- "I'm sorry, I can't help you, Bruce. If I give you the Time Stone to help your reality, I'm dooming my own."
- ―Ancient One to Bruce Banner[src]
The Theft of the Time Stone was a plan executed by the Avengers as a part of their Time Heist. Hulk was sent to steal the Stone from Doctor Strange at the New York Sanctum. However, he was unaware that the Battle of New York predated Strange's tenure as Master and that the Sorcerer Supreme at this time was the Ancient One.
The Ancient One initially refused to relinquish the stone, citing that the Masters of the Mystic Arts would need the Time Stone to defend themselves in the future, although she relented after discovering that Strange had intentionally given up the Time Stone to Thanos and realized he had a reason for doing so.
Background
- "Guys, if you pick the right year, there are three stones in New York."
- ―Natasha Romanoff to Tony Stark and Bruce Banner[src]
The Time Stone, encased in the Eye of Agamotto, was used by the Masters of the Mystic Arts as their chief weapon. The stone was used by powerful sorcerers including the Ancient One and Stephen Strange, who used its power to defeat the Zealots and prevent Dormammu's sinister intentions from coming to fruition.[1] However, Strange later surrendered the Time Stone to Thanos a year later during the Infinity War. Thanos later used the stone to wipe out half of the universe's population in conjunction with the other five Infinity Stones.[2]
The Avengers, who had discovered that they could use the Quantum Realm and Tony Stark's Time-Space GPS to travel through time and space, hatched a Time Heist, in which they would travel to the past and amass the six Infinity Stones in order to undo the Snap. Ant-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, and Captain America were tasked with going back in time to May 4, 2012, during the Battle of New York, to retrieve the Mind Stone, Space Stone, and Time Stone as half of the six Infinity Stones were in New York City on that day.[3]
Theft
Ancient One expels Bruce Banner's spirit
- "It's the duty of the Sorcerer Supreme to protect the Time Stone."
"Then why the hell did Strange give it away?"
"What did you say?"
"Strange. He gave it away. He gave it to Thanos." - ―Ancient One and Bruce Banner[src]
Upon arriving at the New York Sanctum, Hulk was instead met by the Ancient One, who informed Hulk that Strange was not yet a Master of the Mystic Arts and would not join them for five years, telling him that Strange was still currently a neurosurgeon. Hulk implored the Ancient One to relinquish Time Stone to him, notifying her of the Snap that Thanos caused in the future.
Ancient One gives Hulk the Time Stone
The Ancient One refused to give up the Time Stone for the Hulk, citing that she could not alter his timeline and leave hers undefended, despite Hulk promising that he would return the stone to her at the exact moment it was taken. The Ancient One proclaimed that all the Masters of the Mystic Arts have sworn an oath to guard the Time Stone as their chief weapon. But Banner, not wanting to give up, asks her why Strange had willingly relinquished the Time Stone to the Mad Titan. The Ancient One is then shocked realizing that Strange would only have given up the stone to Thanos for a good reason, the Ancient One decided to trust in her future successor, handing over the Time Stone to Hulk.[3]
Aftermath
Steve Rogers takes the Infinity Stones back
- "Remember, you have to return the stones at the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities."
"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches." - ―Hulk and Captain America[src]
The Time Stone was placed within the Nano Gauntlet, created by Tony Stark, Hulk and Rocket Raccoon. Following the Battle of Earth, the Time Stone was placed in a suitcase and given to Steve Rogers, who traveled back in time once again to return the stone. By returning the Time Stone to the Ancient One, the Avengers ensured that the alternate timeline would be able to defend itself from Kaecilius and Dormammu in the future.[3]