016 [Video]

[mountain_sage]

[Since the invasion of Maleficent's castle and the events that followed, Saleh has been deep in thought. They were in for dark times once again, but they would pull through, just as they had before. The question was what to do from here.]

I've...a question, especially for those with knowledge of this darkness. This is actually something I have been pondering for some time, but with recent events, I find it appropriate to look deeper into it. Is it truly possible to control the darkness without losing yourself?

[Because the idea of losing himself scares him more than anything.]

Comments

[video]

[themistressofallevil]

[As with before, the familiar white noise and crackled feed of magic interfering with the network emerges across the device before Maleficent appears on the screen.]

Dear child, you have been listening to the ramblings of the once king and his brainless followers far too much. Darkness is feared by many and truly understood by few. [And that, sadly, is true; Maleficent, for once, isn't manipulating those words.] There are those who have controlled the darkness without succumbing to the form of a heartless, but they were those few who understood what they were controlling.

[video]

[mountain_sage]

[Saleh's heart skips a beat as Maleficent suddenly appears on his communicator. He hadn't been expecting this. But he mustn't waste the opportunity.]

Maleficent...!?

[He already knows that those words are true, that darkness is truly feared by many and understood by few. Saleh himself certainly fears the darkness, and he has good reason for it.]

I'm well aware of that. But what of Leon? He hasn't taken a heartless form, and yet it seems as though he's...possessed. As if he were a shell of what he used to be.

I have seen how the darkness corrupts others with my own eyes. Thus, I have yet to see anything that disproves the "ramblings" of the king and his "followers."

video;

[watchesthesea]

Honestly? I believe that with the darkness you will lose yourself, at least to begin with, but if one is strong enough, I believe it can be overcome.

[She looks down, talking about it just reminds her of Riku.]

video;

[mountain_sage]

So, to fall and then to rise again...

[That makes sense as well, but he'd still like to keep from falling in the first place. Is it really worth the risk?]

...Is that what happened to Leon?

[She was in his group in their mission, wasn't she? She must know something about that.]

video;

[watchesthesea]

Yes, but it took them a long time to overcome it.

I believe what's happened to Leon is more a dark spell than darkness itself, but the feeling is dark either way and that worries me.

video;

[mountain_sage]

I see. Then we must find a way to free him, and King Mickey. Do you know anything about the king's condition? Did you see him recently?

video;

[watchesthesea]

[She shakes her head.]</small. I'm sorry, but I can't say know about his condition currently. It had been a while.

[wavesinherheart]

I don't know if it can be controlled. But the darkness is dangerous.

[mountain_sage]

I'm fairly certain that it can, given what I've seen. But I've also seen how dangerous it can be.

[wavesinherheart]

Maybe it can, but would being able to control the darkness really be worth the cost?

[mountain_sage]

If we can save our worlds, then yes.

But even controlling the darkness may not be enough to defeat Maleficent. I'm asking more for the knowledge rather than the power, for knowledge is the greater power.

[wavesinherheart]

I don't think it would be. Not on its own.

[mountain_sage]

Then we'll find a solution to all of this somehow.

[wavesinherheart]

Right. It won't be easy, but there has to be a solution.

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

Why do you suddenly care so much about the darkness? You seemed pretty against it before.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

But it is not so sudden; as I said, I've been pondering this for a while. And it's not that I care for the darkness, as I'm merely seeking a different approach.

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

It's just kind of interesting that you're mentioning it after Maleficent makes such a generous announcement.

[sarcasm at the generous comment.]

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

It should not be that surprising, given what just happened.

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

But that's just it. What I saw just happen, and how Maleficent has two of our allies under her control, is what makes it so surprising.

We don't exactly have a lot of time to study the Darkness right now, especially if we were to do it on our own, and especially if we know next to nothing about it to begin with.

So are you thinking of joining her, or not?

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

Hmm. And I suppose your plan is to charge in and attack? You should know better by now.

Joining her? Hardly. My idea may involve getting close to her, but I have no intention of becoming her puppet.

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

If we had the right resources, we could easily charge in and attack.

What? Do you think she's going to just allow you to share the power or knowledge? You get close to her and you will become her puppet, willingly or not.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

But we don't have the right resources. We cannot match her strength for strength, not like this. What would you suggest then?

If it's true that the strong-willed can reach out to the darkness without falling into it, than I shall not become her puppet. That's what I'm trying to learn.

[And if he can't learn anything this way, he'll have to turn to the darkness itself.]

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

How do you know? You haven't even looked!

You're so quick to turn around and change your mind--you go with her, and you're as good as gone.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

How do you know that I haven't looked?

I'm simply adapting to the situation. But you have not answered my question. What would you suggest instead?

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

Because of what you're saying right now.

Adapting's just another word for switching sides. I'd suggest taking her down.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

...With all due respect, you're jumping to conclusions prematurely, and I find that uncomfortable. Have you learned nothing from this mission?

[Video]

[blitz_acing]

With all due respect, you have no idea what you're getting into. I don't know, but what I do know is it's clear only one of us was paying any attention.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

Yes...it is clear...that you were the one not paying attention, just as you are not paying attention now.

[Voice]- threadjack

[gunnerbrat]

Was that supposed to be public? Your idea of getting close to the evil fairy but not joining her?

[Voice]

[mountain_sage]

[Well, he hadn't thought about that, but...]

I don't think it matters. I've a feeling that she's always watching us, though the darkness.

[Voice]

[gunnerbrat]

Oh...

You think the darkness is how she learned about the planned attack?

[ He wasn't involved but he does pay attention to the communicators.]

[Voice]

[mountain_sage]

It's possible. I don't know for certain if she knew what we were planning.

But I still remember how she appeared before me at the most opportune moments...

[Voice]

[gunnerbrat]

She could've just been bluffing to make us all paranoid.

[ He has some understanding of how villains think.]

[Voice]

[mountain_sage]

[So does Saleh. It's part of why he asks her so many questions.]

That may be, but I have my ways of discerning the truth from the lies.

[Voice]

[gunnerbrat]

Really? How?

[ audio ]

[darkerearth]

It isn't.

I'm tired of everyone trying to control it. You can't! It will only end up controlling you.

[ audio ]

[mountain_sage]

I see...

[Yet another thing to take into account as he ponders his next course of action.]

What else do you know about the darkness?

[ audio ]

[darkerearth]

Why are you wanting to know?

[ audio ]

[mountain_sage]

So that we may find a way to defeat Maleficent. We cannot fight something that we know nothing about.

[Why so suspicious?]

[ audio ]

[darkerearth]

We can't defeat her with darkness. Not with that power.

[ audio ]

[mountain_sage]

But can we defeat her with knowledge?

[Because that's really what he's aiming for.]

[ audio ]

[darkerearth]

...Probably. But not with just the power of darkness.

[ audio ]

[mountain_sage]

True enough. But anything we can learn about it will help.

audio;

[memoryreprieved]

I'm... I've known some people who could use it a little- without it controlling them, but... I don't know. I've.. heard other things, too. About how people have hurt others with it.

So... I don't really know. [ But she's trying to figure this out, too. ]

audio;

[mountain_sage]

I have seen it, too...how people have hurt others with the darkness, or have been consumed entirely.

There has been dark-based magic in my own world, but I highly doubt that it is the same thing.

[He never thought he'd actually regret not studying dark magic himself.]

audio;

[memoryreprieved]

Maybe it isn't... or. Maybe it is. Darkness... It's in every world, isn't it? [ Not really a question. If all their worlds were consumed by it, if that's why many of the people are there... and considering the Heartless, too... ]

It might have a different form, but... That's still what it is in the end, right?

[Video]

[salvagedlight]

[He looks a bit of a mess, honestly, but Ven knows this isn't an idle sort of question, so he'll throw his two cents in.]

I've only ever known one person who can control it like you're talking about - and he had to go through the worst of the worst before he was able to do it.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

The worst of the worst? What happened?