Author's Note

Hey guys, back at it again. Sorry for the wait, but let's get back to it.

Power ought to serve as a check to power.

-Montesquieu.

Power Of One, Power Of None

A confusing feeling swept over Venom as he kept watch over his partner as he slept. With much trial and error, he found that while he couldn't fully separate from Eddie, he could branch out a certain distance like some kind of elastic rope before he reached a point where he would be sucked back into his partner. He managed to keep a relatively close perimeter around the small cave where they managed to find shelter for the time being. It felt. . .quiet.

Too quiet.

In the depths of his mind, Venom knew something was brewing, just not what and where it would come from. There was much he tried to piece together, but the further away from an answer he found himself. Was he accurate? Was he really sure he was Venom? And was this place reality or some sick joke? He. . .had a hard time telling. Venom; sounded, and felt familiar, but there was a haze in whatever he could tell was his mind.

The torrent of rain, with lighting sprinkled in, came down, drenching the land and ground, the feeling being more akin to an annoyance. The forested area where they trained displayed a considerable amount of fallen trees some uprooted at different angles, while others were brought down by sheer power or from the cutting force of one of his blades. The first few trials did not go as smoothly on account of the massive incomplete gashes from the underuse of their combined power.

''Mmmh,'' Venom hummed with a vibrating undertone, the combination of spikes, claws, and hammer fists made of his flesh becoming second nature rather than exerting a great mental deal to form the weapon in question. ''We need to get stronger.''

A frown decorated his brow, the white eye markings narrowing into a neat flat line. He paid attention to the tiniest of sounds, slowly learning to discern what was what with some talking with Eddie before he slept. A primal, almost murderous feeling came over Venom and it was directed by Eddie. Slowly, things began to feel different from when the pair broke out of the facility. A part of him was missing, that much he could gather, but he liked this new feeling no more than. . .he had nothing else to really compare.

''This is. . .strange.'' Venom said, slinking back over to his partner sleeping in the fetal position. His fear, anxiety, and rage. He could feel it. Understand it. It became part of Venom, like a wave almost, it came with highs and lows. His injuries began to heal, but Venom could tell it would take time.

Time the two of them did not have. Those ponies would no doubt be after them before long, and the advantage needed to be in their favor if both wished to survive.

''. . .Obey. . .'' a whisper came from the distance, Venom focusing his attention on the voice. It sounded familiar, yet distant. A low thrumming sounded, the loose rocks and chunks of trees beginning to float in the air. ''Direct your attention to me!''

''Hrrngh!'' Venom grunted, his flesh distorting to the high-pitched whine that followed after, Eddie soon being startled awake by the environment. The raindrop in front of their cave suddenly jutted to either side, leaving a straight, dry path ''Stoooop!'' Venom's head lowered to the ground, his eyes forcefully opened as his perception warped, seeing the bleak, dark remains of some sort of abyss, skies darkened a bloody red and the ground littered with massive, twisted amalgamations of living, flesh, darkness and the pulse of life. A great courtyard seemed to span endlessly before coming to a point where a gruesome, midnight throne.

But the individual who Venom saw sit upon it was another story.

''W-Who?'' Venom grimaced as he was forcefully pulled from Eddie, his mass jutting over to the dry clearing to be in a bowing position. A quizzical hum was heard from the figure who peered on with a curious eye.

''Mmm. . .you are not one of my creations, at least not by standard means,'' the figure spoke, the probing feeling coming through Venom's mind as a gleam of red energy washed over him. Twisted, torn, and assaulted with mental commands laid all of his memories out instantly to the individual as he slowly observed a piece of Venom he tore away. The sword he held by his side pulsed and circulated as if made of liquid blood. A slew of instincts were implanted into Venom's mind as he protested and growled, The flat line of his facial expression only subtly showed the patience and fury of time immemorial. ''This world. . .primitive, and disgusting. It would be of little if any consequence to let it rot and turn into dust.'' Venom could clearly feel and experience the thoughts and anger of the individual who commanded to do his bidding. ''But what is this? The taint of. . . a Celestial? In such a remote world as this?''

Constant thrumming over and over again, vivid images of battle and war flooded through Venom's mind, a grasping, pulling feeling at the front of his mind. He could see mangled, unnatural abominations, en mass on different planets, assimilating, plaguing, and conquering. Grotesquse, fusions of mangled flesh bowing before the figure, presenting treasures from the various homeworlds.

''You. . .may not be a true Kylntar, but you still will be an instrument of my will.'' Venom's mind began to tear apart at its seams, being overloaded with all senses, ripping and shredding his form before coming back together in a pile, slowly connecting back to Eddie's cold, freezing form. ''Any Celestial foolish enough will be eliminated. I only hope you can live long enough to have your existence validated before I come to handle things myself.''

''W-What. . .is a Celestial?'' Venom asked, the intense gaze failing to shy away from him, only to grow in intensity.

''Your target; and it will be destroyed before I come there to finish the job myself. I do not know why were you made, but if it has anything to do with the Celestial, then you will take care of it, or perish.'' the figure began to dissipate, leaving behind a sickly red mist that slowly rose in the air. ''Their essence is near; find them.''

Finding the urge to stand up, Venom looked up to the sky, black dots filling his vision as he felt Eddie stir from within. He felt confused, as a singular thought between the both of them echoed out.

''Fuck.''