Avengers 4 Theory
I was thinking more about a) the comparison I made in my previous post between Thanos and Wanda, b) why the writers would make Wanda go through something so brutal, c) why the writers would leave it open for people to say that Thanos did truly love Gamora despite being her abuser/murderer, and d) why Doctor Strange gave up the Time Gem, and I realized: THEY MIGHT BE PULLING A “HARRY POTTER WITH THE ELDER WAND.”
Thanos was told he had to sacrifice that which he loved most to gain access to the Soul Gem. But what if it’s bigger than that? What if, in order to become the True Master of any Infinity Stone, there must be a sacrifice of true love? What if, before the end of Infinity War, the Avengers/Guardians were already the True Masters?
At the beginning of Infinity War, Thanos already has the Power Gem. But before that, in Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot sacrifices himself out of love for the other Guardians while in the presence of the Power Gem. That makes Groot the True Master of the Power Gem.
Before Thanos takes the Space Gem, Loki sacrifices the Space Gem out of love for Thor. That makes Loki the True Master of the Space Gem.
Thanos already had the Reality Gem, and it was unsuccessful, but Peter Quill attempts to sacrifice that which he loves most, Gamora, with her permission, in the presence of the Reality Gem. I believe that makes Peter Quill the True Master of the Reality Gem.
Before Thanos takes the Soul Gem, Gamora sacrifices the location of the Soul Gem, and ultimately, her own life, out of love for Nebula. That makes Gamora the True Master of the Soul Gem.
Before Thanos takes the Time Gem, Stephen Strange sacrifices the Time Gem in order to save Tony, I assume because he forsaw this truth. I don’t believe Stephen truly loves Tony. But Stephen also sacrificed that which he did love most: his duty to protect the Time Gem. That makes Stephen Strange the True Master of the Time Gem.
Before Thanos takes the Mind Gem, Wanda Maximoff sacrifices that which she loves most, Vision, with his permission, in order to destroy the Mind Gem. That makes Wanda Maximoff the True Master of the Mind Gem. As seen in my previous post, Vision giving his permission is vital for it to count as true love, just like Gamora with Peter Quill, and as opposed to Gamora with Thanos.
All of these True Masters are currently dead, so I don’t know how exactly this would come into play, but I think that it might!
(Note: The True Masters are evenly split, three and three, between the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers & Co. The Masters from the Avengers–Loki, Stephen Strange, and Wanda Maximoff–are the three “magic users” of the MCU. Additionally, the two Masters whose true love was romantic in nature–Peter Quill and Wanda–both sacrificed the one they loved in becoming Masters. Does any of that mean anything? IDK, fam.)
