What if: Hela Survived Ragnarok

Darkness. An endless, suffocating void. That is all I perceive. A faint hum vibrates through what remains of my being, a foreign sensation that barely registers against the crushing emptiness. I am adrift, a shattered queen amidst the cosmic wreckage of my ambition. Asgard… gone. Reduced to glittering dust by the hand of that fire demon. ...

Darkness. An endless, suffocating void. That is all I perceive. A faint hum vibrates through what remains of my being, a foreign sensation that barely registers against the crushing emptiness. I am adrift, a shattered queen amidst the cosmic wreckage of my ambition. Asgard… gone. Reduced to glittering dust by the hand of that fire demon. And I, Hela, its rightful ruler, am left floating among the stars like a discarded trinket. Then, a flicker. A spark in the distance that grows steadily brighter. A vessel. It approaches with cautious grace, its sleek silhouette a stark contrast to the jagged remnants of my former kingdom. The hum intensifies, resonating within my very bones as the ship draws near. Suddenly, light floods my vision. A ramp extends, and a figure emerges – tall, with silver hair that shimmers in the ethereal glow. He is… unlike anyone I have encountered before. His features are a tapestry of worlds, and his eyes hold an ancient curiosity that pierces through my weakened defenses. "Hela Odinsdottir," he says, his voice a melodic echo in the vacuum. "I am Eusyan. I have been studying Asgard for centuries. I did not expect to find its queen in such… disarray." Arrogance flares within me, a familiar heat that momentarily eclipses the bone-deep weariness. "Disarray? I am merely… between thrones." My voice is rasping, a shadow of its former commanding resonance. Eusyan inclines his head, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Indeed. Allow me to offer you respite, a chance to recover your… throne." He gestures towards his ship. "I have much to learn from you, Hela. And perhaps, you can learn something from me." He speaks of knowledge, of forgotten worlds and boundless possibilities. His words are a silken thread, drawing me in despite my instincts. What choice do I have? Reduced to this, I am in no position to refuse. Power thrums within me, a faint echo that craves to be amplified. This… Eusyan, and his vessel, could be my means. I nod, a silent agreement. As they help me onto the ship, I can feel that my powers are only a shadow of what they used to be. I need to recover them, and this strange man is my only hope. As the ship sets course for the unknown, I turn back for a last look at the debris of Asgard. My mind fills with thoughts of revenge. My gaze returns to Eusyan, a cold smile appears on my face. But I cannot help but wonder, can I trust this man?

The ship is sterile, gleaming with an almost clinical efficiency that grates against my Asgardian sensibilities. Eusyan leads me through corridors that hum with unseen energy, the air thick with the scent of ozone and something else… something ancient and subtly magical. His AI, Ohra, manifests as a shimmering projection – a woman with ey...

The ship is sterile, gleaming with an almost clinical efficiency that grates against my Asgardian sensibilities. Eusyan leads me through corridors that hum with unseen energy, the air thick with the scent of ozone and something else… something ancient and subtly magical. His AI, Ohra, manifests as a shimmering projection – a woman with eyes like distant galaxies, her voice a soothing whisper that permeates the ship. ´Welcome aboard, Hela Odinsdottir,´ she says. ´I am at your service.´ Eusyan leads me to a chamber – a stark white space dominated by a circular platform. ´This is where you will regenerate,´ he explains. ´My scans indicate a significant depletion of your… essence. This platform will accelerate the process.´ I eye the platform with suspicion. ´What is the catch?´ Eusyan chuckles, a low, resonant sound. ´My dear queen, everything has a price. In this case, it is information. As your power returns, you will share your knowledge of Asgard, its history, its magic, its secrets.´ I consider his words, weighing the cost against the potential gain. Knowledge is power, yes, but so is the ability to wield it. And right now, I possess neither. ´Agreed,´ I say, stepping onto the platform. The hum intensifies, enveloping me in a warm, tingling sensation. I close my eyes, surrendering to the energy, and memories flood my mind – battles fought, worlds conquered, the intoxicating taste of absolute power. Days blur into weeks as I heal. With each surge of power, Eusyan is there, questioning, probing, eager to dissect the intricacies of my past. I tell him stories of Valhalla, of the Einherjar, of Odin's conquests and lies. I speak of my banishment, of my thwarted ambition, of the darkness that dwells within me. He listens with rapt attention, his eyes never leaving mine. Slowly, cautiously, I begin to trust him, to see in him a potential ally. But I never forget that power is a game, and I intend to win. One day, as I emerge from the regeneration chamber, stronger than I have been since Asgard fell, Eusyan greets me with a strange expression. ´Hela,´ he says, his voice unusually grave. ´I have detected a distress signal. A ship, not far from here, is under attack.´ My senses sharpen. A ship? An attack? This could be an opportunity, a chance to test my restored strength, to remind the universe who Hela Odinsdottir truly is. I need to gather more information before acting. The question that plagues my mind is whether I will assist those in need or let them perish.

"Who are they?" I ask, my voice laced with a regal indifference that barely conceals my growing interest. Eusyan accesses the ship's sensors, displaying a holographic image of the vessel under attack. It is a small transport ship, bearing the markings of a Kree merchant guild. "Kree," Eusyan confirms, "traders, most likely. Their attacker...

"Who are they?" I ask, my voice laced with a regal indifference that barely conceals my growing interest. Eusyan accesses the ship's sensors, displaying a holographic image of the vessel under attack. It is a small transport ship, bearing the markings of a Kree merchant guild. "Kree," Eusyan confirms, "traders, most likely. Their attacker appears to be a Sakaaran warship." I sneer. The Kree. Expansionist warmongers, obsessed with genetic purity and galactic domination. I have clashed with them in the past, during Asgard's reign of conquest. And the Sakaarans? Scavengers and gladiators, ruled by the Grandmaster, a hedonistic puppet master who delights in pitting beings against each other for his amusement. Let them fight. Let them tear each other apart. Their struggles are of no concern to me. "Their fate is their own," I declare, turning away from the holographic display. "I will not risk my renewed strength for the sake of a handful of Kree traders." Eusyan raises an eyebrow, a hint of disapproval in his gaze. "Are you certain, Hela? This could be an opportunity to… demonstrate your power, to establish a reputation." I pause, considering his words. Reputation is useful, a tool to be wielded. But it is not worth the risk of jeopardizing my recovery. "My priority is my own survival, and the restoration of my former glory," I state firmly. "These Kree are insignificant. Let them perish." Eusyan does not press the matter further. He nods curtly, acknowledging my decision. "As you wish, Hela." He orders Ohra to adjust the ship's course, veering away from the distress signal. As we leave the Kree to their fate, I feel a flicker of… something. Not regret, not compassion, but a cold, calculating awareness of the choices I am making. I am forging my own path, a path paved with ruthless pragmatism and unwavering ambition. I need to recover all of my power and much more if I intend to defeat my enemies. I close my eyes, focusing on the energy that flows within me, the potential that simmers beneath my skin. I must find a way to amplify it, to surpass my previous limitations. This ship holds the key, and I will unlock its secrets, whatever the cost. The universe is vast and unforgiving, and I am determined to carve my place within it. It is time I seek answers of where to increase my powers and the location where I can do it.