//------------------------------//
// From the dark void of death... Again 
// Story: A Matter of Darkness 
// by Uberdeathninja 
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Darkness. That was all Zero could see or feel; cold, endless darkness, oppressive and all-consuming, without beginning or end, and the only source of of light that could be perceived came from his halo that floated statically over his head.

And he was here, wherever "here" was, because of that fetid pink puffball, Kirby. Thinking of his defeat on Dark Star Infuriated Zero, especially the part where Kirby shot glass shards into his open eye. Seriously, who the hell does that? At any rate, Zero was dead again, his angst and sorrow and anguish now amplified even greater from being blown up, not once, but twice. Twice. Now he drifted in a dark void, completely cut off from all positive emotion. All he could ever feel was hate, anger, and unbearable sadness, and all he ever wanted was to have everyone know his pain, for everyone to suffer with him, so he wouldn't have to be alone. He came close once, during a campaign in Dreamland. Then Kirby happened. When he restored himself into a more intimidating form, he led his dark matter minions to the sickly-sweet world of... Huh, he couldn't quite remember. Odd. He did, however, remember being in his hive, Dark Star, all nice and comfy, and near the completion of his plan, then Kirby happened... Again.

He just wanted to not be alone, to let everyone know the pain he was going through. If everyone suffered with him, it wouldn't be suffering. It would be normal. He would be normal. The thought of this made him feel something other than pain, the only positive thing he ever felt when he thought of his plan: Hope. Hope was all he had, and that cursed Star warrior took it away from him! All he had, all he wanted, gone! All because of that pink, poofy, star-riding, fairy-befriending, freak-of-nature Star warrior! Now, he had nothing. Soon, Zero's emotions began to spiral out of control, and he closed his singular eye tightly, trying to thrash, but to no avail. So he floated there, his clenched eye bleeding with fury and hate. Just as he was gaining control of his emotions, though, he saw a bright light in the distance, a small spot of white that made him feel... peaceful? Content? Happy? Whatever it was, he HATED it, and wanted to just extinguish it, or at least get away from it. Just as he was doing just that, however, he noticed the light getting brighter. No, it was getting closer! He was getting closer! Panicking and visibly sweating, Zero thrashed and struggled to rid himself of the lights grip, but to no avail. finally, as the light touched him, Zero sighed in defeat, and let the light consume him, closing his eye as his vision became white, then blackness once more.


Much Later


Zero drifted aimlessly around space for a bit, fully conscious, but too tired to bother opening his eye. He finally tried once, failing as it fluttered open and closed immediately, then tried again, forcing his lids to open, and succeeding finally. Once he got is blood- red eye open, however, he wished he'd left it closed, for what now lay in his sight was the most dull, boring, happy planet he ever laid eye on.

The planet he now bore before himself, the mighty Zero, was covered in pleasant, perfectly round, green hills, perfectly conical white-topped mountains, and perfectly poofy clouds, and an ocean so pure and blue, it hurt him to look at it. On top of all THAT nonsense, the sun and moon orbited the planet itself in a perfectly circular orbit, as though the stars themselves revolved around this one sickening world. In short, he despised it. The new world reminded him of Popstar, which brought back painful memories... VERY painful memories. Ones involving glass shards, a love-love stick, and a certain pink aberration of nature. Zero gazed upon the world with immense hatred, but soon perked up, as he got a brilliant idea that almost lightened his mood. This world was so pristine and pure, he could easily take the inhabitants, make them see his suffering. Plus, there were no pink Star Warriors in sight, none at all. No Kirby, no MetaKnight, no giant blue penguins, and no fairies.

This world would be an easy victory, easier than even the fairies! Suddenly, as these thoughts flowed through Zero's mind, a feeling began to rise in him, a good feeling... hope, his only light in his endless dark cavern of despair. Now it was back, and nothing was going to take it from him ever again. Not Kirby. Not the fairies. Not any god in heaven, nor being on this planet. Holding on to this positive emotion like his most prized, valuable possession, Zero hummed silently to himself as he hurtled toward the planet, eager to meet the inhabitants. They didn't know it yet, but they were about to become his new best friends forever... He would see to that himself. Oh, the fun they were going to have, or lack thereof, anyway. It didn't matter to Zero. Now, it was his time to shine!

Zero's back, baby!


Meanwhile, in Canterlot


Celestia awoke with a start, shaking and sweating. She had a horrible dream, she didn't know what of, though. Only that something incredibly evil, unimaginably chaotic, and immeasurably powerful was heading for their world; something they weren't ready for yet. Shaking her head, Celestia walked to the balcony, and saw her sister's night sky. Nothing was apparent in it yet, but her gut feelings were never wrong, and this one had "disaster" written all over it. With a sigh, she turned back off to bed, deciding to tell Luna in the of this morning. Just as she looked back, however, she saw a small pinprick of black in the night sky, seeming to be observing her. She squinted it the dot, and it suddenly shot back into the heavens, right into space, as if detecting her scrutiny. Celestia had no idea what that thing was, or how it got there, in their sky, or even if it was FROM this world. Whatever it was though, it was clearly worth defending against, Celestia was sure of that.

But as Celestia headed back to bed, not moments after, another sphere of black rose from the balcony, seeming to have melded with the shadows prior, and rise from them as it appeared, its one, orange eye fixed on Celestia as she left. Soon, Celestia returned to bed, troubled thoughts floating about in her head, and the strange, black shadow retreated back into the floor, its mission completed... for now.