Hey! I hope this isn't too forward of me but I've translated the newest KHUx update on my KH blog, theworldthatneverwas, and I'd love to see your opinion on the events (especially with the whole Ven/darkness thing!) I'm also happy to answer questions about my translation!
Hello! Thank you so much for hooking me up with the translation! It seems very clear from what I can glean and I am ready to dig in.
There’s.... a lot to unpack. If you read the implications of this update straight, then Darkness has been confirmed to be a force that can possess Ventus in some physical way and has, as a result, infiltrated the Union leaders by killing an intended member. But there are two schools of thought presented on the nature of this Darkness:
External Force:
Skuld asks if Darkness ‘disguised itself as Ava’. When discussing what happened, Ephemer says ‘someone’ tricked Ven. All of this assuming that Darkness is an external force. But our understanding of Re:mind tells that at least at some point Darkness becomes bound to Ven in someway but it doesn’t necessarily have to be from the very beginning.
Or Internal Force:
Yet, both the staging of the empty house scene with Strel’s flashback, and the auxiliary knowledge Re:mind, further support this ‘Split-Personality’ concept with Ven. Re;mind stages Darkness inside of Ven’s heart station and gives Vanitas a sentience claim that precedes his split. And within this update Brain and Ephemer’s reference Darkness hiding in people.I state in my theory that Darkness is not an external force preying upon Ventus but in fact a suppressed creation of Ven’s and I still believe this. The Missing Ache thematically suggests that Ven takes his dark feelings and smothers it, potentially funneling all of his heartache and pain into another venue. I also allude to his mysterious reaction to the introduction of PvP, not only as a means to bolster Ven’s innocence but as proof that he simply forgets or blocks out things that trouble him (he’s pacifistic and unwilling to ‘raise his blade against comrades’ as proof by his reverse grip). But this gets bigger than poor personal darkness management.
Brain and Ephemer specifically talk about the purpose of the Dandelion’s and the antithesis of their mission in this update.
Brain: So if only light is supposed to come to the new world, what wouldn’t we want to bring?
Darkness with an agenda. A scheme meant to hurt the larger effort of the Dandelions. And knowing that ‘Darkness’ connived against Maleficent for the liberation from the data-world, we can assume this is a very large and organized plot from Darkness.
If we assume these two facts to be true (Darkness serving from within Ven and Darkness having greater scope of ambitions), then Darkness’ connection to the Darkling phenomenon might have better support. This is, understanding Darklings as a legion purposed toward the spread of darkness with sentience (placing them above Heartless) but little identity. If Ventus has a Darkling form or Darkling alter-ego it would make sense why the Darkness inside of him has a greater perspective on the grand scheme of the Dandelion/Data-world plot. (Explicit Darkling connections with Ven come from Vanitas-Darkling visual similarities and KH3 boxart’s Darkling statue rising from Ven). This would ultimately provide a face to the dark-light conflict that the entire prewritten destiny is centered around. This force used as fodder to our keyblades now has a clear and sentient goal other than just basic destruction of light.
Ven, or his Darkness is that face. He is a sleeper agent to that ambition. A Darkling in human skin.
But honestly? Honestly Honestly...
Why... imply Ven’s culpability and not show it? Perhaps the exact nature of the connection with Darkness (be it external or internal) is a treasured reveal... but I’m suspicious of that because regardless of Darkness’s nature within Ven, Ven is proving his ignorance and innocence of the deed, therefore, removing the shock value of the reveal.
Why spoil the wham moment with vague confirmation? Unless Ven killing Strelitzia on the behest of Darkness isn’t the most treasured secret of this moment’s mystery.
And that’s where I turn to the only thing Ven does remember. Leaving the damn room with Ava. Some claim this is a fabricated memory. And once again in the dialogue does Brain announce his blind trust in Ava.
Brain: Plus, if Strelitzia is no longer with us, that’s evidence that it wasn’t Master Ava’s intention to replace her.
Translation: “Ava would never kill Strelitzia so she can’t possibly be behind this”
I am bothered to death by this blind faith because it feels like it’s being arbitrarily slammed over our heads. Ava isn’t capable of hurting her own. She isn’t capable of making hard choices for the good of the Dandelion’s.
Newsflash: Ava started the first war by lashing out at Luxu. She started the war as an unwitting pawn and intentionally defied the Masters directions in the hope that she could. She has a lot of blame on her shoulders already and a lot of gall. Don’t rule her out when trying to do good.
Ven walks in. Darkness kills Strelitzia. Ava and Ven walk out. Darkness in disguise??
Brain: The person you saw really was Master Ava, right?
Ventus: Yeah…
Let’s believe him. After all, Ven has no memory of this moment (hearkening to his bbs memory problems even!). Everyone in this recollection scene wants to believe that Ava is being impersonated or that memories are fake. But I say let’s believe this to be so darn true.
I think Ava and Darkness are working together to start the Keyblade War in data-Daybreak Town.
Why? I have a few theories for a different post. But if they are working together it might explain why Darkness has knowledge on the data-world and how to leave it. Also why Darkness might want to avoid Maleficent’s meddling as well.
Okay that went in a lot of directions. If there’s a line that doesn’t have as conclusive a meaning as I’m reading, let me know. I am terribly grateful for you bringing this to my attention and for your wonderful translations.
