The Alternate Reality of Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

If the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had decided to keep Thanos as a villain after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the storyline would have taken an incredibly different and tragic turn. This hypothetical scenario would have involved a series of intense battles and challenges that would have culminated in a climactic final battle.

The Campaign for the Infinity Stones

Thanos, supported by his loyal followers, would have embarked on a ruthless campaign to acquire the Infinity Stones. To begin with, his first target would have been the Asgardians, who were on a mission to retrieve the Space Stone. An intense battle would have ensued, with Thanos and his forces attacking the Asgardian ship in an attempt to seize the precious stone. The Asgardians, led by Odin, would have fought valiantly to protect the stone, with Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) taking on a pivotal role in the battle.

As the Asgardians successfully defended the ship, Thanos and his forces would have then shifted their focus to capturing Gamora. In a heart-wrenching scene, Thanos would have forced his daughter to sacrifice herself so that he could obtain the Soul Stone. This action would have deeply affected the rest of the Guardian of the Galaxy team, particularly Rocket Raccoon and Drax the Destroyer, who would have struggled to contain their grief and anger.

The next step in Thanos' campaign would have been to target Titan. Here, Thanos would have set his sights on Doctor Strange, who was still in possession of the Time Stone. Summoning his forces, Thanos would have descended upon the Titan, with Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Tony Stark (Iron Man) joining Dr. Strange in a last-ditch effort to stop him. The ensuing ambush would have been desperate, with Gamora and Star-Lord bailing out the Time Stone just as Thanos arrived. Tony Stark and Peter Parker would have engaged Thanos in a grueling hand-to-hand combat, with the outcome still very much in question.

A Final Showdown

With the Soul Stone, Space Stone, and Time Stone, Thanos would have returned to Earth, where he would have initiated a fierce battle against Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, and a few other marvel superheroes. Deploying the Space Stone, Thanos would have traveled to Earth and initiated the final showdown. Despite the valiant efforts of the heroes, the Scarlet Witch, driven by grief and anger, would have managed to destroy the Mind Stone, while the Vision, whom she cared deeply for, was left in a coma. With half of the universe destroyed with a single snap, Thanos would have survived and retreated to a small planet in a desperate attempt to start anew, at least for a short while.

However, the Avengers, with the help of Captain Marvel, would have tracked Thanos down and engaged him in a final and tragic confrontation. Thor, after wielding his new weapon, Stormbreaker, would have delivered a devastating blow to Thanos, ultimately leading to his death. The aftermath would have left a profound impact on the remaining characters, and the world would have struggled to recover from the immense loss.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the MCU

The hypothetical continuation of the Thanos storyline would have set the stage for future narratives in the MCU. The ripple effects of Thanos' actions would have led to numerous character developments and story arcs, such as the tragic fate of the Scarlet Witch and Vision, the search for the Quantum Realm, and the emergence of new heroes and villains to shape the future of the MCU. Ant-Man breaking free of the Quantum Realm would have introduced new possibilities, while Hawkeye, driven by grief, becoming Ronin, would have added a new and dark element to the hero landscape. Scott getting the idea to use the Quantum Realm as a time machine to seek the Infinity Stones would have provided a thrilling and dynamic new storyline, with the Hulk and others joining the quest to stop Thanos from using the stones to cause further destruction.

In conclusion, the alternative reality of keeping Thanos as a villain in the MCU would have dramatically altered the narrative, bringing about a series of intense and heart-wrenching battles that would have had a profound impact on the characters and the overall universe.