| For another universe where Hela became merciful, see "Runaway Hela" Universe |
- "There, on an ancient battlefield, a man and a woman, a mortal and a goddess, the Ten Rings and the armies of Asgard forged an alliance and built an empire. An empire that would span the cosmos. An empire not of conquerors, but of liberators. Liberators whose campaign across the universe would forever prove even the darkest of hearts can come to know peace."
- ―Watcher[src]
The "Merciful Hela" Universe is an alternate reality where Hela was banished to Earth by Odin in order to make her learn about mercy.
History[]
Banishment of Hela[]
Capture of Hela[]
Odin united the Nine Realms into a single empire, fighting alongside his daughter and executioner, Hela. When she was young, Odin gifted Hela a wolf to raise. Meanwhile, a human named Xu Wenwu came across the Ten Rings, which granted him immortality and allowed him to build a vast organization which he named the Ten Rings.
Eventually, Asgard had conquered all Nine Realms. However, Hela's ambition grew stronger and stronger until Odin became frustrated with her, banishing her to Earth. He enchanted her crown so that only a person who knew mercy could have Hela's power. Hela landed in China, where Xu and the Ten Rings discovered her. Hela fought several Ten Rings guards and tried to retrieve her crown, but was unable to. The Ten Rings then captured her and brought her to their headquarters.[1]
Xu Wenwu's Offer[]
At Ten Rings Headquarters, Hela and Xu Wenwu had dinner together. Hela wore a red dress, which Xu described as being lucky. Xu proposed an alliance with Hela due to her fighting skills, upsetting Hela as Odin saw the same in her before banishing her. Xu explained that he was given a gift in the Ten Rings and that he tried to give back to the world, offering the chance to Hela to do the same.
Xu explained that the world was plagued by dangerous forces and assured Hela that he did not fear her. He repeated his offer to fight together so they could protect the world. Xu went to kiss her, but Hela took the opportunity to attack and escaped.[1]
Training in Ta Lo[]
Encountering Ta Lo[]
Hela stole a horse from the Ten Rings and befriended Morris, who guided her to a forest. Morris guided Hela through the forest's closing path and brought her to Ta Lo, where she was attacked by Jiayi. She found herself confronted by the leaders of Ta Lo, who Morris had informed them on.
Jiayi and Shunyuan told Hela that they protected the world from threats of the underworld, including Hela. Hela tried to convince them that she did not mean any harm and that she only had a quarrel with Odin, Frigga, and Xu Wenwu. Hela attempted to convince the soldiers of Ta Lo to take up arms in her name, but Hela explained that only light could fend off darkness. Hela asked for training, and Jiayi agreed. Jiayi trained Hela and helped her to come to terms with herself.[1]
Asgard's Preparations[]
Meanwhile, Hela entering the dimension Ta Lo caused her to be out of Heimdall's view. This concerned Heimdall, who went to Odin and informed him of the update. Odin asked if he believed Hela to be dead, so he explained that Xu Wenwu had gained significant power. He also warned that the Ten Rings, Xu's weapons, were powerful enough to potentially kill an Asgardian. Odin became worried at the presence of such power and began to mobilize his army.[1]
Fending Off Darkness[]
Battle for the Ten Rings[]
Asgard invaded Earth and attacked Ten Rings Headquarters, which Hela saw from Ta Lo. She took a Dragon Scale Armor for herself and decided to fight against Odin. She decided to forgo Ta Lo's principles and left. She found the Ten Rings fighting the Einherjar, but became overwhelmed. Xu Wenwu ordered a retreat, but Hela showed up and fought alongside the Ten Rings.
Odin attempted to approach Hela and explain that they believed her to be dead, but Hela skeptically asked if Odin simply wanted Xu's Ten Rings. He asked Hela to help her take the Rings out of mortal hands and bring Earth under their protection, but Hela refused. Odin became angry and attacked Hela and Xu, who fought the king together. Odin nearly killed Hela, but she learned mercy and regained access to her power, allowing her to overpower Odin and steal Gungnir from him. Odin then offered Hela his throne, and she accepted it, planning to undo his empire and bring light to the universe.[1]
Deliverance of the Nine Realms[]
Hela took over as Queen of Asgard and partnered herself with Xu Wenwu, working to bring light and freedom to the universe. She became known as a liberator. Meanwhile, Thanos began his quest to bring balance to the universe by killing off half of its population.
Thanos led a massacre on Zen-Whoberi and approached a young Zehoberei named Gamora. However, Hela and Xu appeared along with an army to fight Thanos.[1]
Residents[]
- Asgardian Royal Family
- Fenris
- Ten Rings
- Morris
- Elder Council of Ta Lo
- Great Protector
- Heimdall
- Gamora
- Thanos
- Frigga
Landmarks[]
Trivia[]
- In the Merciful Hela universe, Hela and Xu Wenwu are contemporaries of each other. In the main universe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hela was imprisoned in Hel long before Xu Wenwu was born.
Behind the Scenes[]
- A version of Hela was considered for the Party Prince Thor Universe universe, but Matthew Chauncey suggested that if Cate Blanchett would return, Hela deserved her own episode, leading to the creation of the Merciful Hela universe and its Hela.[2]
- The Merciful Hela universe, in which Hela redeemed herself from her status as a conqueror, was cited by A.C. Bradley as being written to give hope to herself and others amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and rising political tensions due to the George Floyd protests and the then-upcoming 2020 United States presidential election.[3]
- The events in the Merciful Hela universe were consistently being changed behind the scenes to be consistent with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, since both the movie and What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings? were developed at the same time.[4]
Gallery[]
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