A tragic fan theory suggests Odin gathered the six Infinity Stones long before Thanos did, with equally devastating consequences for the king of Asgard.

Odin's "fake" gauntlet has sparked plenty of speculation since Cate Blanchett's Hela knocked it off its pedestal in Thor: Ragnarok. With Odin's warmongering past revealed in director Taika Waititi's 2017 film, some fans think Thor's father may have used the power of the Infinity Stones to help conquer the Nine Realms.

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Reddit user KRHeff assembles a theory that ties Odin's quest for the Infinity Stones to the tragic events that took place before the Thor franchise began. When an earlier theory suggested that Odin stopped short of collecting the Soul Stone because he didn't want to lose anyone close to him, KRHeff writes, "He didn’t stop but actually succeeded in his collection of the stones by sacrificing Hela to Hel."

Odin and Hela Thor-Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok revealed that Odin banished his own daughter to the depths of Hel, but skimmed over the finer details of the story. Avengers: Infinity War saw Thaos sacrifice his adopted daughter Gamora on Vormir to claim the Soul Stone, so fans know that losing a daughter is a surefire way to acquire the gem.

With Odin restoring peace and ascending his golden throne, KRHeff suggests the Asgardian returned the Soul and Reality Stones to their hiding places, and then dispersed the rest across the galaxy.

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Commenters raise the possibility that Odin's more benevolent attitude in the Thor films may be a result of the Soul Stone's powers, just as a more emotional Thanos is seen after he sacrificed Gamora. Fans are also reminded that Thor refers to Hela as his half-sister, meaning Odin could have had a first wife who was offered in exchange for the Soul Stone.

While it didn't make sense that Odin possessed a fake Infinity Gauntlet in his vault, KRHeff theorizes the original one was damaged (like Thanos'), and he had the replica made to sell the lie. Also, Odin's use of the Gauntlet would explain why Thanos went to great lengths in stopping Eitri from forging more on Nidavellir.

With Hela's fate left a mystery following the events of Thor: Ragnarok, many are expecting to see Blanchett's villain in Avengers 4 or at some point in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Time travel is widely rumored to play a big part in Avengers 4, so a trip down memory lane could explain a little more about the history of the Infinity Stones.