Eight - Facing Death

Across the Galaxy - Space

Millennia Ago

They didn't even make it to their charted destination.

In an instant, she sensed something was off, was wrong, was not right. In another instant, she was struck by complete and utter anguish.

A vision flashed before her eyes, the reality of the moment playing before her, happening too quickly to stop it, let alone react.

It was already over, had happened. He was already gone. The ship was under attack one instant, and he was gone the next.

A blast had struck their ship, instantly engulfing it in flames, burning everything.

She desperately activated the Soul Stone, desperately searching for his soul amongst the millions of others. But she could not located it - it was gone, he was gone.

Darkness surrounded her, engulfing her, filling her to the brim, and she let out a broken and devastated wail, a scream, that shook the entire cosmos.

The world around her crumbled - her world was gone, the very centre of it, the heart and soul of it, gone, just like that, in an instant.

Just like that.


Sanctuary II, Thanos's Ship - Space

Millennia Ago

"You were supposed to PROTECT HIM!"

The devastated Adonia faced the guards - the few left who had survived the ship's fire. They had failed in protecting her son, her Little Prince, her joy, and now he was gone.

And now they would suffer the same fate as young Thane had.

With a tight clench of her fist, every guard's chest began to glow orange, as did the illuminated Soul Stone hovering above the palm of her hand. Their pained cries filled and echoed throughout the room. It was an awful, chilling sound, but she didn't care, in fact, she barely heard it.

Slowly - she wanted it to hurt, for them to feel her pain, the pain of having your own soul slowly ripped from your body - the orange light on everyone's chest began to fade, and fade, until it was no longer there at all. The glow around the Soul Stone faded as well.

And suddenly, just like that, everything was silent and still. Dead bodies now littered the floor around her.

Just like that.


"Leave us." Adonia stormed into the throne room where Thanos was speaking with a couple of guards - two guards who had not been amongst those she had killed. A lucky few.

The guards bowed their heads low - with even more respect for the great Lady Infinity in the wake of the tragedy she had faced - and did as they were ordered and left the room.

"My Love," Thanos addressed her from where he was seated in his throne.

"Don't 'My Love' me." She strode towards them, her expression stone cold. "You disappeared - again."

"I will not deny it." Their voices echoed throughout the deep, vast stone room.

"You must think me a fool thinking I would not have noticed."

"I have never thought of you as foolish."

"Care to tell me why you disappeared? And where to?"

"I had some business to attend to."

"Very specific. Where?"

"Away from here."

"Don't make me use the Mind Stone," she threatened. "I will do it."

"I know." He sighed, bowing his head so that his face was hidden from her view. "The reason for my disappearances is because I have been paying visits to Lady Death-" He saw her stiffen, so he quickly continued before she could interject. His current and past loves were not fans of each other, to put it lightly. "-I have begged her to bring our son back."

Adonia's expression now softened. "Oh, Thanos..."

"I should have told you, I know, but I did not want to upset you further by bringing her into this. It has all been hard enough on you as it is." She placed her hand on his arm, he placing his hand over hers. "I am hurting just as much as you are over this, My Love. I want you to know that. I miss him too, dearly."

"I know. I should never have suggested otherwise. Will she do it?" She spoke with a spark of hope.

"She will only do it for a price."

"Of course."

"Only one price: death."

"I figured as much." Adonia nodded.

"I have set more missions, planned them. We must carry them out, one after the other in rapid fashion. She demands more souls in exchange for our son's."

"Then I will come with you." She moved to stand. "It is time to continue our mission. For Thane." All of their balancing missions had been put on hold while raising and training their young son.

"You're sure? You're sure you're up to it? So soon, after everything?"

"Yes, if it will bring our Little One back, I will do anything."

I imagine Adonia's reaction to Thane's death being like that of Wanda's after Pietro's death, just on a far more massive and destructive scale.

And yes, Lady Death will make an appearance in this story!

Sorry for the sad chapter, but thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)