Jotunheim. The land of the Frost Giants.
A war with them wasn't a skirmish. It was a planetary conflict. Only a King—like Odin—could declare such a thing.
Thor, a mere prince, had overstepped. He had tried to usurp the authority of the throne.
"It could be a power struggle," Fury mused. "In human history, kings and princes often clash over military command. But the diary says Odin wants Thor to succeed him."
"So it's not paranoia. It's disappointment. Odin isn't afraid Thor will take his throne; he's afraid Thor will break it."
"A muddy prince is useless," Fury concluded. "Odin needs a King, not a hammer-swinging frat boy."
"So, Jotunheim," Hawkeye asked, breaking Fury's train of thought. "Is that the place with the Frost Giants? Like in the myths?"
"Aye," Thor nodded, still sitting on the ground. "Cold place. Terrible hospitality. I've fought them many times."
"You mortals don't know," Thor continued, a hint of pride returning to his voice. "Asgard has protected Midgard for centuries. A thousand years ago, I came here. To Norway. I fought the Frost Giants who tried to freeze your world."
"We drove them back. We taught your ancestors how to fight. We were your shield."
Fury's single eye widened.
This was a massive piece of intel.
"So," Fury said slowly. "The reason Earth hasn't been invaded by aliens every other Tuesday... is because Asgard was standing guard?"
"Precisely," Thor nodded. "The Nine Realms are under the protection of Odin. Anyone who wishes to harm Midgard must answer to Asgard."
"And answer to Mjolnir," Thor added, glancing sadly at the hammer he couldn't lift.
Fury's mind raced.
For decades, he had wondered why Earth—a resource-rich planet with a developing civilization—had been largely ignored by the wider galaxy. Aside from the Skrulls in the 90s, it had been quiet.
Now he knew.
There was a "Do Not Touch" sign on the lawn. Signed by Odin.
"But if Asgard is our shield," Fury thought, "and Odin is dying... and Thor is powerless..."
"The shield is cracking."
"If the galaxy finds out Odin is gone, and his heir is a mortal stuck in New Mexico... it's open season."
"This explains the 'Universal Crisis'," Fury realized. "Earth isn't just a battlefield because of bad writing. It's a battlefield because the power vacuum left by Asgard draws in every warlord in the cosmos."
"Thanos," Fury whispered. "He's waiting. Waiting for Odin to fall."
"And other pantheons?" Fury wondered. "If Asgard is real, what about Olympus? What about the Jade Emperor? Are they protecting other parts of the world? Or are they gone too?"
He thought about SPEAR in China. Did they have a hotline to the Monkey King? Or were they just as in the dark as SHIELD?
"This changes everything," Fury muttered. "We can't just rely on Asgard anymore. We need our own shield."
"The Avengers."
"Thor," Fury said, his voice serious. "If you want to regain your power, you need to figure out why you're unworthy. It's not about strength. It's about something else."
"And until you do," Fury offered a hand to help the fallen god up, "you're under SHIELD protection."
"Not as a prisoner," Fury clarified. "As a... consultant."
Thor took Fury's hand. "Thank you, Son of Fury. I will... consider your words."
"But first," Thor's stomach rumbled loudly. "Do you have any sustenance? This mortal form requires fuel constantly. It is most annoying."
"We have MREs," Coulson offered. "And coffee."
"Excellent!" Thor boomed. "Bring me this 'Coffee'! I require another!"
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