Liberation

Liberation
Mádar / Dark Matter

"Hello, Dark Matter. You put us through quite the adventure, didn’t you?”

“Y-your…t-the Guardian.”

Before it stands the being it possessed long ago. The being it enjoyed tormenting and taunting before the corruption. The being its been fused with for centuries. And now…..

“So does this mean….”

“Yes.” He nods. "We have been separated. You are your own being, as am I."

“But…that can’t be.” It looks around. The world of Kalmari is no more. Everything it once knew is gone; empty, quiet. "Why are we here?!!”

“I’m sure you know why.” He speaks, calmly.

Something about this place doesn’t sit well with it. It doesn’t like it here. It wants to go back- back to its home. Why is he acting so calm?! Isn’t he worried, too? What about Kalmari? What about their home? And him…what about-

“Bate!!! What about Bate?!! “

Their eyes lock for a moment, but it still does not faze him. Even when Bate is brought up, his calm features never change.

“It’s far too late for that, Dark Matter. It does not matter, it’s not up to us anymore. "

“Doesn’t matter?!! What are you talking about, he’s our friend!!! He needs us! How can you act like everything is okay?!!"

It watches as he smiles, and lifts up one of his tails next to it.

“You give so little faith to our kind. We are strong. Resilient. While I do not know how his story will end, the final page of mine has turned. There is nothing I can do now.

“But…."

“However, if you wish to see him, you may go back. You have possessed me, and in turn I’m the only one effected. You may, if you would like, leave this place and go back to Kalmari Town.”

"I…I can?”

“Yes.” He nods, but not before locking eyes with him once more. "But know this, Dark Matter. The feelings you harbor will slowly fade in time. Your happiness, the love you’ve once had. It was only possible for you to experience these feelings because you possessed me. Once you leave, you will not be the Null Bate once knew, but just another Dark Matter. It is very likely you may even forget who he is, and see him as a threat to your kind- for you are a Dark Matter, after all."

And it hesitates for a moment. To forget everything; all its memories, all the happy times it once had. The feeling of belonging, the feeling of true happiness and friendship. If it returns to Kalmari, it won’t be the same as before…..

“To forget what I have now. I…I can’t. I don’t want to lose this feeling. I don’t want to return as just another Dark Matter, but…

And he patiently waits for it to speak.

“What will happen to me if I go with you? Can something as wicked as a Dark Matter….have happy endings too?"

“It’s not my place to say. I’m not sure myself, to be honest.” He softly speaks and gently places a tail besides him. “But...would you like to find out, together? I will be by your side, and I promise I will not leave you.”

“Even after everything put you through?”

He nods.

And for a brief moment, it smiles. “O-okay.” It heads towards him, ready to embrace what comes next.

The desire to conquer, to corrupt, to eliminate. It wants nothing to with that anymore.

It feels free, liberated. Happy. Calm….

As long as it retains the feelings of its past life, it knows everything will be okay. And in its final moments, it looks up at him.

“Thank you, Mádar.”

He does the same.

“You’re welcome, Null."

-The End-

Artist Comment:

July 25, 2022

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I mentioned in previous illustrations that a Dark Matter (Without a host) can retain compassion and love for a brief moment before forgetting the feeling all together. The Dark Matter who possessed Mádar is able to go back to Kalmari Town, but after knowing it'll forget the memories it once had with Bate, it decides to cross over to the next life with Mádar.

But could something as wicked as Dark Matter truly have a happy ending? I'll let you decide. =)