet, despite such divine favor, they were also plagued by flaws; strife between nations, regional conflicts, clashing beliefs, and the collusion of governments and interest groups…
These trivial matters shackled them, preventing the people of that world from lifting their eyes to the vast galaxy beyond.
Like ignorant fools, they obsessed over the dirt beneath their feet, oblivious to the stars above.
Heimdall often spoke with Odin, sharing the same unease... Asgard's history spanned tens of thousands of years, but since defeating the Dark Elves and Frost Giants, its progress had stagnated.
Its people slumbered in the delusion of ruling the Nine Realms, their ambition and creativity all but extinguished.
The Asgard of centuries past was no different from today's. Odin's dominion seemed trapped in stagnation, while Earth, which was once in need of Asgard's protection, was sprinting forward, gradually closing the gap.
When others were racing ahead, standing still was tantamount to falling behind. This reality weighed heavily on the Allfather... and as Odin's most trusted confidant, Heimdall felt the same.
Asgard had rested on its laurels for too long. Their long lifespans stifled population growth, paling in comparison to Earth's humans.
Moreover, after the war with the Frost Giants, prolonged peace had dulled their vigilance...
"Heimdall, any changes on Midgard?" Thor strode forward, clad in majestic armor, Mjolnir in hand.
The Rainbow Bridge (Bifrost) had long been rebuilt, but restoring its teleportation function would take more time.
"Ha, the view here is splendid. I never noticed before." The Asgardian prince had recently taken to visiting the observatory, often engaging Heimdall in lengthy conversations.
The gatekeeper could see that Thor's time on Earth had matured him. Though the pride and valor of an Asgardian still coursed through his veins, he had grown in other ways.
"Why so concerned about Midgard? Or is there someone there who holds your heart?" The towering Heimdall chuckled.
He knew exactly why Thor frequented this place. The steadfast prince had clearly fallen for a certain Earth woman.
"Asgardians live long lives, Thor. From the perspective of choosing a mate, Midgardians are… not ideal." Heimdall spoke earnestly.
Time was cruel... it eroded all things, even the most beautiful of bonds.
"I know that, Heimdall. Thank you for the reminder." For once, Thor looked troubled.
During his first visit to Earth, he had met a woman unlike any in Asgard.
Due to his status as prince, Asgardian women were often submissive, lacking independent thought... even the warrior Sif was no exception.
But Jane Foster was different. She possessed a captivating charm, her strength and self-reliance drawing Thor in. Her thirst for knowledge fascinated him.
Yet, despite his ardor, Jane seemed to shy away, unwilling to embrace his advances...
"You are Asgard's future king, Thor. Surely your father and mother wish for you to find a worthy queen, one who can walk beside you through the ages." Heimdall spoke solemnly.
He admired Thor's honesty and courage, and didn't wish to see the prince tormented by a doomed romance.
Thor nodded absently, lost in thought. Once his mind was set, he rarely wavered... unless Jane herself rejected him, he wouldn't give up.
But who would refuse the future king of Asgard?
"Where is Loki? Father said you saw him earlier." Thor changed the subject.
Once the Bifrost was restored, he would need to quell the conflicts raging across the Nine Realms. There'd be little time for matters of the heart.
"He vanished beyond the borders of the Dark Dimension, leaving the Nine Realms behind." Heimdall leaned on his massive sword.
He held no fondness for the scheming prince.
Asgard revered strength and valor. Someone like Loki, who was physically weaker, could never hope to match Thor's popularity.
"By the way, Loki did visit Midgard briefly. But you know… he has ways to evade my sight."
Thor glanced back at the golden spires of the palace.
He was certain his troublesome brother would return to Asgard eventually... after all, this was his true home...