A/N: So sorry for the long wait! Unfortunately, the long wait does not mean a long chapter... In fact, this chapter is actually pathetically short. Sorry. Hopefully the next update will be sooner! Thank you all for reading!
Disclaimer: No, I do not own it.

A beating heart of stone

You gotta be so cold

To make it in this world

Yeah, you're a natural

-Natural

-Imagine Dragons

Nebula knelt before her father, briefly wondering who the woman next to him was. She seemed like Loki, yet more aggressive. More empty, if that were possible. Space and Power glowed in his gauntlet. Whoever she was, Nebula didn't like her.

"Daughter. You have been lying to me."

"I would never dream-"

"I've been reviewing all of your enhancements, along with how you fight with them. There are some inconsistencies. It seems that you do not fight as well against Gamora. Is there a reason you hold back?"

"Why would I hold back? I live to please you. Am I here for more enhancements?"

"Not permanent. Merely an experiment." Story of my life. The woman next to father was holding a familiar looking scepter. The new prisoner was stubborn. Father was frustrated.

"Find the Mind stone. It will show him truth."

The woman tapped the tip of the scepter against her heart, Nebula desperately trying to remember Loki's advice. Guard your mind. The scepter overpowered her in seconds. How had Loki managed to keep an Infinity stone at bay?! Kill Gamora. The thought wasn't hers. It felt wrong. Yet she couldn't fight it. Ebony brought Gamora from he had been hiding behind the throne.

Gamora was holding a sword, her arm dropping slightly at the sight of her. That so called group of hers had turned her soft. Nebula attacked with a battle cry, rage and hate coursing through her bones. Her sister's eyes widened in surprise as Gamora raised her sword to defend herself. The action was in vain, as Nebula feinted to the left. Gamora stepped back, Nebula forcing her into a defensive position. One thought repeated through her head.

Kill Gamora.

"You cannot fail this time. I do not know if I can prevent father from enhancing you if you do."

Kill Gamora.

Weak!

Your sword arm is weak, it needs to be replaced.

Your blindness to truth makes you weak, perhaps losing an eye will fix that.

Her knees buckled as Gamora slammed the flat of the blade into them.

I'm sorry, daughter, but this will make you better.

Her hair got caught in the machinery as Gamora pushed her back.

I'm sorry, daughter, but you must be stronger.

The acid bore into her scalp, burning even as she screamed for it to stop.

It seems your memory has faltered.

Ebony cut open her head, placing the small memory file into her brain.

Smell shouldn't defeat you. Weak!

Gamora held her down as Ebony sliced a strip down her face, replacing it with a flexible, purple plate.

Her sword passed through a body, stopping a bit at the ribcage. Nebula only pushed harder. Someone clapped.

"Beautifully executed! Would you be my executioner?" The woman tapped her chest lightly with the scepter, releasing the Mind stone's hold on her. Nebula stumbled back as she realized what she had just done. Gamora was dead. She had killed her sister.

"No."

"All this time." Thanos chuckled. I just killed Gamora.

"I am sorry that I never saw your true potential, daughter."

"Don't call me that!" Rage and hate still coursed through her bones, only this time pointed at her so called father. She attacked, only for blue light to surround her, freezing her in place. Thanos shook his head.

"Why must you always disappoint me?" He shook his head before motioning for the woman to use the Mind stone on her again. Ebony brought a man out, groaning as he coughed up blood. He seemed vaguely familiar...

"This is Thor, brother of the traitor. Your job is to show him truth. Do not disappoint me." Her father, the woman and Ebony Maw left through a portal, leaving her alone with the prisoner. Thor. Why did the name sound so familiar? Brother of the traitor. Loki's brother. It felt wrong to torture this man, yet she couldn't remember why. Do not disappoint me. She had a job to do.

"Who are you?" He gasped out.

"Daughter of Thanos. Daughter of the Mission. Nebula."

"Your father. He, he has great hospitality."

"He was frustrated with your brother. The Trickster betrayed us."

"Lo, Loki?"

"It's not everyday someone lasts for months, fights an Infinity stone and finds refuge in Asgard. Father has been raging all year. But he has finally started. All he needs is Soul, Reality and Time." His eyes widened, surprised. She took no notice, opting instead to stab in the gut with the sword. She withdrew, slicing across his face to remove the eye. He groaned as his head whipped to the side.

It felt wrong, yet she didn't care. She tortured him for a few more hours, every now and then asking if Thanos was his father and if he would obey the titan. The answer was always no. Stubborn. Like his brother. Thor always hated the cold. Another thing that makes us opposites. She smiled, before dragging his limp body to the ice room. Let him freeze and mull over her offer for a little longer, then she could take him to the whipping post. He would break. Eventually. In the end, they always kneeled.

A/N: Hopefully the chapters will get longer as the story progresses. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (Or any other holidays that you celebrate!)