Breaking Down The Kings' Doors

[Acteur de la Noir]

Acteur had been given leave to pursue his own agenda once more, and he was struck with curiosity as to what had become of his unexpected "pupil"--Sarah Appleton, that most lonely of musicians. And yet, curiosity also caused the Heartless puppeteer to linger for a few seconds longer; he wanted to bear audience to whatever his master had intended. After all, any intricate scheme wasn't quite complete without a witness--someone to marvel at how clever it was. And, from what he'd seen of the Fallen, Acteur knew that his savior's plans were worthy of praise.

And surely enough, Atticus the Fallen had pulled off a masterstroke. In hindsight, it wouldn't have mattered if the Cornerstone had been movedby him or Cloud--either way, the Light-infused crystal could no longer keep that long-forgotten darkness at bay. As he watched the malevolent mass of inky blackness--what had his master called it, again? The Phantom Blot?--rejoice in its wicked vengeance, Acteur couldn't help but applaud, the smile on his mask wider than ever. This was the hallmark of the greatest plans--to set up events in such a way that, regardless of how they unfolded, the end result would benefit you in some way. And this was without counting the advent of Cloud's darkness in its purest form...

...A form that was rather surprising to behold. The svelte, silver-haired woman carried the same sword as the tall gent that Acteur had glimpsed in Cloud's mind...and yet, in so many ways, she was different. Truly, a rather puzzling creature...and what was all this talk about a "Promised Land," all of a sudden?

No matter. Questions for another day...and right now, Acteur had his own plot to attend to. With a tip of the hat to the Sephi-"rotheira," the elegantly-dressed puppeteer opened a corridor of Darkness with a snap of his fingers...and just like that, he was off, disappearing into the shadowy vortex which led back to the World That Never Was...

*To the Dark Theater*

[Atticus the Fallen]

As the Blot came to a conclusion on his rampage, leaving Disney Castle little more than a foundation of ruins with large areas thrust into non-existance by the creature's strange "paint thinner" like abilities, it had shrunk down from its monsterous, massive size, and taken a form more terrifying than before...



It stood on the grounds of Disney Castle, glaring up at the ruin it had created with a satisfied, albiet skeletal grin. That was when Atticus the Fallen floated gracefully downward behind it, landing lightly without barely a sound.

"Impressive, the things you can do..." the dark one noted, prompting the inkblot creature to spin around and lash out, attempting to destroy the one who snuck up on it. Atticus merely side-stepped, and held out a hand in order to have the darkness swirl around the creature, mezmerizing it a moment, as there was only one thing the Phantom craved more than vengence... perfect, pure darkness.

"You and I are not so different..." Atticus whispered, walking closer now that he had the Blot's attention. The swirls of darkness faded, so that the two could look each other in the eyes... so to speak. "I, too, am a seeker of perfect blackness. Like yourself, my sole purpose in life is to spread the dark far and wide... engulfing everything bright and colorful in a wonderous shroud of darkness... But unlike yourself, I've discovered I cannot do this alone..." He held a hand up, gesturing to the Blot, indicating that he needed his help. "That's why I need like-minded individuals like yourself, Phantom Blot... That's why I orchestrated your escape..."

The Blot looked away a moment, considering the damage it had done to the Castle, and thought for a moment what else was possible. What could two, maybe more, creatures of the darkness accomplish if they put their minds together? At least temporarily...

"Will you help me choke out that last glimmer of light in the dark?" Atticus asked, waiting for an answer.

The Blot thought quietly, then looked to the creature. If it could smile, it would. "A world of inky black... Such a place is worth a partnership here or there..." it responded, its voice like gargling water, even causing think, bile-like ink to spill from its lips and splash on the ground. It turned fully, looking to the Heartless. "Alright... you have a deal. I suppose I do owe you for freeing me... I'll meet you when I'm done with my work here..."

"Will you be able to find me, then?"

"Oh trust me..." the Blot chuckled, a horrible, red light filling the sockets of his skeletal face to produce a horrifying illusion of delighted eyes, "No Dark creature can go undetected. I can find you..." With that, he bubbled downward and seeped into the ground, streaking like lightning towards the city of Duckberg.

As for Atticus, he watched as the Blot left, then turned in place, a corridor opening behind him. He had other people to visit today, after all...