Chapter 26: Half work done
[3rd POV]
The Mad Titan.
"Why do you care?" The Ancient One asked again. Her eyes sparkling blue and blinking in curiosity.
Thanos stayed silent before he eventually told her what happened to his home planet, Titan.
He told her how the people were too many to feed and that the only way to avoid extinction was by killing half of the population.
"A genocide then?" The Ancient one asked.
"Yes. But passionate and fair to rich and poor alike. I would've been happy to be the first to die." He said.
"Everyone knew it was necessary. Everyone knew that it was the solution." He said, his voice came out deep and angry.
"But no one was able to bear the deaths. No one was strong enough." his tone became lower after he said that.
"I watched as my planet slowly crumbled and everyone I knew died." He looked at her. His eyes shone brightly in madness.
"I should've done what I knew was right. I ran from my destiny once, I will not do it again."
There was silence and they let the weight of his words sink in. The Ancient One was quiet and she could see now, why Thanos was the way he was.
The problem he mentioned was experienced on Earth as well. She should be the most knowledgeable about it as the protector of the earth.
"But that wouldn't solve the problem. It will only delay the inevitable." She argued.
So what if he reduced the population in half? After a few centuries, it will be the same again. In her mind, Thanos's aim was flawed.
Thanos shook his head, "it is not the solution."
"It is a correction. It is salvation. It will be a second chance for the universe."
He looked at her, "Do you have any idea how many planets are in the same situation our planet once was? They are on the brink of extinction but no one is ready to bear the consequence of the solution. They are afraid of that many deaths on their hand."
"No one is strong enough so I will be the one to do it. And those planets will be saved and from then on, they will not make the same mistake again. They would be wiser now and they would learn to avoid such an apocalypse. That is why I call it salvation. That is why it would be a correction."
"I do not propose a solution, I am not strong enough for that. What I offer is a second chance." He finished that by spreading his arms.
Now the Ancient One was deep in thought. The more she heard him speak the more convinced she was.
The only thing he forgot was how the people would react.
People remember. And even though life needed food to survive, it also needed freedom.
If he went on like this, even if he gave life to the Universe, would it be a life worth living?
Or maybe the plan will work and people would forget about it after a few centuries. The memories will fade but the lesson taught will remain.
And the second chance will be cherished.
"But will it be worth it? Will your salvation be worth half of all life in the universe." She asked after a while.
"A small price to pay. That is why I will snap my fingers and just let them cease to exist. There will be no pain or suffering. It will be..."
"Mercy." The Ancient One finished for him and Thanos nodded.
After that, a long silence stretched between them.
The Ancient One was in deep thought about what he said and Thanos was patient enough to let her gather her thoughts.
Then she finally spoke, "I will give you the stone."
Thanos smiled at her.
"But you must promise to spare Earth of your salvation. I want the life on earth to have the freedom to decide for itself." She said.
After all, she was the protector of the Earth, not the Universe.
She was not responsible for what happened outside of Earth.
Thanos ponders about the deal. It was all in his favor.
He doesn't need to kill half of the Earth, the voice said it requires half of all life in the universe as a sacrifice.
It counted life and not the species.
So to spare Earth, he just needed to kill off the full population of some alien planet. Not that big of a problem.
But he did not agree, because he also wanted something else.
"I will spare the Earth if you give me the stone.."
"And yourself."
The Ancient One paused.
It's funny. It seemed that her attempt seduction and showing her beauty came back to bite her.
She was going to die it seemed. She was hoping at least she would get to enjoy the life remaining on her young body and watch the next Sorcerer Supreme grow.
The reason she knew she was going to die was because if Thanos decided to rape her again, she would die after going once with his big dick.
She knew Thanos wanted her not only because of her body but mostly because of her magic.
But after he learned that she could no longer use her magic, she was sure he would use her once and throw her away.
After all, if she can't do magic, what worth will she have except being a one-time fuckdoll to vent his anger and frustratio?
Nevertheless, "I accept."
They stood up after the deal was done.
The Ancient One did some signs and chants before the whole dimension trembled.
Cracks started appearing in the infinitely bright sky before everything ceased to exist. They found themselves in the real world again and they appeared in the underground temple where Thanos first found himself.
"Haaa" Thanos basked at freedom and the normal flow of time.
The Ancient One took out the time stone from the Eyes of Agamoto and kneeled down in front of Thanos to show that both of them were his.
Thanos looked pleased. He rubbed the Ancient One's head and played with her silky locks of wavy ash hair.
Then he took the stone from her hand and the Ancient One stood up as well.
Half of his work was done and he would be able to easily obtain the power stone next.
The only problem lies in the Reality stone and the Soul stone.
.
.
No, there was one problem as well.
It might not seem much to others but...
Thanos had forgotten what home feels like.
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