Welcome to Gaia! ::

They scoffed. "No, I'm not much a denizen of light, though I've had the... pleasure of feeling its presence as powerfully as the darkness," they explained, looking off to the side. "Light begets shadow, darkness stirs gleams. Both exist, and for life that should stay the same. I'm only a servant to myself, and in times like this the greatest goal is simply ensuring survival."

"So what do I gain by approaching you with this offer? The same I had to gain by approaching the rest of your brethren: a chance at weakening the threat to all existence, and thus by proxy my existence," they said, shrugging. "And should my efforts happen to give them new lives of their own discretion, when they were forced into existence and toyed with without consent? All the better, I suppose."

They strummed their fingers along their arm, a small hum on their lips as they contemplated.

"Let's make a deal--well, more of a mutual agreement, rather than any sort of actual trade," they said, loosening their arms and beginning to gesture. "I'll tell you my offer--everything from the perks to the cost--if you agree that if-slash-when you refuse, you'll allow me to erase the exact memories of my offer before letting you pass. I'll leave most of our conversation in tact, and specifically I'll leave the feelings and thoughts you have in reaction to the proposition so that if-slash-when I next appear, you'll know what to expect. Certainly a better job than that fool protégé did..."

"You must understand, if you do refuse, the moment we separate, all the events that you recall, all the information stored in your heart will once again be open to the darkness," they explained. "Through the so-called 'gift' they bestowed upon you two nights ago, they know your every move, thought, and desire, and they can influence you just so--with more influence allowed the more the gift is fed. It's why you feel different with me present. It's why I specifically endeavor to cut that tie when I make such visits, it's why you can't open a corridor, and it's why I'm specifically monitoring your magic in case any transportation-type weave begins to form."

"I'm more successful if all they do is consider me a gnat, after all," they said, placing one hand on their hip and lifting the other in question. "So what'll it be?"

The Shadowlord had been alone, roaming the halls of the castle. Slowly but surely memorizing it’s layout and routes. The way through the Castle from the entrance to the Throne Room was no simple route. While the Nightmare Dreadnought was more likely to just move through the Corridors of Darkness to get to his destinations, it was good to know the layout for future reference.

His fists clenched as he suddenly felt something peculiar… and then stranger yet, an absence. He felt incomplete, lacking and it took him a moment to identify what was wrong. His connection to the darkness had been cut. A deep rooted connection, one so deep that it had almost become a natural part of him. It was suddenly gone and it felt unnerving to the man turning demon, he felt completely empty… He realized that what was going on was most likely what had happened to all of the others. Then he heard the faint echoing voice his eyes scanning around for the source though he was unable to locate it.

”You’ve gotten a lot done in such a little amount of time. I knew you were coming,” He called out defensively into the shadows of the hall where he stood. He fought hard to hide that the absence in his heart had rattled him. He regained his composure before really answering the questions though. ”It’s a little hard to forfeit something which I never really had, wouldn’t you say? We’re all going to cease to be in the end, especially the replicas. There is no way we will be allowed to live regardless of the outcome. Especially not me.”

The Shadowlord slowly but surely managed to regain his composure, he did his best to ignore the hollow feeling in his heart and focus on the task at hand. He eventually relaxed somewhat and assumed a much more comfortable position, leaning his back against one of the walls. Aside from comfort, this also lessened the chance of a potential attack from behind if the intruder decided to become openly hostile. As he listened to the voice’s words his arms crossed in front of him as he considered and weighed his words.

”You talk like you know exactly what is going on and what is going to happen. To me, to everything… Yet, words from the shadows can hardly be taken at face value. If you expect me to take you seriously, why don’t you show yourself?” He asked, his red eyes still scanning around the dark corridor that remained abandoned aside from himself. ”Let’s talk face to face.”

”The Darkness is more direct than you know. Xehanort himself warned me of your coming,” The Shadow Lord stated in an almost boasting manner.

As he spoke, though the owner of the voice did not appear he felt something different. Another connection that he hadn’t truly noticed over the connection to the greater darkness. That was the presence of the land. His meeting with Xehanort had not only been as forewarning, but also bonded his heart to the land itself. A bond that this being clearly could not sever, or perhaps was not aware of. Through the senses of the domain itself that he was becoming more aware of, the form that was shifting around him was slowly becoming more apparent.

”At first it was all that I desired. To be stronger, I sought greater power. I pursued the most direct routes that my original’s memory knew of. The Nethicite…,” He stated, gesturing to the crystal embedded in his chest. ”And then the Shadow Lord,” He gestured towards the hallway, though kept his eyes away from the shifting presence. ”Through that search for power, I’ve found purpose far greater than anything I could have aspired to on my own. I am not just a replica anymore! I am the Shadow Lord!” His right fist pounding into the plate on his chest, clearly proud of that fact.

In the morning hours of the ninth day, a host of small, angular droids began their mission, searching out those who had recently become whole.

Upon finding the various individuals, the droids waited to approach until such a time that the recipients were in a safe location to receive their messages.

"Pardon me, but I come with a message from Adam," they would each say, their voices clearly a digitized version of the one they'd once known as Ajora. "Will you hear it out?"

If they said yes, light would project from the droid's eye, forming a near-perfect image of Adam--also the one they'd once known as Ajora. He wore simple jeans, a rolled-sleeve button purple shirt, and... flip-flops. His hair was shorter than before, but still fairly full, pushed back as it was.

"Heyo. Thanks for taking this. I used to go by Ajora, but I've given that up and picked Adam, so... nice to re-meet you all! I've sent this little guy to deliver a three-point message to all of you. I'll try to keep the monologue short--I'm sure you're all quite tired of it. If you're receiving this, it's because you accepted a deal with one named the Broker or one of their affiliates. Maybe a scaly one. Either way, welcome to the club! I'm happy--which is still weird--to hear you've taken this chance at a new life. But it does bring me to my first point."

"The world is still s**t. The Darkness is still bent on its obsessions, and we were some of its toys, so it's not going to be too happy about losing us. So I want to extend an offer of sanctuary: beyond the atmosphere, the World That Never Was still floats alone, cut off. I have taken the castle and, with help, protected it with some of Disney's own little magic. If you need a place to lay low, to stay, to sleep--a place where you will know, beyond a doubt, that you are safe from immediate harm--then I open my doors to you. Just come to the world itself and you will be permitted entry. Of course, it's a case of 'my house, my rules', but frankly the only genuine rule is don't mess with the systems or machines currently in place. They're playing a critical role in something, which brings me to point two.

"I am not personally content to sit by while this war over existence grows. I have seized this castle, and numerous other goals, with the full intent of stopping erasure as best I can. I do not expect anyone to join this suicide quest, and I certainly do not judge those who wish simply to live their lives in security. You have your freedom now, and you should find what joy you can. However, if you are interested in standing beside me, in pushing back against the bastards that would kill us now that we're finally alive, then I would call you ally and offer you an additional service: with the Tron tech and world I've gathered, I can create a digitized subplane where time moves differently. You could train for weeks in the span of hours, learning most anything you can find in these databanks. If you're willing to risk your life, I would have you do so as prepared as you can be.

"But please don't think that a requirement. You are free to this sanctuary regardless of your choice."

After that, his eyes lowered, expression souring. "Still, my third point: a warning. As you might imagine, as some of you accepted the bargain, there are others who did not. I have been informed that Kuro, Kai, Dusk, Alice, and Lucian--also known as the replicas of James, Kyla, Dawn, Jenny, and Anthony--have refused or at least not yet accepted the offer. If you come across them, be careful and do not trust them--they still harbor the dark seed that lets the Darkness spy through them."

"Aaaand that's it," he said, shoulders sagging, a look of exaggerated exhaustion crossing his features, as if he'd worn himself out. "Sorry. Lot to say. Anyway, no matter your choices, stay safe, stay free, and enjoy your new lives. Adam out!"

The hologram flickered out, leaving the little droid hovering. "We always did talk to much."

The male had been resting. Leaning against a large rock, his three unversed surrounding him. They were all resting, eyes closed, the soft but heavy breathing of sleep being the only sounds from them as they huddled together as if to keep warm. There was no need, but that was how it appeared to be.

Their eyes opened in unison, however, as something came near. A machine of some sort, flying towards them but stopping short.

It spoke it's message, and Azrael closed his eyes. Noku, the man with tiger features, responded with a "Yes."

As he listened, Bal-Hur, the most human looking one, wrapped an arm around Az, getting more comfortable. Keahi, the new one, smiled, showing sharp teeth that looked more like they belonged in a predator's mouth than a human's, nodding to the message.

The message finished, the droid adding it's own comment, and all four males stretched. Bodies and muscles and joints popped, and they all got up, with Azrael taking point. "A bit. Tell him I'll be along in a bit, I just have a...few things to do first. And keep that..." he frowned at the word he was trying to say. "...Subspace open for me. I'll have some things to test out.

And with that(and a yawn from everyone), the four males were then suddenly gone from sight.

The entity chuckled.

"Right mind, indeed," they said, turning to walk alongside the young man. "If you must know, it's the one that used to go by Ajora. He appears to feel indebted, so for whatever reason he has accumulated what memories he could to bring you back... to give you a second chance without the Corrupt Scion."

"Given this feeling of debt, I cannot imagine he expects anything in return," they added, seeming to muse. As they strolled on, the path seemed to stretch beyond the horizon, but it grew more beaten, more well-tread as they went. "But then, if this would still make you uncomfortable, there should be ways for your awakening to take you elsewhere."