The YouTuber whose fans disappeared

Anonymous

Mark watched and re watched the video he had just uploaded to his brand new channel and it slowly started to dawn on him.

Maybe Warfstache was right.

It took him a while to accept it, but he just sat for a moment and thought, Warfstache had said he had changed and the sad truth was that he had. In the beginning his channel was all about the community and what they could do. It was about making a difference. It was about coming together to make a difference. He had been in L.A for months now and not once had he mentioned the words 'charity live stream' let alone organised anything. He sat and shuck his head 'shit!' He said to himself and he contemplated what he had done. But he realised something, Warfstache had given him a chance. Just a glimse to make a difference and he would seize it. No one would know who he was. He would be anonymous. He would now dedicate his life to this new channel. 'Markipliers Heroes' a channel for the fans. For the people that can make a difference. For the people who deserve recognition. For the people Mark had neglected recently. He smiled and set to work.

Almost two years later, Markipliers heroes the YouTube channel had reached 739,000 subscribers and was quickly growing, and more surprising than that so was his old channel. Warfstache still made videos, but some fans still questioned where Mark was. They would quickly be silenced, in a manner which Mark never allowed himself to think of, but it meant that people still thought of him. Even after all this time Mark was in people's minds. And it was this that made Mark make a drastic decision. For 2 years fans followed and watched not knowing that these dedications; these charity events; all this money was being generated by their fallen hero. They were praising a man they has deserted. A man that, for no fault of their own, they had abandoned and left for dead.

That morning Marks stomach was full of butterflies. He sat at his computer, and turned on his camera, he looked at himself on his computer. He hadn't changed. His fauxhawk was the same as it ever was. His pearly white teeth still shone. His beard was a little longer than usual, but he liked it. He looked older. He looked worn and tired, he's been fighting an opponent less battle for two years. That needed to change. He took a deep breath and started to talk. When he finished he didn't remember what he said, he didn't want to plan it. He wanted it to come from the heart. And that's what he did. Later that day he watched it back, tears swelled in his eyes as he saw himself, the same young vulnerable person he was all those years ago. So grateful for the love he had received and was so hungry to do more. Always wanting more. He pressed play one last time;

The video started. Mark sat, in his usual spot. Usual hair. Usual attire. He smiled and began to talk; 'Hello everybody. My name is Markiplier...and it's been so long since I've said that out loud. It seems surreal now. Two years ago I lost everything. My entire world fell apart around me and I didn't know what to do. I was going to give up. Move back home, get a pointless job, in a pointless office and get paid pointless money. That was my plan. But I remembered something. I remembered you guys. I remembered that after all this time I had never thanked you properly for what you had done. Sure, I had sat here, in this same spot and said "sincerely thank you for what you are doing" but what was that? Words? You deserve so much more than that. You are all Markipliers heroes. But not just my heroes. The worlds heroes. You're the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure to encounter, and maybe having Warfstache take over my channel has actually done me some good. It's meant I can give something back. I can spend time learning about you all, as the beautiful human beings you are.' Mark smiled and wiped a tear from his eye. 'This is and always has been so much more than just about me playing video games. It's about making a difference. Creating something powerful. An unstoppable force which engulfs everything in its path. A tidal wave of power. You are that tidal wave. You are that power. And me? I'm the guy whose been making these videos. I'm that anonymous voice. Constantly reminding the world you're here. Letting HIM know to not forget about you.'

Marks manner changed. He didn't mean to get angry. He'd done that. He's spent the past two years angry. But it had crept back. He saw what Warfstache was doing, he saw the neglect, the narcissism, the hate. He saw it all. And it had to stop. Maybe Mark would never be what he was before. Maybe he would never be as popular. But that didn't matter now. He couldn't sit back anymore and watch Warfstache destroy the people he loved.

Mark leaned forward in his chair and looked straight in the camera. Warfstache sat at his computer and looked straight back. Those innocent, passionate eyes were glaring at him through the screen and not dropping their gaze. He looked back, he felt nervous. He knew the power this video could bring, he had to stop it. He was too lenient last time. He had let Mark free and he was so naive to think Mark wouldn't come back eventually.

Warfstache sat there and listened. He listened to Mark tell him that he would find him. That this would come to an end. This had gone on too long.

Warfstache sat and smiled. He held up his glass of scotch and said 'Heres to the final battle, old friend'