Power of Death (Agathario)

Chapter Eighteen

Agatha..." Thanos muttered. "Doesn't sound like anyone important to me."

Agatha gritted her teeth and stepped forward, about to lay a whole speech on him when Rio held up her arm, stopping her.

"Just leave her alone," Rio said. "Just leave me alone too. I no longer want your help and I haven't for a long time."

Thanos grinned. "What changed? You're still Death."

Rio held up her head. "I've found fulfillment elsewhere."

"Where?" Thanos tilted his head. "Oh, don't tell me it has to do with those rings you're wearing."

Rio pressed her lips together and Agatha pushed herself to the front. "Hey!"

Thanos laughed as Agatha summoned her power to the surface, gathering it in her fingers. "Don't tell me Lady Death has a thing for purple."

"Oh you're gonna get it," Agatha said, throwing the magic at Thanos. It hit him and sent him flying back into the alien plants, making something crush with a sickening noise. But he sprung back up like it was nothing. Before Agatha knew it, he had thrown a shiny knife at her face. She blocked it just in time, sending it to the ground with an angry yell.

"Thanos! Just stop!" Rio stepped between them, holding out her hands against them both. Agatha angrily blew hair out of her face as she lowered her arms, but not sealing her power away again just yet.

Thanos' face twisted in anger at Rio. "You trained me to be your personal murderer, so that's what I'll do." He curled his fist around the stone in his hand, holding it up.

Rio's hand was over Agatha's heart again as Thanos squeezed the stone, letting out a blinding flash of light, searing Agatha's eyes. The familiar feeling of the stone spread over her chest again. Once her eyes cleared from the flash, she saw Thanos was still squeezing the stone, but with consequences. The veins in his arm were bulging and he grunted in pain, his face twisted.

Agatha felt a tingling in her fingers and she looked down to see them shedding some sort of material like a volcanic ash, like she was slowly dissolving. Her eyes widened, but Rio pushed on Agatha's chest harder, making the fallen ashes return to her fingers. Agatha could feel both of their powers in her chest— Rio's and the stone's. Both were reminiscent of each other somehow, but Rio's was protective and the stone's were attacking.

Trying to eat her soul away from her body.

Agatha didn't want to go. It was too soon.

Rio's head turned to Thanos, who was still straining. "I told you, IT'S NOT HER TIME!" Her voice was full of anger.

Rio snapped her finger and the glowing coming from Thanos' fist disappeared, the area flashing with her magic. The light cleared and Thanos fell down to the alien grass on his knees, holding his arm.

"Let this go, Thanos," Rio ordered, letting go of Agatha and turning to Thanos.

"What did you do with it?" Thanos asked, his eyes widening as he looked at his empty hand. "Where did you send it?!"

"Somewhere you'll never find it, not by yourself," Rio said, standing over Thanos. Agatha watched with fascination, her heart racing as she made sense of the situation.

"Tell me where it is!"

"You'll only find it when you learn to love someone else other than Death," Rio told him calmly. "And I don't know if that's possible."

She turned away from Thanos, walking back to Agatha.

"You're going to regret this!" Thanos yelled after her, not getting up from his knees.

"Actually, if anything, I'll enjoy it," Rio called back unblinkingly. She grabbed Agatha's hand, pulling her away. Then Rio waved her hand, and they were back in their house, standing on the wood floor.

Agatha took a second to take in the surroundings, the familiar walls. How different it was from the alien forest. Rio silently watched her.

"I have so many questions," Agatha said, breathing heavily and wringing her hands, still not shaking the tingling sensation.

"I'm sure you do," Rio sighed, looking uncomfortable. "That was Thanos. I found him when he was a child and I taught him how to kill people for me because people weren't dying fast enough. But then he got enamored with me and tried to make us a thing and then I had enough and deserted him."

"I got that part," Agatha replied, her eyes wide. "I could pretty much piece it together from what he was saying. But what about... the stone?"

"One of the infinity stones," Rio said, giving Agatha a doubtful look at Agatha's interest.

"The infinity stones?"

"Stones with almost infinite power. This one, this one was one of the most dangerous. Even I can't stop it's power for long. The Soul Stone."

Agatha smiled. "The Soul Stone..."

—

Actually not many people read these notes apparently, according to how many people responded in the last chapter. (And yeah I also think the "why is Gamora" scene is the best.) But like, I could admit to murder here and like no one would notice.

And NO, THIS IS NOT ME ADMITTING TO MURDER. 

Anywaaaayyyyy everyone, I hope you have a great day!

-VictoryGreen8