A Thousand Miles And Poles Apart

we are the warriors that built this town

You stepped out of Eros's portal onto the beach. You had decided the island would be perfect for your second last stand. You were already familiar with it from your fight with Ikaris during the Emergence, and it was far enough away from Tiamut. Of course, you also secretly hoped it would bring back Druig to you, as this was the place he had come back to you the first time you thought you lost him.

Lightning was striking the sky above you, the clouds looking ready to break, the wind blowing fiercely around you. You weren't sure if this was part of Ghaur's power or if it was just the cosmic energy encircling Tiamut.

"Hey, weather witch, maybe you can do something about this wind, huh? My hair was not made for these conditions," Kingo said.

"Sure, I can command it to blow you into the ocean," you said. "I'm sure that will do wonders for your hair."

"I'll have you know my hair is insured," he said.

The sky suddenly cracked as a bright light erupted above you, the same light that had brought Ghaur to you before. He was coming.

"Stay back during the fighting," you said to Druig and he nodded. You turned to Eros. "If this goes South, you need to portal him out of here."

"I'm not leaving you," Druig said quietly. "You said we'd do this together."

"We will," you said. "But I don't know if this will actually work. I need to know you'll make it out of this no matter what. Druig, I can't do this otherwise."

He looked at you for a long moment, and you could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn't want to leave you, but then, he never did. You wondered if that was Eternal Druig peeking out from the abyss. "Okay," he said finally.

"Thank you," you said before looking at Eros again. "Eros?"

"I will," Eros promised.

The light shot down and hit the ocean, Ghaur appearing in the sky above you. "Eternals," he said. "I see you have surmised my plan."

"Wasn't that hard to figure out," you said, flying up to face him. "And it won't be that hard to stop you."

He laughed. "You have not stopped me so far. Countless Eternals I have faced, and countless Eternals I have killed. But I must say, Earth's defenders are much weaker than I would have expected."

"We were strong enough to take down a Celestial," you said. "What do you think we'll do to you?"

"You will watch as I become the greatest Deviant in the multiverse," he said. You signaled Eros behind your back. "Then, when I have gained the Celestial's power, I will travel to every seed planet of the Celestials and kill your brethren. Then, I will come back and kill you."

"You talk a lot for someone with an evil master plan," you said. "Gives me a lot of time to get ready."

"Get ready for what?" he asked.

"This," you said. You blew a gust of wind at him, sending him back — to Thena who appeared in the air through a portal Eros had created for her. She lunged at Ghaur, her sword slashing out at him. He blocked it with his staff at the last minute, but you used the distraction to shoot him down to the ground, right where you wanted him. "Now, Phastos!" You yelled as you caught Thena.

Phastos spun his hands around, his rings encircling Ghaur. It started to tie his hands, but Ghaur waved his staff and broke the binds. He lunged out at Phastos, throwing him back.

You flew Thena down to the ground, and she gestured her head at you. You knew what she wanted as always. You flew to the other side of him, trapping him between you both.