Work Text:
The stars of the infinite cosmos stretch though hyperspace. Beautiful lines of white and yellow fill the view of the pilot making his way through the universe but their beauty was was ignored. Amber eyes look but do not see. The mind behind those eyes turning with thoughts of a past that until now thought was the life of someone else. Shieda Kayn, once Emperor Kayn, thinks of a life he never knew but now remembers so well. He remembers one that has been lost but now, he hopes, can be found.
A long time ago in his old life he had a scythe, one that contained a being from another realm, one that sought to bring destruction to the universe and appease the god that had sealed him and threw him away. He defeated that beast and had opened the Ora gate, thinking it would allow him more power. In a way it had, just not the way he had expected. A singular, immense being of darkness had come through the gate, It’s dark purple skin coated with stars and radiated a force Kayn had never felt before in his life. The black sphere it held seemed to almost whisper annihilation in his ear.
Fueled by his audacious nature and newly found power, he had floated up to the eyeless beast. It’s tendrils on its head taking a small crimson hue, sensing the small, arrogant human before it. The prideful human had yelled at the creature, challenging it for its power. Curiously, the being only tilted it’s head before erupting into amused laughter.
“You have killed Rhaast and taken his power for your own, have you Human? Admittedly, Rhaast was a pathetic disgrace among the Dark Star but for a mortal to defeat him, impressive. Tell me Human, what are you called?” The low timbre of the so called Dark Star rattles through Kayn’s chest, but he not dare let it shake him.
“I am Shieda Kayn! Future Emperor of this Galaxy!” He had shouted. Apparently to this Celestial beast he was a Jester for he soon was vibrating with another round of chortling at his proclamation. A massive, near black, star covered hand reached to him. With this new found speed the Cosmic Emperor had hoped to avoid the being’s grasp but chains of dark starlight appear from no where to bind the Human in place. Stars embedded into the Dark God sparkle as he watches Kayn struggle in his restraints. Even with his newly gained strength, to this being he was nothing.
“I used to think those small amphibious creatures in my universe were amusing but I believe I have found something even more interesting then that. Though, Little Emperor, you only seek what is so small. A single Galaxy is but a speck of dust in the universe. Hmm, though I suppose to a human a Galaxy seems massive, adorable.” He says. Kayn does not take his mocking well and writhes with fury.
“Shut up, Beast! I could conquer more then that! I could have EVERYTHING! Let me go and I will show you! I’ll show everyone the power of Emperor Kayn!” The blue hair human exclaimed.
“I am no beast, Human. I am Thresh, barer of the Dark Star. The power you gained from Rhaast was but an infinitesimal fraction of the power it contains. Soon, all will be one with it, including myself. I suppose until then, it could be amusing to see what a mortal could do with that power. It could be a fine start to the end of everything.” Thresh says. Purple colorings shift in his star covered skin as he muses over the thought of letting this mortal go. It really was of no consequence to let him free, in the end all will be one with the Dark Star.
“Very well, Little Emperor. Show me what the power of the Dark Star has allowed you to do.” Was the last thing Thresh said before releasing his minuscule catch and beginning their journey through this new dimension.
The current Kayn in the pilot’s seat remembers it had started as a purely path of conquest and destruction. The then Emperor, Jarvan, was killed, Planets consumed, people enslaved, entire Galaxies brought to their knees before their power. An odd bond had formed between them that seemed to grow into something that neither of them had the right word for,at least not right away. It had taken decades of being together before they had put a name to what they had, it had been cheesy to him then but it was the right word he thinks, love. Sharing the same interest of bringing the end to many things, finding humor in watching people suffer in anyway, surprisingly enough to Kayn, a like in human foods, he didn’t think the Dark God ate at all. He thinks back though the old life’s memories. When had that even begin? Was it when Thresh would let him sit upon his shoulder as he destroyed a Galaxy? Or maybe when the Dark Star had gone through the effort of making himself smaller and gave himself eyes to see the Empire Kayn had created? He’s not entirely sure but he remembers how much they liked to be in each others company, watching the universe slowly die.
How did this end? Why? Simple, mortality. Even with his extended life with the power of the Dark Star, Kayn was still mortal and in the end he too died. He did not know what happened until after his new life started. According to the history texts, the God had suddenly appeared and gone on a rampage across the cosmos for a time. Nothing could stop his wrath, no mortal, beast, machine or god could stop his mourning, and then he just disappeared, without a trace. For three hundred years no one had heard hide or hair of the creature that could consume the universe. At least until now that is.
Like his former self, Kayn worked for the Demaxian Empire, not as high of a position as he used to be but still enough to know about anomalies in the Galaxy. A single planet on the outer reaches of the Empire’s Territory had been giving of an odd energy for some time but because of a disturbance they had never caught wind of it until recently. Kayn did not know why those energy readings looked so familiar to him then. Sleep had hit him hard that night, a familiar voice and power filling his mind, a life he did not know but knew was his lay side by side with the memories he had made with his new life. When he awoke he knew he had to leave. He had to find the voice, to follow the trails of power, it would lead him to the one he remembered most.
That lead him to where he was now, alone in a ship he may or may not have stolen from the Empire after wiping the systems clean of any information of where the planet he was heading to was. It was a vague planet to the Empire but a familiar one to him, one that contained the cutest creatures in the universe. He doesn’t remember if they had ever given them a name or if they even had one but they were small, fluffy and loved to be pet by anyone that would give them the time of day. It would look and sound ridiculous to anyone who had looked upon them, but they had a weakness for small animals. Thresh in particular had a fondness for Frogs and later on with Kayn, Puppies. Even going so far is to take the form of one on the occasion, it felt nice to rest in that form he claimed. Because of this fondness this unnamed planet had been a favorite of their’s to visit when not engaged in something destructive. Thresh had told him he enjoyed planets like this and preferred to destroy planets like this last. That’s where he had to be.
A loud beep from the monitor in front of the bluenette blares out, he was getting close to his destination. He pulls the ship from Hyperdrive and upon slowing down comes the view of a beautiful green and blue planet. It was so rare to find untouched natural worlds like this since the Empire had started to spread. This one had been special so his old self had kept it off the Empire’s records to keep it for himself. Looking down at another monitor he manually pilots the ship after the distinct energy signature. It goes into a solitary mountain range that would be hard to navigate if you did not know the way, but he did. The mountains and surrounding forest region is where the fluffy creatures lived, where Thresh and he would linger to spend some time alone even for such a short time for the Dark Star.
Down the ship goes into the mountains until Kayn comes across a familiar cave near the borders of the forest. It was much bigger now then he remembered it but the energy coming from inside was unmistakeable. He lands the ship near the mouth of the cave and disembarks. The smell of the familiar fresh air brings a small grin to his face. Reminiscing and taking in the planet can happen later, right now he has a mission to complete. Amber tinted eyes look towards the black maw before him, a slight chill runs through his body, Thresh is most definitely here.
Taking careful steps he enters the darkness, the sound of air rushing back and forth fill his ears, breathing. Slowly his human eyes start to adjust to the overwhelming darkness and just in time too. Had he taken just a few more steps forward he would have fallen down into a pit where something large and glowing purple lays curled up at the bottom. A dragon? Oh that’s right, he remembers telling Thresh some tales that had been read to him as a child in the orphanage he grew up in, stories of Knights and Dragons. He really had seemed to like the appearances and ferocity of the mythical creature and on the days he felt like terrorizing the Royal Palace, he’d turn into one to give everyone a heart attack. It never failed to amuse the both of them
Now that same dragon lies and waits at the bottom of a pit. Hot air suddenly comes up from the bowels of the cave followed by a deep, dark growl. Clearly his presence had been sensed but he did not back away in fear no matter how much his human instincts were telling him otherwise. Red tipped tendrils swish through the air below and light up at the acknowledgment that the intruder had not left. A deafening roar fills the cave, making Kayn cover his ears from the powerful sound. Earth shakes, wind shifts violently and stone shatters as huge purple claws come down on either side of the human.
Kayn looks up at the imposing visage of the mighty being. It’s form even bigger now then it was in the distance. Dangerously yellow eyes glare down at the bluenette, enormous, sharp fangs bared with a low but strong growl behind it. The human does not waver though and stands boldly in front of the familiar being.
“I do not fear you. I know you and you know me. It has been so long since I’ve last saw you, Thresh.” The achingly identical voice of the mortal long lost to the Dark Star calls out. Acid yellow eyes blink and glow dims. The dragon takes in the appearance of the small being before him. Air flows rapidly towards the snoot that had gotten much closer several times. Thoughtful grumbling vibrates though Thresh’s ribcage.
“It can not be. You died long ago. It should not be possible! A lie! You lie! He is gone forever and soon so shall you imposter!” Thresh exclaims. A massive claw rises up and threatens to fall upon the young man. In panic Kayn begins to shout out his defense and proof of remembrance.
“Wait! It is me! I do not know how but it is! I remember! I remember you! I remember our time together! I remember you liked this form to scare people. You used to love to shape shift. You loved to be a puppy and chase the frogs that would wind up in the gardens. We used to love to sit together and watch the stars fade.” He shouts. There is a moment where the mortal feels his short life was going to be ended again in an instant but the blow never comes. Instead, there is a large flash of purple and black that becomes smaller then the draconic form but still towers over Kayn. A smaller form of his original form but with small eyes. The deep timbre of the Dark God lowers into a near whisper, those eyes cast down filled with a deep sense of forlorn.
“You should not have known that. No one but he and I knew those memories. They were such precious fleeting moments. All things fade way but those memories would have been last. How? How can you be here again?” Clawed hand comes down to pick up the face of the human he had known so well. His human is weaker now then he was at the time of his death but he was very much alive again somehow. Light colored peach skin is so smooth and tender under the touch of the violet claws, so achingly familiar. Blood pounding underneath the skin to the rapid well known heart beat. The sent of human and the same smelling chemicals he’d put on his skin that were near exact. Hair so long and smooth, stardust would be envious of its shine. There was no way all these details could be so similar, no imposter could be this accurate. Those golden eyes peer up at him, a joy and slight fear in them but he would not cower, he never did.
“I don’t know. The last thing I remember is the world going dark. You fading away into nothingness and for a long time there was nothing but darkness. Then light and a new life for a while before your energy was picked up by the Empire’s scanners. I don’t know why but…it had been so familiar to me. I dreamt of you that night, of our life together. I knew I had to find you. That’s why I am here. For you.” Kayn spoke. Smaller very human hands reach up to hold the very large clawed purple on. Such a soft touch like a feather landing on solid stone. Despite their size, they gave such warmth though the space cold hands that had brought destruction upon the dimensional planes.
“You came for me? Why?” The Dark God questions. Slowly the human had rested his cheek into the large claw and the hand in turn held his face, thumb cresting over his cheek.
“Perhaps it was foolish to hold on to memories of the past but…something gave them back to me and could not let you go. I don’t want to. I don’t want to be apart from you, not again.” Shieda admits. Thresh hums. He was a God of death, a being meant to bring the dark to all things but this human, his human, was something he did not wish to disappear. Carefully, Kayn gets closer to the larger form and moves his head from the hand onto the vested broad chest. The great cosmic body stiffens. A few centuries with out touch makes even this light hug feel so foreign. The human seems so pleased and at ease to be close to the end of all things, perfectly comfortable in death’s arms. A sound that had not been heard since the original Kayn’s death rumbles forth, a purr. The sound is absurd coming from such a fearsome visage, oblivion should not purr but it does because of a small and charming human made it do so.
“Then let us not part. Serve me. Serve the Dark Star. You and I will be the last things to live in all realities. You will not be bound by mortal flesh no longer. Stay with me and we will live until there is nothing left.” The offer is punctuated with a soft nuzzle to the side of the humans face, sweet intoxicating sent rolling off from the source in pleasurable waves. Shuttering breath follows while hands latch on to the strong muscular arms for stability. How could Kayn refuse such an offer? A chance to regain his power and be with Thresh once more.
“Alright, then. Let’s make the Universe go dark together shall we?” Kayn looks up at Thresh with a smile that is returned with sharp fangs exposed. Black energy swirls into Thresh’s right palm, the Dark Star sits and pulsates with power. Thin wisps of that power rush forth and penetrate the thin mortal flesh. Immediately peach skin starts to pale and veins fill with darkness rushing all the way to his heart. Organic matter starts to be torn apart, replaced by Dark Cosmic power. Admittedly, the transformation is a bit gruesome but the results were worth it. Kayn had a strong life force, he would easily survive this, Thresh thinks as he watches. Once rich navy blue hair becomes black with dark purple lines running through it. Slender forearms start to glow bright and hands sprout claws.The sound of gaging fills the cavern as black matter spills from Kayn’s now blacked out eyes and mouth, he’s stopped breathing. The light body goes limp but the Dark Star does not panic, not right away. Dark Stars did not need to breath or do anything a mortal would do. He just needed to wait for the sign that Kayn has survived.
A minute passes, then two, then five before the black streaks across Kayn’s face start to recede into elegant lines around his eyes and a single thin line down his chin and throat. One singular pulse of power is given out and cracks the stone around the cave before the power thrums more consistently inside the brand new Dark Star. He lived! With ease Thresh lifts up the now non-human Kayn and settles his head in the crux of his elbow. He is so drained from the change. A small groan brings Thresh’s attention to the pretty pale face. The once golden and white eyes were now a dark violet with black sclera now.
“Hello there. Do not speak yet, your body is still weak and adjusting. You must consume your first star to get to a more stable state. I think that one annoying star in the neighboring solar system will do. I noticed it’s been off its axis the whole time I’ve been here and it is beginning to get annoying.” Thresh chuckles. The vibrations run through his chest enough that Kayn can feel it. He gives a weak smile and ever so gently places a kiss there. Twice now has this now Dark Star caused Thresh to purr. He returns the affections with a tender lick to the still soft cheek, causing a very soft quiet laugh to come out of Kayn. Quick and powerful strides make haste to the entrance of the cave before the two Dark Stars make their way in to the soon to be dead stars. Long the eons will be but with this new spark of destruction by his side once more, the end is all but nye for the universe. What a wonderful way to herald in the end.