That Which Is

Ions ago there was war. The old light and the new flames relentlessly waged battle after battle against the darkness, a force so ancient it paid no mind to the insignificant specks of light that occupied its being. That is, until the birth of Ôntí, a warrior of pure energy. A living battery who did not use his power at the expense of his own life. A warrior with the potential to create endlessly growing light. The darkness while knowledgeable and aware of this probable threat to its existence decided to watch the growing warrior rather than attack him. With its ions worth of knowledge and experience it knew that attacking the boy would only push him to become a warrior with the ability and drive to defeat it. So the darkness watched and was impressed by the boy’s abilities and his character. He was always prepared to fight but never started an encounter. Something new for the people of the flame. The boy showed great skill in a fight even at such a young age defeating even the generals of his people without having to use the full extent of his power. He was unmatched but somehow kind. His need to gloat or show off we’re seemingly nonexistent. How could this be? How is it that this boy is so different from his people? Year after year the boy grew in size and strength. He attained the highest position in the lights army of Ôtokí, a position only occupied by two other flames over the lights entire existence. Ôntí, unlike the other flames, was forced into the position rather than fighting to get it. His strength and knowledge set him above all other flames, but his ambitions were wrong. No one understood why a being of endless light would not want to destroy the dark abyss around them. Ôntí never told them why. He did not care for their questions of him as he truly did not know. He did not understand why he was so different from those around him. As the years went on the light grew thanks to the might of Ôntí a single wave of his hand pushed the darkness further and further back until there seemed to be but a small corner of space for it. The darkness itself still watching was content with what it was becoming. It did not wish to bring harm to Ôntí. He watched the boy grow into a man and defend what he felt was right. Regardless of the outcome the darkness knew that its end was nonexistent. It is all and all is it and nothing would change that. As the ambition of the flames grew so did their desire for more. They wanted to completely wipe out the darkness. “Destroy the darkness” they would chant as they crusaded. As the years went on the darkness became smaller and smaller until it seemed to be but a hole in the light. “The end Ôntí. Finish the darkness off. End it’s miserable existence” the high king said but, Ôntí couldn’t. He could not bring himself to eradicate the simple spec with a mere wave of his hand. He instead reached out to the darkness. Holding it in his hand Ôntí could feel an enormous presence all around him as if there was nothing but darkness, and a calm but firm voice that said, “Bravo, you have pushed me to almost nothing. A truly enjoyable sight to see”

“What?!” Ôntí spoke in amazement “you have a voice?”

“Yes. I have sight as well and I’ve witnessed your growth into a mighty warrior.”

“You’ve watched us? We’ve been destroying you and you have done nothing. You have No army, no warriors. You haven’t infected any of us with darkness or even killed us with horrors like none other. You’ve done none of what they’ve taught us. Why?”

“I am no cruel being. Like you, I exist. That’s it. I’ve always been here. I’ve watched your people grow and change from the time they were but sparks. I have no ill will towards them or their ambitions. They like me exist. They just do it differently.”

“You mean to say you aren’t trying to hurt us?”

“In short, no.”

“What are you waiting for Ôntí!? DESTROY THE DARKNESS!” The king yells to him

“No” Ôntî says with such command that the trillions of flames around him are forced to their knees including the king himself. “The darkness has done nothing to us. It is but a being that exists alongside us. Before us even. It’s been watching us all our lives and not once has it endangered any of us. Even in this state it is still far more vast than we are. Do you not understand that? Even in the palm of my hand it is more vast than everything we’ve ever built or taken over. It could’ve and can still destroy all of us in an instant if it wished. But it has chosen to merely watch as we have destroyed it. Does that say ‘dark overlord’ to you?”

“The darkness must be destroyed Ôntí” the king says as he struggles with all his power to stand

“Why?”

“YOU QUESTION YOUR KING!?” his voice booms over Ôntí, “DESTROY THE DARKNESS NOW!”

Ôntí looks at his palm and crushes the spec of darkness absorbing it onto himself. With his left hand now shrouded in darkness Ôntí raises his hand upward and absorbs the light around them. Billions of years of war and progress undone in only a second. “Do you believe me now, great king? The darkness had no reason to hurt any of us. It could have destroyed us as simply as that.” The king, astonished and fearful of Ôntí’s new power, flees. The trillions of flames who had praised Ôntí’s power and strength now called him a heretic as they fled with their king. As he looked down at his left hand Ôntí could feel the presence of the darkness but the voice was gone. What had happened? Glancing up, Ônti gasped as a being of pure darkness began to form. “You are truly different from the others. That was...I’m speechless.” The darkness commends his abilities

“What is this?” Ôntí holds up his left hand now gilded in darkness.

“Well it seems as though I am now a part of you” looking into the void that is his hand Ôntí asks “so what do I do with this power? I can not go home. They would rather destroy everything they are to eradicate you as well as me.”

“Well if that is their wish. Let them try to attain it.”

“How can you be so content with what they are doing?”

“I am all and all is me. Nothing will change that.” As the dark figure is undone it says “you are you. One of light and now of darkness. You can choose to do or you can choose to watch. I’ve made my choice. What will be yours?”