?
It is dark. It's been dark for quite a while. By now, the shadows should feel like family.
"My my, I've kept you waiting for quite a while, haven't I?" A voice says.
You are greeted by a hooded figure. A somewhat regal robe encoils their concealed form, a mask covering their face. One half of the mask is white, a gold light shining dimly from it. The other half is dark, devouring the light around it, almost like a blind spot in your vision. The two sides spiral into each other, coiling like snakes, switching places. One moment the right side of the figure's visage is the light, the next it's the left. What's unchanging, unmistakable, is the smile resting on their mouth. A small key rests around their neck.
"Many of you have probably given up by now, moving on to better things." The figure tells you.. "I don't blame you. I did leave you hanging for quite a while…"
Their smile faded, and for a moment you can see regret paint their features. Then the smile returns.
"Ah, but the past is past, and what matters now is moving forward, no? Let's see what we have here…"
He pulls out a notebook, opens it to the front pages, and starts scanning through. As he speaks, images and scenes you may find familiar flit past him, like brief signals caught in a static-infested television.
"Hmmm …. A story of loss, of vengeance … a mad king, a mad AI …. A christmas chapter? A music number? A beloved character's rushed descent into madness?"
He shakes his head, tutting to himself. "Quite a mess, this timeline." he muttered. "Knowing the beginning and ending, but …. Making up everything else as we go along, wasn't the best plan."
He held his hand up, and all the images stopped. You can see a pause icon in the corner of your vision.
"There's a lot to work with here, and I'm glad many of you enjoyed what's here so far, but …. As I've said, I lost the motivation to keep going a while ago. However ….. There is a lot to work with. Perhaps I'll keep my promise, carry through to the end for finality's sake. And if not …. Well …"
His smile brightened, and he chuckled. "Our story already begins with a rebirth of sorts. So why not another?"
"Thank you all for your patience, your support … for everything, truly. You may not like what you find, but I can promise … there will be something. Just wait a little longer …"
The figure gives you a wink, and snaps his fingers.
And then all you can see is light.
A guitar plays some familiar notes. The sound of the ocean washing up onto the shore can be heard. Birds are chirping. A book is being opened, a DS being turned on.
You don't know what happens next. But at least now you know there is a next.
