I'm not making assumptions, just using long-standing symbolism and the language of the series to draw inferences about the events depicted in 0.2, because it's a better story when the stuff that happens in it actually matters. Mickey doesn't draw the right conclusions about light and darkness until he travels with Riku in CoM, but the experiences they shared together in the Realm of Darkness paved the way to that understanding: it's one of the first thing he brings up with Riku in Castle Oblivion; "You and I have seen it. The far, welcoming light within the door to darkness." Aqua saw it, too, but through a different lens, after 10 years of believing the darkness was endless, of believing that no light could ever survive down there. She saw proof of its existence, and proof of the inextricable link between the RoD and the RoL-- that impacts her understanding of the darkness as well as her understanding of the light, which of course impacts her understanding of herself. It has to, or what's the point of showing her the KKD, of showing her the door to Kingdom Hearts?
This right here, is an assumption. Nothing that happens in 0.2 casts the Darkness in a good light from Aqua's perspective at all. That plot point so far has been reserved for characters like Riku and I'm sure in the future it will pass down to characters like Terra and now Aqua. Mickey has only stated maybe darkness isn't all that bad because of Riku's experience, not Aqua's. Riku is the one who used darkness to 'win' and fight for the light, this is what makes Mickey believe the darkness itself isn't the problem and even at the end of KH2 Mickey gave a wishy washy response about why darkness is bad before Riku strongly states, "It's not the darkness that's bad, but the people lurking inside" or whatever. With Mickey's opinion still being so uncertain all the way to KH2, there's no way he could impart any knowledge to Aqua about how she should think about the darkness while she's trapped in hellish darkness.
Aqua did not accept the darkness, Aqua did not accept the balance, Aqua does not want the darkness and Aqua is clearly afraid of the darkness overtaking her (maybe less so at the end 0.2 as she seems resigned to be stuck there longer). Mickey didn't say anything to her that would push her to the conclusion that light and darkness is a balance and she shouldn't be afraid of it.
Aqua believes she can be the light in the darkness despite the darkness eating away at her. She's hoping and holding out for them to come find her. She's trying to keep fighting despite her situation and give as little room to darkness as she can. Even now that she's corrupted, deep within there is probably still a light burning brightly within her that they can reach.
Aqua's character development that darkness is a part of her and everyone else and she shouldn't be afraid and darkness isn't evil and all that jazz? Hasn't happened yet. Everything that's happened to her would naturally lead her to the conclusion that darkness IS bad. I just feel like you're jumping the gun on character development that hasn't happened yet. Everything I've written here can be used to develop her character from here on out.
I too am waiting for her to accept that darkness is a natural part of the world and Eraqus was wrong about it (and so is Xehanort), but that just hasn't happened yet. These are two separate realizations (light in the darkness & darkness is not to be feared), she's only come to accept one of these.
It's wasted narrative on an Aqua who can never break free of a cycle of remorse and self-hatred, just because Nomura wants to keep her trapped in the darkness even longer until Sora or someone else can come along, wave a magic wand, and make it all go away. What more satisfying resolution can come from her continued struggle with her darkness in KH3 than what was already depicted in 0.2? That's the question I continue to struggle with, and haven't found a substantive answer; just vagueness and rule-of-cool retorts.
I'm not under any illusion that my reading of her journey is likely to be canon. I just don't see the point of teaching her a lesson she has already learned. I'd rather see her develop actual relationships with other characters in the series, and capitalize on the streak of resilience that has evolved in her since her first appearance in BBS. It was a good trajectory they had going, depreciated to messy KH shenanigans. Not holding my breath for Nomura to deliver on this.
I mean, maybe I'm reading what you're saying wrong, but it's clear that Aqua has not learned her lesson from Fairy Godmother yet (light and darkness are a balance or darkness can be used for good) but she obviously believes there is always light within darkness (which implies darkness is bad and light is good).
I don't know why you think her belief that there's always a light within the darkness would save her from the darkness eating away at her doubts and insecurities and driving her to insanity. Knowing you have a progressive disease doesn't stop the progressive disease? Maybe you can slow it down and stall it (which she did for a decade), but.... it was inevitable. Darkness infecting Aqua was inevitable. The whole norting thing? Who knows, but if she's been norted, it's only because the darkness already got to her and she was weakened.
Even with the darkness having her or Baldy having a hold on her heart, that STILL doesn't override the fact that she probably has a strong light burning within her (light within the darkness, as has been repeated multiple times) that will lead to her being saved. Part of her being saved is probably Aqua witnessing characters like Riku or Axel using darkness to to fight for the light, showing her darkness isn't an evil force out to get her (even though it technically is, it doesn't have to be that way). We all thought Aqua would save Terra and Ven, but maybe it's Terra and Ven that have to turn around and save her and prove that same point (darkness isn't something to be feared, it can be used for good, etc etc).
But I stress this whole dynamic of darkness =/= evil? Aqua has NOT learned that lesson yet, so yes. You are making an assumption that she has. All she believes is that there is always a light within the darkness, which she believes herself to be and I have no doubt she still is.
