fiction | Part of the journey is the end

6. Indian ocean & the sun

Sprite and Ikaris sat on the edge of a cliff, watching the nearly erupting volcano. "I'm glad you're here. Thank you, Sprite," he said. She let out a watery smile.

Ikaris was pleased that he wasn't alone, but he did feel slightly awkward that Sprite, of all people, was with him.

Sersi, Phastos, Makkari, Gilgamesh, Thena, and Druig's mouths straightened into a thin line. They weren't happy that Sprite decided to side with Ikaris in the end.

Ajak and Kingo's hearts ached at the thought of the Eternals coming head-to-head with each other because they knew it would happen soon, while the rest of the group hoped all of this would end soon and that the Uni-Mind would work.

The two saw the Domo arrive in the distance. "Protect the Emergence," he said. "You're really gonna kill them?" she said in a small voice.

"His declaration that he would kill us made it pretty clear, plus he already killed Ajak," Druig said, causing Ikaris' heart to drop and Ajak to swallow a sob.

Ikaris didn't say anything as he flew to the Domo and burst into the ship. He only found Thena. "Where's Druig?" he asked.

"Does he really think that she'll tell him?" said Nebula. Ikaris wished she would since all of this would be so much easier, and he wouldn't have to fight the Eternals.

"Druig, Sersi, Makkari, Phastos, and Thena aren't stupid. They have a plan and it's going to work because it has to," Scott said desperately. There was too much hinging on this for it not to.

"He's busy," Thena said, conjuring a sword and walking toward Ikaris.

"Busy trying to stop the Emergence, hopefully," Shang-Chi said. He had too many things to do and say to his family before dying. He didn't want to die before making up with Xialing.

Tony hoped Phastos stayed far away from Ikaris because the entire plan depended on him and the Uni-Mind bracelets. If Phastos was taken out of the equation then it was game over.

The other Eternals couldn't understand how Ikaris didn't realize that Thena was only a distraction and keeping him busy so Druig could put Tiamut to sleep.

"Thena, play nice. You've never had to fight me." "But I've always wanted to," she said. The two fought.

Ikaris's face was stony as he refused to admit that he felt a sting of betrayal. Thena was one of the Eternals he liked the most; his sister-in-arms. He had a feeling that the entire team's centuries-old frustration with each other would be pouring out because he had a lot to say to Druig.

"I have, but not like this," Thena agreed. Phastos wanted to do the same thing for a long time.

Everyone else didn't know who would win between the two. Most of them hoped it was Thena, but Ikaris was a force of nature as well. Only a fool would underestimate him after everything he'd done and Thena wasn't a fool.

Meanwhile, Sersi, Makkari, and Druig looked at the volcano. "It's time to put a god to sleep," Sersi said.

"Thena was a distraction," Ikaris realized.

"Glad you've caught up," said Gilgamesh.

"We can't use this plan this time now that Ikaris and Sprite know," Makkari signed.

"The Avengers and Guardians will be helping us and they have different skill sets and fighting styles that Ikaris isn't familiar with," Druig said as he signed back. He, for one, would have one hell of a time enjoying Ikaris going up against Thor if it came down to it. He even planned to bring popcorn to that fight.