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The thirteen original '''Darknesses''' are a group of characters introduced in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Union χ]]'' as the main antagonists, possessing a history with [[the Master of Masters]].
{{Q|They'll never understand us, just like we'll never understand them. And that's why we'll always be at odds.|The Master of Masters to Luxu on the nature of Darkness}}
The thirteen original '''Darknesses''', also referred to as '''true darkness''', are a group of characters introduced in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Union χ]]'' who possess a history with [[the Master of Masters]].
 
Darkness is an ancient entity locked in an eternal battle with the [[light]]. While they originally possessed physical forms, they currently exist without a [[body]], so instead seek out [[heart|hearts]] to inhabit. Of the thirteen, one's whereabouts are unknown following the destruction of [[Daybreak Town]], four are trapped inside data Daybreak Town, and the rest reside in the hearts of [[Ventus]], the five [[Foreteller|Foretellers]], [[Luxu]], and the [[Master of Masters]].


==Story==
==Story==
===Before ''Kingdom Hearts Union χ''===
===Before ''Kingdom Hearts Union χ''===
Long ago, Darkness possessed physical forms, but cast off these forms to defeat Light and became shadowy incorporeal entities. In order to propagate and increase their numbers, they attacked the hearts directly, with people succumbing to their negative emotions and giving rise to the [[Pureblood Heartless]]. There were initially thirteen main Darknesses, but the Keyblade War reduced this number to six, with the strongest seven locked away in the hearts of the [[Foreteller]]s, Luxu, and the Master of the Masters. At some point later in time, when the Master of Masters was composing the [[Book of Prophecies]] utilizing knowledge passed to him via the [[Gazing Eye]], Darkness watched over his shoulder, reading the passages as they were entered. This is how Darkness came to learn that, in the future, [[Ventus]] would harbor Darkness. Additionally, the two had spoken to one another in the past, though because of their opposing positions they were unable to understand each another. Even so, Darkness views the Master of Masters as an "old friend".
Long ago, Darkness possessed physical forms, but cast off these forms in their battle with the light, thus leaving thirteen Darknesses. In order to propagate and increase their numbers, they turned to attacking hearts, with people succumbing to their negative emotions and giving rise to the [[Pureblood Heartless]].
 
[[File:A World of Fiction 01 KHUX.png|thumb|left|The Master of Masters and Darkness discuss the future.]]
When the Master of Masters was composing the [[Book of Prophecies]] with knowledge passed to him via the [[Gazing Eye]], Darkness watched over his shoulder, reading the passages as they were entered. Because of this, Darkness learned that Ventus would harbor Darkness in the future. Darkness would also have conversations with the Master of Masters, but they were unable to understand each other's thoughts and positions. Even so, Darkness views the Master of Masters as an "old friend".
 
As part of his plan to defeat Darkness, the Master of Masters orchestrated the [[Keyblade War]] by subtly manipulating his apprentices, breeding distrust and anger among them. This caused their hearts to harbor dark emotions, rendering them perfect vessels for Darkness. Following the Keyblade War, the Foretellers, [[Luxu]], and the Master of the Masters became hosts for the strongest seven Darknesses, all according to the Master of Masters's plan.


===''Kingdom Hearts Union χ''===
===''Kingdom Hearts Union χ''===
Before the [[Dandelions]] could cross worldlines in order to escape the [[Keyblade War]], Darkness took Ventus as its vessel, helping him obtain his unconscious desire for power by striking down one of the new [[Union]] leaders, [[Strelitzia]], and stealing her [[Rulebook]]. Darkness then took on the form of [[Ava]] and delivered the Rulebook to Ventus near the clock tower, instructing him to meet the other new Union leaders at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]] at the allotted time.{{storylink|Quest 730: Target: Silver Hammer Frame Pt. 2}}
Right before the start of the Keyblade War, one Darkness takes  Ventus as its vessel and strikes  down [[Strelitzia]], stealing her [[Rulebook]] and giving Ventus her spot as a new [[Union]] leader. Darkness then disguises itself as [[Ava]] and instructs Ventus on his new role.
 
[[File:A Witch Out Of Time 01 KHUX.png|thumb|Darkness introduces themselves to Maleficent.]]
Another Darkness approaches [[Maleficent]] following her defeat. Darkness explains to her that she is trapped in a [[data world]], part of the Master of Masters's plan to ensure that Maleficent would be unable to alter the past.


After reliving the events of the past for two years, the old world's timeline concerning the Keyblade War was eventually rewritten. Going forward, Darkness approaches [[Maleficent]] after she is defeated by the likes of [[Player (KHχ)|Player]] and [[Prince Phillip]]. Darkness explains that the reason she could not rewrite history was because the Master of Masters had known she would arrive from the future in order to try and alter the past, which is why [[Enchanted Dominion]] had been excluded from the real world until after the Keyblade War. As Darkness feared Maleficent would return to the future with knowledge of the past, it trapped her within the data of Enchanted Dominion and ensured that the data of [[Radiant Garden]] was excluded.
Darkness then guides Maleficent to data Daybreak Town and the [[lifeboat]] hidden within the clock tower. It reveals that the device will allow Maleficent to return to her own time, requiring only someone with memories of her and a medium to recreate her body in the future. Further, should Maleficent use the lifeboat, she will be able to serve as a waypoint to allow someone to travel into the future, Darkness explains.


Darkness then guides Maleficent to Data [[Daybreak Town]], where she is to use the lifeboat hidden within the clock tower, which had been intended to be used to cross worldlines - though it mentions that the lifeboat had never been finished, thus allowing her to escape to a different time rather than a different world. As she would lose her body as a result of the incomplete nature of the lifeboat, Maleficent would break through the time barrier as she travelled at the speed of light, requiring only someone with memories of her as a medium to recreate a body in the future - which is guaranteed as the Book of Prophecies dictates her existence in the future. When Maleficent questions Darkness's identity, it calls itself an "old friend", explaining that it needed her back in her own time to act as a waypoint, thus allowing someone to travel through time into the future.
Maleficent hesitates to return to her own time, which allows [[Lauriam]] to discover her presence. After revealing the function of the lifeboat, she battles the Union leader, winning with Darkness's help and returning to the future. Darkness, however, remains behind in the real Daybreak Town.


Upon locating the lifeboat, Maleficent hesitates to return to her own time, thus allowing [[Lauriam]] to catch up with herself and Darkness, wherein she reveals the function of the lifeboat as a means of escape to Lauriam before attempting to leave. However, Lauriam doesn't intend on allowing this to happen, and he attacks Maleficent, who is aided by Darkness in defeating the [[Keyblade]] wielder in order to utilize the lifeboat to return to the real world. Once there, Darkness instructs Maleficent to utilize the real lifeboat to get back to her own time, but refuses to join her, as it has something it still needs to do in the past.
[[File:The World's End 02 KHUX.png|thumb|left|The Darkness inside Ventus reveals itself.]]
The Darkness lurking in Ventus's heart exposes itself to the Union leaders. Lauriam attacks, enraged at Darkness for killing his sister Strelitzia, but he is easily defeated in his weakened state. [[Brain]] questions Darkness before raising his [[Keyblade]] agaist it alongside [[Ephemer]] and [[Skuld]].


Returning to Data Daybreak Town, Darkness reveals itself to the Union leaders after Ventus collapses, fuelled by Lauriam's return and the guilt of Strelitzia's death. When questioned as to its intentions, Darkness explains that it does not have anything that it is trying to achieve, to which Lauriam asks why it killed his sister. Elaborating, Darkness reveals that it had been an unconscious desire of Ventus's to obtain power, and that they had simply done what was necessary in order to give him that, meaning that there was no real reason as to why Strelitzia had to die. Enraged, Lauriam attacks Darkness, but he's defeated easily by it in his weakened state. Afterwards, [[Brain]] questions Darkness as to why it had chosen Ventus and its relation to the Master of Masters, before summoning his Keyblade and battling Darkness alongside [[Ephemer]] and [[Skuld]].
With most of the Union leaders defeated, Darkness is coaxed by Brain into revealing its true plan: infection. [[Player (KHχ)|Player]] arrives and the [[Keyblade wielders]] prepare to fight Darkness once more; their victory in the battle is short-lived, as Darkness is unable to be destroyed with no form. However, Ventus awakens and uses the light within him to dispel the creature of [[darkness]].


With most of the leaders defeated Darkness knows it's on the verge of victory and yet was coaxed by Brain into revealing what it really wanted and it says infection. Upon clarifying the entity said it was just doing it's role based on the book of prophecies, and used Ventus to separate itself from the hive mind of Darkness giving said individual a will of it's own not caring what sacrifice was needed. When Player and the Union Leaders rise up to fight again Darkness still remained confident they would lose and as Lauriam spoke of getting out the entity scoffed at them, asking how they would accomplish it. Hearing of them planning to use the lifeboat as Maleficient had the entity ridiculed them for their cluelessness explaining the true purpose of the lifeboat and how with Maleficient's departure, the lockdown and destruction of the data world had already started. Despite them briefly defeating the entity, it was unable to be destroyed with no form. Afterwards Ventus awakens using the light within him to dispel the creatures of darkness. Aware that it used him to give itself a form, Ventus knew could do the same turning the entity into something they can destroy. The entity fights off with him alone.{{storylink|Quest 977: Darkness Looms}}
Meanwhile, the Darkness that remained in the real Daybreak Town speaks with Luxu regarding Luxu and the Master of Masters's plans and the whereabouts of the remaining four Darknesses.


Meanwhile, in the real Daybreak Town, another Darkness speaks with Luxu regarding his and Master of Masters' plans and the whereabouts of remaining four Darknesses. Shortly after, the remaining four Darknesses appear to Player, Ephemer and Skuld in the Data Daybreak Town and try to make them open the gate to Central Game Station so that they can spread to other Data Worlds. Player appears to be possessed by Darkness and attacks Ephemer and Skuld and defeats them both in battle. Player then moves to kill Skuld but Ephemer shoots a beam of energy through Player, sending them and the four Darknesses into the gate leading to the Central Game Station while locking the gate from his own side. In the conduit between the Data Daybreak Town and Game Central Station, Darkness says they should dispose of Player's body as they have no use for them anymore but Player reveals they were pretending to be possessed the entire time, tricking the Darknesses. Player then seals the gate from their side trapping the four Darknesses in the conduit between the Data Daybreak Town and the Central Game Station which enrages the Darknesses.
The four remaining Darknesses appear to Player, Ephemer, and Skuld in data Daybreak Town. The Darknesses want the Keyblade Wielders to open the gate to [[Game Central Station]] so that they can spread to more worlds, and Ephemer and Skuld prepare to battle the entities in response. However, Player appears to be posessed by Darkness and fights the pair of Union leaders. Defeated, Ephemer sends Player and the four Darknesses to Game Central Station, while locking the gate from his own side. In the conduit between the data Daybreak Town and Game Central Station, Player reveals that they were merely pretending to be possessed, tricking the Darknesses. They use their Keyblade to close the gate from their side as well, trapping themselves and the Darknesses in the data world.


Ventus soon after travels into the future, carrying one of Darknesses deep inside his heart.
[[File:Locked Inside 01 KHUX.png|thumb|Player fools Darkness, trapping them inside the data world.]]
Shortly thereafter, Ventus takes a lifeboat into the future, carrying one of the Darknesses deep inside his heart.
 
===''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road''===
As the situation of the missing upperclassmen escalates, [[Odin]] warns [[Vidar]] of "true darkness", explaining their formless nature. Odin states that the seven most powerful Darknesses were imprisoned within the ancient Lost Masters, four were trapped in a "realm between", and the remaining two are said to have been destroyed when Daybreak Town collapsed.
 
After [[Baldr]]'s sister [[Hoder]] is struck down in front of him, Baldr becomes possessed by Darkness, killing all of the upperclassmen and every one of his classmates except [[Eraqus]], [[Xehanort]], and [[Bragi]]. However, he reveals that he was not possessed by one of the thirteen true Darknesses, but rather a form of Darkness born out of the hearts of others and fostered in Baldr's exceptionally sensitive heart. Baldr's Darkness is defeated by Xehanort with the help of Odin, Eraqus, and Hoder.
 
65 years later, Xehanort and [[Vanitas]] discuss the thirteen ancient Darknesses in the [[Land of Departure]] after leaving Ventus under Eraqus's care. Xehanort questions Vanitas, believing that a dark being such as him would know where true darkness hides. Vanitas denies any relation to the original Darkness, but Xehanort remains convinced of a larger picture.


===''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind''===
===''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind''===
When [[Sora]] begins his journey to restore [[Kairi]]'s heart using the [[power of waking]], he first enters Ventus's [[heart]]. When attempting to wake Ventus, he is stopped by an entity referring to itself as "Darkness". Sora questions if "Darkness" is [[Vanitas]] based on the latter's last words, but does not get a reply as the entity forms itself into the [[Dark Inferno χ]] and battles Sora.
When [[Sora]] begins his journey to restore [[Kairi]]'s heart using the [[power of waking]], he first enters Ventus's [[heart]]. When attempting to wake Ventus, he is stopped by an entity referring to itself as "Darkness". Sora questions if "Darkness" is Vanitas based on the latter's last words, but does not get a reply as the entity forms itself into the [[Dark Inferno χ]] and battles Sora.


==Design==
==Design==
True to its name, Darkness is a miasma of dark energy. Despite claiming to be formless, a humanoid shape with no definable features can be made out within the miasma.   
True to its name, Darkness is a miasma of dark energy. Despite claiming to be formless, a humanoid shape with no definable features can be made out within the miasma.   
{{sec-stub}}


==Personality==
==Personality==
Not much is known about Darkness. According to the Master of Masters, Darkness has no sense of reason and is difficult to understand because its thought processes are completely alien to humans. Darkness does not understand humans aside from their negative emotions, and hates beings with hearts of light.
According to the Master of Masters, Darkness has no sense of reason and is difficult to understand because its thought processes are completely alien to humans. As noted by Brain, however, Darkness is a strategic and calculating force, to the point that even the Master of Masters is seemingly impressed with his foe's cunningness.
{{sec-stub}}
 
Despite Darkness's claims that it wants nothing but to simply exist, it yearns to expand its numbers through the hearts of others, producing Heartless to increase their ranks and shrouding countless worlds with darkness. Darkness seems motivated to have its sense of will remain intact, which has been slowly fading since the abandonment of its physical form, as its efforts to take control of the hearts of others enable it to remain in existence.
 
Darkness does not understand humans aside from their negative emotions and despises beings with hearts of light. Darkness is capable of feeling emotions, such as rage, demonstrated in its sudden attack on Luxu when he calls its attempts to infect and expand its numbers "pathetic".


==Abilities==
==Abilities==
Darkness has the ability to possess, control and hide inside of other beings, such as when they possess Ventus. As shown when they impersonate Ava, the Darkness is able to transform their appearance. It can manifest as other forms of darkness, such as Heartless. It also has the ability to go invisible, allowing its actions go unnoticed by others. The Darkness can increase their numbers by indirectly influence the negative thoughts of other people, allowing their hearts to succumb to darkness and giving birth to the Heartless.
Darkness has the ability to possess, control, and hide inside of other beings, such as when they possess Ventus. As shown when they impersonate Ava, the Darkness is able to transform their appearance. It can manifest as other forms of darkness, such as Heartless. It also has the ability to become invisible, allowing its actions go unnoticed by others. The Darkness can increase their numbers by indirectly influencing the negative thoughts of other people, allowing their hearts to succumb to darkness and giving birth to the Heartless.
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Latest revision as of 23:06, 2 September 2024

This article is about the character.
You may be looking for the innate force or the musical track.
Darkness

The character that refers to itself as Darkness (闇, Yami?), acknowledged in Quest 845 for the first time.

Japanese
Rōmaji Yami
Homeworld Daybreak Town
Enchanted Dominion
Games Kingdom Hearts Union χ
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
Variations
Vanitas
"They'll never understand us, just like we'll never understand them. And that's why we'll always be at odds."
—The Master of Masters to Luxu on the nature of Darkness

The thirteen original Darknesses, also referred to as true darkness, are a group of characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts Union χ who possess a history with the Master of Masters.

Darkness is an ancient entity locked in an eternal battle with the light. While they originally possessed physical forms, they currently exist without a body, so instead seek out hearts to inhabit. Of the thirteen, one's whereabouts are unknown following the destruction of Daybreak Town, four are trapped inside data Daybreak Town, and the rest reside in the hearts of Ventus, the five Foretellers, Luxu, and the Master of Masters.

Story[edit]

Before Kingdom Hearts Union χ[edit]

Long ago, Darkness possessed physical forms, but cast off these forms in their battle with the light, thus leaving thirteen Darknesses. In order to propagate and increase their numbers, they turned to attacking hearts, with people succumbing to their negative emotions and giving rise to the Pureblood Heartless.

KHUX cutscene image
The Master of Masters and Darkness discuss the future.

When the Master of Masters was composing the Book of Prophecies with knowledge passed to him via the Gazing Eye, Darkness watched over his shoulder, reading the passages as they were entered. Because of this, Darkness learned that Ventus would harbor Darkness in the future. Darkness would also have conversations with the Master of Masters, but they were unable to understand each other's thoughts and positions. Even so, Darkness views the Master of Masters as an "old friend".

As part of his plan to defeat Darkness, the Master of Masters orchestrated the Keyblade War by subtly manipulating his apprentices, breeding distrust and anger among them. This caused their hearts to harbor dark emotions, rendering them perfect vessels for Darkness. Following the Keyblade War, the Foretellers, Luxu, and the Master of the Masters became hosts for the strongest seven Darknesses, all according to the Master of Masters's plan.

Kingdom Hearts Union χ[edit]

Right before the start of the Keyblade War, one Darkness takes Ventus as its vessel and strikes down Strelitzia, stealing her Rulebook and giving Ventus her spot as a new Union leader. Darkness then disguises itself as Ava and instructs Ventus on his new role.

Darkness introduces themselves to Maleficent.

Another Darkness approaches Maleficent following her defeat. Darkness explains to her that she is trapped in a data world, part of the Master of Masters's plan to ensure that Maleficent would be unable to alter the past.

Darkness then guides Maleficent to data Daybreak Town and the lifeboat hidden within the clock tower. It reveals that the device will allow Maleficent to return to her own time, requiring only someone with memories of her and a medium to recreate her body in the future. Further, should Maleficent use the lifeboat, she will be able to serve as a waypoint to allow someone to travel into the future, Darkness explains.

Maleficent hesitates to return to her own time, which allows Lauriam to discover her presence. After revealing the function of the lifeboat, she battles the Union leader, winning with Darkness's help and returning to the future. Darkness, however, remains behind in the real Daybreak Town.

KHUX cutscene image
The Darkness inside Ventus reveals itself.

The Darkness lurking in Ventus's heart exposes itself to the Union leaders. Lauriam attacks, enraged at Darkness for killing his sister Strelitzia, but he is easily defeated in his weakened state. Brain questions Darkness before raising his Keyblade agaist it alongside Ephemer and Skuld.

With most of the Union leaders defeated, Darkness is coaxed by Brain into revealing its true plan: infection. Player arrives and the Keyblade wielders prepare to fight Darkness once more; their victory in the battle is short-lived, as Darkness is unable to be destroyed with no form. However, Ventus awakens and uses the light within him to dispel the creature of darkness.

Meanwhile, the Darkness that remained in the real Daybreak Town speaks with Luxu regarding Luxu and the Master of Masters's plans and the whereabouts of the remaining four Darknesses.

The four remaining Darknesses appear to Player, Ephemer, and Skuld in data Daybreak Town. The Darknesses want the Keyblade Wielders to open the gate to Game Central Station so that they can spread to more worlds, and Ephemer and Skuld prepare to battle the entities in response. However, Player appears to be posessed by Darkness and fights the pair of Union leaders. Defeated, Ephemer sends Player and the four Darknesses to Game Central Station, while locking the gate from his own side. In the conduit between the data Daybreak Town and Game Central Station, Player reveals that they were merely pretending to be possessed, tricking the Darknesses. They use their Keyblade to close the gate from their side as well, trapping themselves and the Darknesses in the data world.

KHUX cutscene image
Player fools Darkness, trapping them inside the data world.

Shortly thereafter, Ventus takes a lifeboat into the future, carrying one of the Darknesses deep inside his heart.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road[edit]

As the situation of the missing upperclassmen escalates, Odin warns Vidar of "true darkness", explaining their formless nature. Odin states that the seven most powerful Darknesses were imprisoned within the ancient Lost Masters, four were trapped in a "realm between", and the remaining two are said to have been destroyed when Daybreak Town collapsed.

After Baldr's sister Hoder is struck down in front of him, Baldr becomes possessed by Darkness, killing all of the upperclassmen and every one of his classmates except Eraqus, Xehanort, and Bragi. However, he reveals that he was not possessed by one of the thirteen true Darknesses, but rather a form of Darkness born out of the hearts of others and fostered in Baldr's exceptionally sensitive heart. Baldr's Darkness is defeated by Xehanort with the help of Odin, Eraqus, and Hoder.

65 years later, Xehanort and Vanitas discuss the thirteen ancient Darknesses in the Land of Departure after leaving Ventus under Eraqus's care. Xehanort questions Vanitas, believing that a dark being such as him would know where true darkness hides. Vanitas denies any relation to the original Darkness, but Xehanort remains convinced of a larger picture.

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind[edit]

When Sora begins his journey to restore Kairi's heart using the power of waking, he first enters Ventus's heart. When attempting to wake Ventus, he is stopped by an entity referring to itself as "Darkness". Sora questions if "Darkness" is Vanitas based on the latter's last words, but does not get a reply as the entity forms itself into the Dark Inferno χ and battles Sora.

Design[edit]

True to its name, Darkness is a miasma of dark energy. Despite claiming to be formless, a humanoid shape with no definable features can be made out within the miasma.

Personality[edit]

According to the Master of Masters, Darkness has no sense of reason and is difficult to understand because its thought processes are completely alien to humans. As noted by Brain, however, Darkness is a strategic and calculating force, to the point that even the Master of Masters is seemingly impressed with his foe's cunningness.

Despite Darkness's claims that it wants nothing but to simply exist, it yearns to expand its numbers through the hearts of others, producing Heartless to increase their ranks and shrouding countless worlds with darkness. Darkness seems motivated to have its sense of will remain intact, which has been slowly fading since the abandonment of its physical form, as its efforts to take control of the hearts of others enable it to remain in existence.

Darkness does not understand humans aside from their negative emotions and despises beings with hearts of light. Darkness is capable of feeling emotions, such as rage, demonstrated in its sudden attack on Luxu when he calls its attempts to infect and expand its numbers "pathetic".

Abilities[edit]

Darkness has the ability to possess, control, and hide inside of other beings, such as when they possess Ventus. As shown when they impersonate Ava, the Darkness is able to transform their appearance. It can manifest as other forms of darkness, such as Heartless. It also has the ability to become invisible, allowing its actions go unnoticed by others. The Darkness can increase their numbers by indirectly influencing the negative thoughts of other people, allowing their hearts to succumb to darkness and giving birth to the Heartless.