Epilogue: Why Do the Bad Guys Always Come Back?
The characters in this fic, by and large, do not belong to me. The X-Men, and related characters, are the property of Marvel Comics. GI Joe, and related characters, belong to Hasbro. The Delgado children (Althea, Brittany, Daria, Quinn, and Claudius), Xi, Sgt Snuffles, and the Eloi belong to Red Witch. Reader, however, does belong to me.
Back to the void. It isn't possible to describe it in human terms. What human can picture absolute nothingness?
Malice was unaware of how long she drifted in the void. She could see where the void began- a single pinprick of light that led back to the Astral Plane. No matter how hard she tried, she could not obtain it. Like the apples or the water of Tantalus, it drifted just out of her reach the moment she tried to get to it.
She hated the place. She'd been there once before. She didn't know how she got out- one day- 'day' being a relative term- she made one particularly frenzied attempt to get at the light, and something pushed her the extra distance, into the light before it could flee. But where was that something?
She made another desperate attempt to reach the light. She outdid herself. She was almost there, and it fled out of her reach. She was able to see into the Astral Plane, that time.
"Where are you?" Malice screamed in frustration. "Help me out of here!"
And why should I help a failure a second time?
It wasn't a voice. No voice could resonate like that- not just through her ears, but through her shrivelled, char-broiled soul. Instinctively, Malice knew she was in the presence of something even darker than she.
"I can help you!" she screamed, attempting communication.
You cannot even help yourself, wretch. Do you presume to be able to help me?
"Why did you help me the first time, then?"
I recognized your potential. I believed that you could overcome Xavier if you faced him a second time. You failed.
"But… the third time's the charm!" Malice protested.
Do not presume to patronize me. You had aid, this time. You wasted it by striking out impetuously, and practically alone.
"I won't waste anything again! Please- help me out of here!"
I could do that. I could also show you the meaning of true darkness. I could make you my plaything, and lead you down the path of madness. It would be brief, but it would give me pleasure. You are such an innocent thing. You do not comprehend true evil
"Please!" Malice sobbed.
Do you beg me, creature?
"Yes!" Malice sobbed even harder. "Yes! I beg you! Please help me out of here!"
Oh, this is precious. You do not even comprehend what you ask of me. Yes, I believe I will make you my toy.
"But who will punish Xavier then?"
You have a point.
"You hate him, don't you? You hate him just like I do?"
Do not presume to compare your hatred to mine, creature. For the sake of my hate, and the sake of my hate alone, I have endured here when so many others have fallen into madness and the final dissolution. I exist through my hate and my will alone. You are doomed to quick dissolution even if I do not make you mine. Do not compare anything of yours to anything of mine, unless you emphasize how paltry and insignificant your being is to mine.
"Of- of course not, master!"
Master? You seek to curry my favour?
"I seek escape," Malice said honestly. "If you can help me escape, then I will call you master- hell, I'll do whatever you demand of me! Just help me out!"
Do not speak to me of Hell, creature. You know nothing of Hell. Very well- for my hate's sake, I will release you, but on three conditions: First- I will send a sliver of myself along with you to better observe your progress and to give you my orders; Second- No matter whom you claim to serve, you will serve me above all others, and you will obey me no matter the cost to yourself; and Third- You will work to free me. This will come above all, even your revenge against Xavier. Is this acceptable?
"Yes, master!" Malice screamed joyfully.
Then accept me, slave.
Malice felt her being suffused with darkness. Her earlier intuition was correct- she really was nothing before the darkness of the thing before her. She felt as if she would drown in it, but it relented, and only a small shard of it remained.
You are bound to me, now. Succeed, and you shall be rewarded beyond even your darkest fantasies. Fail, and know torment to make even Iblis himself shudder in horror.
"Yes, master. Thank you, master. What shall I call you?"
You shall refer to me as Master. However, when you wish to introduce me formally, you may call me the King of Shadows. I had a name once, but you have not earned the right to know it.
"I thank you for your generosity, oh great and terrible Shadow King," Malice knelt. She suddenly shuddered at a… noise he made. Then she realised what it was- laughter.
Go now, slave.
Malice made for the light, and as he did so long before, the Shadow King helped her through the tunnel, back into the Astral Plane.
Well, that's it. The end. The last chapter. But don't worry- there's an epilogue, and there will be a sequel. You will find out where Hawk was talking about. Any hint I could give would give it away, and I don't want to do that just yet, but I will say this: readers of Marvel Comics already know it. There will also be more laughs, some dramatic moments, a lot of parental concern, and a few comic characters- but not necessarily X-Men characters. So stay tuned for the sequel, coming out whenever I get my fat ass around to starting on it!