Both the Ancient One and Odin exchanged a meaningful look, the weight of Marcus's casual description of continental-scale destruction settling over them like a storm cloud. They had witnessed firsthand what his "basic version" could do, and the idea that this was merely a preview of his full potential was genuinely terrifying.
"By the way," Marcus continued, seemingly oblivious to their growing concern, "she's just a regular Asgardian now. When she wakes up, whatever family drama ensues is between you three. Don't come looking for me to play therapist."
He gestured dismissively toward the unconscious Hela in Odin's arms, then turned his attention back to the Ancient One with renewed focus.
"Now, about that information I asked you for earlier?"
Marcus was still waiting for his Ember Warframe to complete its final transformation, and the key to that process lay with the dimensional coordinates the Ancient One possessed. He could feel the incomplete state of the frame like an itch he couldn't scratch, and he was eager to remedy the situation.
"I can provide you with the dimensional anchors you need," the Ancient One said reluctantly, "but I maintain my position that venturing into their home dimensions is extraordinarily dangerous. Even with fragments of dimensional authority, you'll be facing the Flame King and Blood Lord on their home ground where they have absolute power."
She understood Marcus's capabilities better than most, but dimensional travel to hostile realms was a different category of risk entirely. In their own dimensions, these cosmic entities weren't just powerful—they were essentially omnipotent within their borders.
"The Blood Dimension will be particularly hazardous," she continued. "You have no authority there whatsoever. The moment you arrive, you'll be completely at the Blood Lord's mercy."
Marcus's grin in response was equal parts confident and slightly unhinged. "Don't worry about me. I never go into a fight without proper preparation."
When the three cosmic beings returned to London, their arrival caused immediate confusion among the assembled heroes and government officials. The dimensional rifts had been sealed, the dark elf threat eliminated, and everything should have been returning to normal.
Instead, Odin had returned carrying an unconscious woman who radiated absolutely no energy signature whatsoever.
Thor, in particular, stared at the stranger in his father's arms with growing bewilderment. His divine senses told him she was Asgardian, but beyond that, she seemed completely ordinary. No divine power, no cosmic significance, nothing that would explain why the All-Father would personally transport her to Earth.
"Father," Thor said carefully, his voice carrying a note of concern that he was trying very hard to keep diplomatic. "I don't think this is... I mean, Mother isn't going to be happy if you..."
He trailed off, clearly struggling with how to phrase his objection tactfully. The idea that his father had somehow acquired a mortal paramour during what was supposed to be a brief trip to handle a cosmic security threat was disturbing on multiple levels.
"If you're thinking of bringing her to Asgard, Mother is going to have some very strong opinions about this," Thor finally managed.
Odin's response was completely unexpected. Instead of defensiveness or anger, the All-Father began laughing—deep, genuine laughter that seemed to come from centuries of accumulated relief.
"Heimdall!" Odin called out toward the sky, his voice carrying the authority of absolute command. "Bring Frigga to Earth immediately!"
Thor's face went pale. Not only was his father not denying the implications of Thor's concern, he was actually summoning his wife to meet his apparent mistress. This was going to be a family disaster of cosmic proportions.
"Father, please," Thor began desperately, "think about what you're doing. This could destroy—"
His plea was cut off by the familiar crash of rainbow light as the Bifrost delivered another passenger to the London battlefield. Frigga emerged from the transport beam in full royal regalia, her expression a mixture of curiosity and carefully controlled emotion.
"Odin, what exactly is—" she began, then stopped mid-sentence as her gaze fell on the woman in her husband's arms.
Her breath caught, and for a moment, the Queen of Asgard looked as if she might collapse.
"You... you brought her home," Frigga whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
This wasn't some random mortal woman. This was Hela—their daughter, Asgard's lost princess, the warrior who had once stood at Odin's side as they conquered the Nine Realms. Frigga had mourned her for centuries, believing she would never see her child again.
Frigga moved toward them with trembling steps, her hands reaching out to touch Hela's face. But as she drew closer, her expression shifted to confusion.
"Her power," Frigga said quietly. "All of her divine essence—it's gone. She's been stripped of her godhood completely."
"It was the only way to free her from the madness," Odin explained gently. "Better to have our daughter back as a mortal than to lose her forever to the corruption of death."
The explanation sent fresh tears streaming down Frigga's face as she carefully took Hela from Odin's arms, cradling her daughter like she had when Hela was a child thousands of years ago.
"My precious girl," Frigga murmured, pressing a kiss to Hela's forehead. "You're finally home where you belong."
This touching family reunion was completely lost on Thor, who was struggling to process the fact that he apparently had an older sister who had somehow been erased from his memory and Asgard's official history.
"Wait," Thor said slowly, his mind working through the implications. "She's my... sister?"
"Yes," Odin confirmed with obvious affection. "This is Hela, your older sister, the former heir to Asgard's throne, and the previous wielder of Mjolnir."
Thor looked down at the hammer in his hand with new confusion. According to everything he'd been taught, Mjolnir had been forged specifically for him by the dwarves of Nidavellir. The idea that it had belonged to someone else first—especially a sister he'd never heard of—was profoundly disorienting.
"But how could she wield Mjolnir if she's just a mortal?" Thor asked. "And if she was the heir to the throne, why don't I remember her?"
"Those are very good questions," Odin said with a smile that suggested the answers would be complicated. "We'll discuss the family history properly once we return to Asgard."
Without further explanation, Odin raised Gungnir, and the familiar column of rainbow light engulfed the royal family. Within seconds, they had vanished back to the realm eternal, leaving behind only the circular burn pattern that marked the Bifrost's touch.
With the Asgardian family drama resolved, the Ancient One turned to take her own leave. The dimensional crisis was over, but she was clearly exhausted from the magical exertion required to contain cosmic-level energies for extended periods.
"I need to return to Kamar-Taj and rest," she told Marcus. "The convergence event put significant strain on Earth's dimensional barriers, and I need to ensure everything stabilizes properly."
She opened a sparking portal back to the Sanctum, then paused before stepping through.
"Marcus, please be careful with whatever you're planning. The power you've gained today is unprecedented, but so are the risks of what you're contemplating."
"I'll be fine," Marcus assured her with casual confidence. "I've gotten this far by being properly prepared."
The Ancient One nodded, though her expression suggested she remained unconvinced, and stepped through her portal back to Nepal.
With the cosmic authorities departed, Marcus turned his attention to the remaining heroes and support staff who were still dealing with the aftermath of the London incident.
"So," he said conversationally, "now that the interdimensional crisis is resolved, do you all want to stick around and argue with politicians about salvage rights, or would you prefer to head back to New York?"
"New York," Tony said immediately, his voice coming through the armor's external speakers. "I've got about fifty new ideas based on what I've seen today, and I'd rather work on them in my own lab than deal with bureaucratic nonsense."
The sentiment was echoed by nods from the rest of the team. Even Jane Foster and her research assistants looked eager to return to familiar territory where they could process the scientific implications of what they'd witnessed without interference from government officials.
"Alright then," Marcus said, preparing to open a portal back to the Chitauri battleship they'd arrived in. "Let's—"
"Wait!" Bucky called out, causing everyone to pause. "You all go ahead and take the ship back. Christy and I are going to stay in Europe for a while—sort of a delayed honeymoon."
He looked slightly embarrassed as he continued. "We've been stuck on the farm since we got married, and with Christy being pregnant now, I figured this might be our last chance for a real vacation before the baby comes."
"Christy's pregnant?" Tony's voice rose several octaves in excitement. "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us sooner? This is huge news!"
"Why are you so excited?" Marcus asked with amusement. "It's not like it's your kid."
"Of course it matters!" Tony protested. "I'm going to be the baby's godfather! That makes me practically family!"
Steve cleared his throat diplomatically. "Actually, Tony, considering that Bucky and I served with your father back in the day, I think that would make you more like... a brother. An older brother."
The comparison sent everyone into fits of laughter, while Tony's armor made indignant sputtering sounds.
"You geriatric relics!" Tony said with mock outrage. "Always bringing up the age thing!"
He launched himself toward the battleship in a huff, clearly done with the conversation but not actually angry.
"Come on," Marcus said, opening a portal that led directly to the ship's interior. "Let's get out of here before the government officials decide they want to detain us for questioning."
Everyone filed through the portal onto the modified Chitauri vessel, where Christy Barnes was waiting in the ship's common area. Her pregnancy was just starting to show, and she looked radiant despite the stress of the recent cosmic events.