To say that Chroma was angry would have been an understatement. How he regretted saving Marx now that he knew the jester hadn't at all been faking his affections for his master. HIS master. The one being in all of existence who wanted nothing to do with such emotions. That Zero could so easily win someone over where Chroma had tried and failed countless times was downright crushing.

The fact that the combined colours of the star power formed a rainbow was not helping his mood either. He could only hope that Nova would not prove to be another annoyance to deal with. Arranging them in a circle around him, Chroma activated the star power. Almost instantly an enormous clockwork machine dropped in front of him out of nowhere, startling him with its abrupt appearance.

"READY. -"

"I WILL GRANT YOU ONE WISH... -"

Nova's voice boomed loudly through the cosmos, his purple eyes looking down at the Dark Matter sleepily. He appeared to have taken damage at some point, his right eye being unable to fully open. Gathering his wits about him, Chroma signaled the other Dark Matter to form a defensive bubble around them so that Zero wouldn't be able to get in. Once they finished getting themselves organized he turned his attention back to Nova.

"Are you sure about that?" asked Chroma, "You look a little on the broken side."

"I AM FUNCTIONAL. -"

"If you say so..." said Chroma, "We Dark Matter and our creator Zero are incapable of feeling positive emotions. If it's within your power, I wish for you to grant us the ability to feel them."

"OK. -"

"3..."

"Really?" said Chroma, "Just like that?" Nova didn't seem to at all consider what consequences his wish might have. Though convenient, it was a bit unexpected from a sentient machine filled with such power. Nova would surely be quite dangerous if someone could find a way to control him.

"2..."

Suddenly, a massive beam of light broke through the Dark Matter, momentarily pushing them out of the way long enough for Marx, Zero and Violet to pass through.

"1..."

"NOVA WAIT," screamed Marx, "DON'T DO IT!"

"GO! -"

A burst of blinding light flared out from within Nova, knocking back everyone in a shock wave of pure energy. The flash was soon followed by a bone chilling shriek before fading away as quickly as it had come. Not knowing what to expect, Marx anxiously waited for his vision to return. The Dark Matter all looked incredibly dazed and confused, becoming a chaotic mess of black orbs wandering around aimlessly. There was also a disconcerting lack of white anywhere to be seen.

"Zero?" called out Marx. The movement from the Dark Matter was growing more erratic and he realized they were beginning to panic.

"Violet," said Marx, "What's happening to them?"

"WE CAN'T FIND ZERO!" squealed Violet in horror, flying around in circles at dizzying speed.

"WHAT?" exclaimed Marx, "But he was just here!"

"She means that we can't reach his consciousness," said Chroma, floating up beside him.

"Meaning?" asked Marx warily.

"It would appear that he's ceased to exist..."answered Chroma dolefully. Marx expression went blank.

"Honestly I didn't mean what I said when I told you it might kill him," continued Chroma, "I truly thought he'd be able to handle it..." He shook his head, reminding himself that this was Marx he was talking to. Widening the distance between himself and the jester, he gathered dark energy into a concentrated orb and threw it at him. Marx was barely able to snap back to reality in time to dodge the sparking ball of darkness hurling at him.

"This is all your fault," said Chroma, his sorrow quickly replaced by rage, "Had Zero never found you this would have never happened!"

"I'm not the one that made the wish," snapped Marx, "You're insane!"

"Perhaps," said Chroma, drawing his sword, "But at least I would never waste my love on someone who has no intention of ever requiting."

"Shut up," snarled Marx, trying not to lose himself to his fury, "Maybe he couldn't feel anything back, but that didn't stop him from being my friend. You thought he was going to kill me when you possessed me, but he chose to save me instead." Chroma lunged at him, trying to impale him on his sword. Marx responded by teleporting around him frantically, making himself impossible to strike.

"I saved your life Marx," hissed Chroma, "Without me Zero would have left you to fall apart and die. Had you not turned on me I would have stayed true to my word, but now I will merely watch you suffer your fate. It's only a matter of time."

"Fine by me," said Marx, "I can accept this fate...BUT I'M TAKING YOUR ASS DOWN WITH ME." Suddenly appearing directly in front of Chroma, Marx opened his mouth wide and blasted him with a massive beam of energy. It didn't hurt him much, but it did leave him momentarily disoriented. Taking advantage of this, Marx split his body in half to create his most fearful attack: the black hole.

The dark vortex easily drew the dazed swordsman to it, devouring him and sending him to a pocket dimension of pure agony. Marx had never been entirely sure how he could do this but he assumed it had something to do with being part Puffball, who were black holes in their own right. He waited patiently, the black hole soon spitting out the battered remains of Chroma. Marx pulled himself back together and cautiously flew near the body.

Chroma's armor and cape melted away, leaving nothing but a large black orb. Marx backed away as it grew massive in size and developed large yellow petals like the smaller Dark Matter had.

"...Chroma?" said Marx nervously. His enormous eye snapped open, revealing itself to now be red instead of the icy grey-blue it had been before.

"DID YOU THINK YOU COULD DEFEAT ME SO EASILY?" boomed Chroma mockingly. Electricity crackled out from his eye, striking at Marx. The jester closed his eyes and wrapped his wings around himself, raising a shimmering rainbow shield around himself. To his surprise the lightning didn't even reach him.

"WHAT?" exclaimed Chroma, "HOW DID I MISS?" Before he could do anything more he was suddenly mobbed by the Dark Matter, their sheer numbers easily overwhelming Chroma and enveloping him in a prison made of their own bodies.

"That's what you get for being bad!" said Violet, floating up beside Marx and wearing his amulet on her head as if it were a tiara.

"Violet?" said Marx, stunned that they'd been able to organize themselves after all. The purple eyed Dark Matter regarded him strangely.

"Though it causes us great pain, Chroma must be dealt with before he can cause further harm," said Violet, "His mind is to be wiped clean of all memory and he will be sealed away until fate decides to free him. From now on, he will have to face the universe alone and can never return to our collective consciousness."

"What about me?" asked Marx.

"You will die," said Violet, "But if you wish, you can take back this amulet. We don't need it." Marx stared at it, pondering what he should do. If he took the amulet he would be able to live even without Zero to sustain him.

But will it be a life worth living?