Six - Prince of the Stars
Thanos's Ship - Space
Millennia Ago
Adonia was making her way through the ship when something made her stop and wait.
She heard giggling - a soft voice, the melodic sound of a child's laughter. This made her smile.
Pausing, she stood in the middle of the hall, listening as the laughter continued, growing steadily louder-
"Aha!" She spun around, catching the young boy just as he was sneaking up behind her, aiming to startle her. Startled now himself, he squealed and dissolved into a fit of giggles. She laughed as well.
"Mama, you used the Stones!"
"Oh really? Did I now? And which of the Stones did I use then, if you're so certain?"
"The Mind Stone, the yellow one! You used it to know I was there!"
"I didn't."
The little boy crossed his arms. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, positively certain. Do you want to know how I knew?"
"How?"
"I could hear you laughing." She touched her nose to his. "My little Prince."
Thane was her greatest joy. One day he would take over his father's armies, command them, and live in the perfectly balanced universe his parents had prepared for him, and he would live a fulfilling life.
"Can I see the Stones, even though you didn't use them?" The young boy held an absolute fascination for his mother's powers, their source and connection to the great Infinity Stones.
Kneeling before him, she held up her hand, the six colourful Stones dancing together, swirling in unison above her equally colourful palm.
"They're beautiful," he said, after a moment of staring at the swirling Stones in silent wonder and amazement.
"Yes," she agreed. "They are."
"Are they really the most powerful objects in the universe? That's what Papa says."
She chuckled. "Some of the most powerful objects, yes. And yes, your Papa is quite obsessed with them. Do you remember what each one is, what it represents?"
"Yes!"
"All right, tell me then."
"Well yellow is for mind. Blue is for space, like we're in. Purple is for power - P for purple and P for power go together!"
"Very good."
"Red is for reality - R and R. Green is for time. And orange is for-" Here he paused on the last Stone. "Umm, I forget." He looked guilty.
She chuckled to let him know it was all right. "It's all right, the last one is very mysterious - last, but certainly not least: orange is for Soul."
"Right, the Soul Stone! I remember that!" Thane's face lit up.
"Yes, soul. You have one, and I have one." She placed her fingers on his chest, over his beating heart. He did the same for hers. "You feel our hearts beating?" He nodded. "Everyone has one, their own soul. Even the whole universe, across the galaxy and reality, one heart, one soul of the whole multiverse beating together as one in a steady rhythm all its own. All connected, yet all different and unique, entirely our own."
Thane stared back at her in pure wonder. She chuckled at his adorable excitement and expression and placed an affectionate kiss on the top of her beloved son's head.
"Don't you have training soon?" She asked him as they made their way down the hall together.
"Yes. Do I have to train with Papa?"
"Yes, he is very insistent that you do. You must be prepared."
"For what?"
"A warrior must be prepared for anything."
"That's what Papa says too. But I want to play."
"We will play after you train, I promise."
"You really promise?"
"Yes, I really do. Now run along and go find your father."
"Fine. Love you, Mama!"
She smiled, watching him run off. "I love you too, my Little Prince."
"I wish I could come with you," Thane pouted while his parents suited up in their battle armour, preparing to go out and conquer another planet and balance yet another civilization, all in preparation for the fulfilling future they were promising.
First it had always been looking towards the future of the whole universe. Now, they also had their own son's future to think about as well, and this took priority in their eyes.
Adonia knelt down beside him. "Soon, my Little Prince." She kissed the top of his head.
"Train hard, Little One," Thanos told his son.
"I will, Papa. I'll make you proud."
Thanos smiled. "I know you will."
"I hate leaving him," she said as their ship sailed away, zooming through the stars and across the galaxy to a distant planet that was in desperate need of balancing.
"We will be back soon, My Love," Thanos assured her.
They didn't even make it all the way to the planet - not before tragedy and disaster struck.
More back story for Adonia! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
