#take riku's dark form for example. he's in control and he's very much still himself. it's entirely different

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts 3 - Rage Form

[casualtheoriesandthoughts]

Why Xemnas and Marluxia can’t wield the Keyblade

This is definitely something that’s been brought up before and I’m sure everyone has their own take on why this is the case. So why not share my own? A lot of people noticed that Xemnas doesn’t wield a Keyblade despite the hearts (Xehanort and Terra) that made up his previous persona(s) both being Keyblade wielders. The same applies to Marluxia, who is the Nobody of Lauriam, one of the five new leaders of the Dandelions (see KHUx). 

I believe that, essentially, Xemnas and Marluxia cannot wield the Keyblade because they do not have their memories (or more precisely, their persona’s worth to the Keyblade). My theory rests on two main points: the importance of memories and the effect of darkness on a Keyblade wielder. I already covered my theory of memories in KH in a previous post, so feel free to check it out. With that, let’s get on with it:

The Keyblade forms a bond with the wielder through their character

Before we get to why Xemnas and Marluxia can’t wield the Keyblade, let’s cover why someone can. Oddly enough, the means by which the Keyblade chooses its wielders (who are not already bequeathed the Keyblade) is never truly discussed at any length. Some of the only characters who offer any sort of explanation are Leon and Aerith in KH1 (and they’re minor characters!). We know that the Keyblade can be passed on either by willingly bequeathing it (ex. Terra to Riku) and also unintentionally by passing on one’s ���will” or protective sentiment (ex. Aqua to Kairi). It can also be bestowed on someone of the Keyblade’s own choosing, especially if the original recipient is deemed no longer suitable. This is precisely what happened to Sora.

We are told that Sora was never meant to be the original wielder of the Keyblade, as it chose him when Riku decided to follow the darkness. However, Sora proved himself worthy through his values: commitment to his friends and their welfare, as well as standing up for what’s right: “My friends are my power!” and all that. There is an important element here: the Keyblade forms a bond with its wielder based on a notion of worthiness through character and disposition.

Sora’s accumulated experience as a Keyblade wielder through the entire story up until arriving in Hollow Bastion is significant. This is reiterated in KH Re:CoM which gives greater weight to his memories as the basis of Sora’s mission, values and character. Based on my previous theory that memories mold the heart in significant ways, we can say that memories connected to deeply held beliefs and character are important means by which the Keyblade deems someone worthy. 

One might rightfully question whether this is really true, since Ventus, another Keyblade wielder, resides in Sora’s heart and may have imparted the ability to wield the Keyblade to Sora as a result. That said, that only happens because Sora let him in of his own volition, not once but twice (both as a new heart and a young child). To me, this is the greatest evidence pointing to character being a criterion for wielding the Keyblade. It’s not a stretch to say that Sora was probably a prime candidate for the Keyblade from childhood, and significantly, is the only Keyblade wielder we know of who receives the weapon without inheriting it from a teacher or master (other than the Master of Masters). As an aside: So, no, Riku; Sora is not just the delivery boy! (You might recall Axel summoning a Keyblade on his own, but Kairi establishes that this is because Yen Sid inducted Axel himself; see MoM.)

This bears heavily, then, on Xemnas and Marluxia’s own “worthiness” to wield the Keyblade. Xemnas does not have most of his memories from either Terra or Master Xehanort (evidenced by mixed motivations in visiting the Chamber of Repose). When apprentice Xehanort wakes up in the Radiant Garden plaza, he doesn’t remember who he is. But his sudden remembrance of being Master Xehanort allows him to summon the Keyblade again (even though he separated his heart from his body very soon after). As seen in KH3, Marluxia similarly does not remember enough of his past self to know that he wielded the Keyblade, and we may conclude that this is a primary reason why he doesn’t have one. 

Compare them with Roxas, who wields the Keyblade despite having no memories of being Sora. The BBS Ultimania seems to imply that Roxas is able to wield the Keyblade due to the influence from Ventus’ heart (even saying that Ventus’ heart went with Roxas when Sora became a Heartless). Roxas still possesses many of the qualities of righteousness (in his own way) to which the Keyblade attaches itself, inheriting them from Sora. Combined with the development of his own heart by unclear means, it is possible that Roxas eventually earned the Keyblade in his own right (even if he had some help from Ventus’ heart).

This contrasts with Xemnas and Marluxia, both of whom are true Nobodies without feelings or apparent values. Their lack of complete memories about wielding the Keyblade seem to be a satisfying explanation, but it is more than just that. I believe that the requirement of good character of the wielder runs much deeper than having a memory of who one is when wielding the Keyblade. This is demonstrated by Sora in Re:CoM, who retained the Keyblade even as he lost his memories or as they were altered. The key difference between Roxas and Sora, and Xemnas and Marluxia, is the influence of darkness.

The darkness exerts a corrupting influence

In KHUx (in the most recent translated update that is), we discover that the Darkness (with a capital “D”) is an abstract force of nature. The Master of Masters describes it as being unable to comprehend human beings or their hearts: “It only knows what people hate”. Similarly, Xehanort in KHUx: Dark Road describes the Darkness as stirring emotions of hatred, doubt and jealousy, some of those he had yet to meet. The Darkness also took advantage of Ventus’ desire for power in a similar way, controlling him to kill Strelitizia. 

From these examples, it is seen that darkness (both the character and the abstract entity) reacts to and influences negative emotions, playing on people’s insecurities and baser natures. A corruption of one’s character (or rather, of one’s heart) may very well disqualify a Keyblade wielder from their right to wield the weapon. Riku is the prime example of this, since we only learn he wields the Way to Dawn in KH2, after his ordeal in Castle Oblivion. Reverse/Rebirth in KH Re:CoM shows just how important both personal fortitude and coming to terms with the darkness was for Riku in regaining his right to wield the Keyblade.  

In light of all this, one may wonder why Master Xehanort himself is not automatically disqualified. I suspect that, as is hinted in Dark Road and snippets of Re:Mind and KH3, Master Xehanort’s motivations may in fact be still rather pure (if misguided). He wanted to make the world more perfect by erasing people’s lust for power and weakness, using the X-blade to remake the universe. Master Eraqus was arguably also misguided in his unwavering conviction that darkness was evil, yet never lost his Keyblade. Even Terra, before being lost to the darkness more completely, retained the Keyblade and bequeathed it to Riku despite harboring some darkness in his heart due to his desire for power. 

Master Xehanort’s heart may have in fact been extraordinarily resilient, having willingly traversed the corridors of darkness without protection and diving deep into the darkness to uncover the mysteries of the world. His use of the power of darkness is actually somewhat limited, being largely restricted to a few moments in Birth By Sleep and KH3. The darkness which took Xehanort as he became a Heartless and Nobody may have then more deeply influenced Xemnas, making him lose his right to the Keyblade. It’s not a stretch to suppose this, given that Xemnas’ dying words in KH3 are his lament for taking his allies for granted and narrow-mindedness about the strength required to bear pain with one’s heart. This suggests he was no longer suitable to wield the Keyblade, even while being connected to Xehanort.

Lauriam too shows signs of his hatred and anger overtaking him in KHUx, and an increasing desire to confront Ventus. He displays his rage and despair even in front of Darkness when it shows itself. By the time he becomes Marluxia, his personality is manipulative, cruel and ruthless. It is then possible to suggest that darkness corrupts people in a way that alters their beliefs and feelings, which overrides the power memories may have in preserving a connection to a purer heart. Taking all of this into account, it makes perfect sense why Xemnas and Marluxia cannot wield the Keyblade.

Hope y’all find this theory interesting, and feel free to share!

[i-believe-in-soriku]

Essay Part 1: Riku’s Journey

Riku is undeniably the character who has experienced the greatest evolution throughout the series.

His journey begins in Destiny Islands, when he was just a little kid who wanted to live adventures with his best friend, Sora.

Riku: When we grow up, let's get off this island. We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff!

That's that will of discovering the world, and the fact that he was really close to his friend Sora, that lead him to make a promise:

Terra: Is there some reason you're interested in the outside world?

Riku: Yeah. I wanna be strong one day. Like that kid who left. He went to the outside world - I bet he's really strong now. I know it's out there somewhere - the strength that I need.

Terra: Strength for what?

Riku: To protect the things that matter. You know, like my friends.

Riku had a very strong friendship with Sora. The two of them used to fight with wooden swords, explore the islands, and watch the stars together. But then, Kairi came to the Islands and became part of their life. Years passed and their friendship became stronger - but somehow something was missing.

That's when Kingdom Hearts happens. At this time, Riku wanted to explore the other worlds, feeling trapped on Destiny Islands - will he had already expressed ten years before. Riku was jealous of Sora, and probably of Kairi and Sora's growing proximity. Riku felt lonely, as we can see during the game. These dark feelings caused him to be manipulated by Maleficent, and to turn to darkness.

There are also other reasons: he wanted to see the world - which he already wanted as a five years old kid-, he wanted to become stronger in order to protect his friends - even if he did it the wrong way, he didn't forget that goal, as proved by this scene:

Riku: So, Kairi's like a lifeless puppet now?

Maleficent: Precisely.

Riku: And her heart was...

Maleficent: Taken by the Heartless, no doubt.

Riku: Tell me! What can I do?

Maleficent, as the evil witch she is, manipulated him strengthening his feelings of loneliness, jealousy and betrayal.

Maleficent: You see? It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, he values them far more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more of him, and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for.

Ansem, on his side, pretended he knew the way to make him stronger, as Riku was jealous of Sora's strength...

Ansem: The heart that is strong and true shall win the Keyblade.

Riku: What? You're saying my heart's weaker than his?

Ansem: For that instant, it was. However, you can become stronger. You should not fear in stepping through the door to darkness. It held no terror for you. Plunger deeper into the darkness and your heart will grow even stronger.

Riku: What should I do?

Ansem: It's really quite simple. Open yourself to the darkness. That is all. Let your heart, your being, become darkness itself.

... but he used him as a puppet to achieve his goals. The way he asked advices to bad people shows how lost that boy was. However, Riku finished by regain control of himself, and at the end of the game, decided to help Mickey close the Door to Darkness, even if it meant being somehow left behind - a beautiful act of redemption.

But that's only the begining of his story. In Chain of Memories, we follow Riku who has to fight his own darkness, embodied by Ansem (and also Repliku who mocks his fear of darkness). At first, Riku totaly rejects the darkness inside of him, afraid that it might overpower him once again.

Riku: All you have been talking about is the darkness. I can only assume you wanna pull me back in... so you can play Puppet Master.

And he doesn't want to hurt people like he did.

But we can see that he's becoming more and more mature, because this game is also about how Riku began to accept the part of darkness inside him as a strength (and I think Mickey helped him to do that). That's what makes him choose the way to Dawn.

Riku: What are you making me choose now?

DiZ: Between the road to light - and the road to darkness.

Riku: Neither suits me. I'm taking the middle road.

DiZ: Do you mean the twilight road to nightfall?

Riku: No. It's the road to dawn.

During 358/2 Days, Riku's will is to make sure that his best friend sleeps in peace - actually, he wants him to recover his memories and wake up. He teams up with Mickey and DiZ/Ansem the Wise to do so. In this game, Riku embraces the darkness in his heart while fighting Roxas...

Riku: I have to release the power in my heart- the dark power that I've been holding back. Even... if it changes me forever.

...a sacrifice made even though he's aware he may not find his own body anymore - which illustrates how Riku has finally accepted that darkness isn't 100% evil. We can also see that he's no longer bitter towards others: he's not even angry against Sora's Nobodies for keeping him away from his friend - just sad.

Xion: So, do you hate me for taking your friend away?

Riku: Nah. I guess... I'm just sad.

Still, in KH2, Riku is ashamed by his appearence and hides himself from Sora, even though he keeps on protecting him at distance. When they finally meet again, he tells this shame calling himself "a castaway from the darkness":

Riku: I'm no one---just a castaway from the darkness.

But he recovers his true self.

KH2 insists on the fact that despite a clear maturation, Riku still has doubts and still feel a little bit lonely. Sora points at:

Sora: Riku... C'mon, man! Why did you try to do so much on your own?You got friends...like us!

He still needs his friends to reassure him and accept him, and still thinks he can't get rid of his own darkness - his shame is still here:

Sora: You're coming back with us, right?

Riku: I had given in to the darkness.

Sora: Riku!

Riku: How'm I gonna face everyone?

Dream Drop Distance is a turning point to Riku's character. During the game, it is underlined that Riku is holding back some stuff inside of him, by four characters including himself.

Riku (to Quasi): Are you sure that's what's stopping you? Because I think something else is holding you back. Ask your heart, Quasimodo. [...] Wish I could take my own advice.

And:

Quasimodo: Master Frollo--he made me live inside the bell tower, but the real walls were the ones I built around my heart. You helped me see that, Riku.

Riku: I was...speaking from...personal experience.

Phoebus: I'd say you still keep a lot locked inside.

He also admits that he feels like his darkness will always follow him:

Riku: I gave in to the darkness once. And ever since, it's chased me around in one form or another.

But the end of the game proves that Riku has achieved a balance (a confidence that we can see in KH3).

Indeed, during the last parts of 3D, Riku is shown as a being of exception, whom heart has light and darkness in balance...

YMX: I don't know how you did it, but you really have found a way to trap darkness inside your heart

...balance which enables him to protect Sora, becoming his Dream Eater - he is able to change his very NATURE and didn't even noticed it.

Riku finally obtains the title of Keyblade Master showing that he is worthy of wielding a Keyblade - which he seemed to doubt at the beginning of the game:

Riku: My Keyblade--it just sort of...popped into my hand when I needed it most.

He has learned how to open his heart throughout his adventures, which can be seen in KH3.

In KH3 his new goals are to save Aqua and, with the others, fight the Seekers of Darkness. During the road, Mickey helps him to realize that he finally has the strenght he was aiming at since the very beginning: to protect the one person that matters.

Riku: I'm in control now. Maybe it's because you're with me this time.

Mickey: It's not me. I think it's because you've finally found inside you that special strength to protect what matters.

And the game lets no doubt: this person is Sora. He sacrifices himself to protect his friend against the Demon Tide in the Keyblade Graveyard.

This is a very brief summary of everything Riku did, but that's enought to come to a conclusion. If you have read carefully, you should have noticed that I didn't spoke about Sora that much. Because, even if Sora is actually what matters the most to Riku, the main reason why he did all those things, Sora is not what defines Riku.

Riku has a developpement that shows that he has to fight his own demons, overcomes his doubts and searches the strenght to protect who he cares about. He has other relationships than his (wonderful) relationship with Sora: for example, his friendship with Mickey.

He faced many things with the King and they share a special bond, just as Sora's with Donald and Goofy. He also shares a link with Terra and somehow Aqua, even though it's not developped that much.

Regarding of those elements, it is completely unfair to say that Riku isn't well written or too much written around Sora. Riku is interesting, relatable and touching, and I hope that he's going to have a good treatment in the future of the series. Watching the end of KH3 and Re:Mind, there's no doubt about the fact that he has an important role to play.

I want to close this part saying that Riku also has a personality. He's determined, selfless, mature, of good advice, a little bit sassy. Riku, even if he has doubts, can be now considered as confident. He is empathetic, cares about others, knows how to confort his friends, especially Sora. There are other important points - like the fact he's smart ~ but I think those are the main elements.

Intro • Part 2

[violethowler]

Between Light and Darkness

As I briefly touched on in “The Heroine’s Journey of Sora”, a major component of the Heroine’s Journey is the protagonist being pressured to suppress important parts of who they are in order to conform to a set of traits that the world around them sees as desirable. More often than not, the traits that the main character suppresses are ones which the audience associates with femininity, and the ones the main character conforms to coded as masculine. This is why Maureen Murdock’s template gives its stages labels like “Identification with the Masculine” and “Urgent Yearning to Reconnect with the Feminine”. 

In a story that correctly follows this version of the Heroine’s Journey, the protagonist of a coming of age narrative learns to balance these traits in order to grow into a mature adult. This makes the emphasis on the importance of balance between light and darkness in the Kingdom Hearts series and how neither force can exist without the other a perfect illustration of this theme of balance. Even more so when you take into account that light and darkness are each coded to represent specific traits. 

If you pay careful attention to the way that characters talk about light and their connections throughout the series, there is a recurring pattern where light represents and is generated by the connections between people’s hearts[1]. When Sora tells Kairi in the first game about what he remembered about his time as a Heartless, he says “Our hearts are connected. And the light from our hearts broke through the darkness[2].” When confronted before the boss fight of Toy Box, Young Xehanort says “if the light of friendship is a form of power… the darkness of being alone is a power… even greater,”[3] and talks about how Buzz’s tremendous darkness is the direct result of his separation from Andy. 

So if light represents people’s bonds and emotional connections, then darkness represents solitude and the absence of connection. It fits with what we have seen across the series thus far, as the antagonists who we have seen utilizing darkness were all focused on themselves with no concern for anyone else, and why darkness is not something inherently bad, but too much of it is. I believe part of the reason some fans still associate darkness with evil is because it’s more immediately obvious to casual plays how easily it can be misused. The consequences of relying too heavily on darkness are shown overtly throughout the series, while the consequences of over-relying on light have been a lot more subtle, and have only been shown more explicitly in Kingdom Hearts III. 

In the first game, Donald and Goofy openly tell Sora “no frowning. No sad face” and “This boat runs on happy faces[2]” when the trio agrees to travel together. Though Donald and Goofy mean well, they are through implication sending the message that the peacefulness of the group takes priority over an individual’s problems. And we see in future games how this early attitude has affected Sora, as we see him repeatedly hide his own sadness and frustration in front of his friends, the only negative emotion he displays without attempting to hide it is anger. This is very similar to the beginning of the 2015 Pixar movie Inside Out, where Joy does everything possible to keep Sadness away from the control panel at Headquarters in Riley’s mind.

So if relying too much on darkness translates to focusing only on your own desires and not caring about anyone else, focusing too much on light looks like focusing so much on other people that you ignore your own needs. Taken to its logical extreme a light-based villain in a Kingdom Hearts game would personify the words of the late Leonard Nimoy in his iconic role as Spock: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.[4]” The best demonstration of this in the series thus far is Eraqus’ willingness to kill Ven and Terra in an attempt to thwart Xehanort, disregarding his own feelings for the sake of his perceived Greater Good. 

And the more one focuses on the light of their connections at the expense of their own emotional needs, the more their inner darkness is amplified. “The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes,” after all[2]. Putting on a positive front for the people around you only results in your negative emotions building and building until they finally explode out in a way that is harmful to both yourself and others. This is precisely what Young Xehanort speaks of in Re:Mind when he tells the Master of Masters about how the light of people he met on his world tour was a farce: every person has light and darkness in their heart, but denying their darkness only makes it stronger.

Sora has spent the entire series ignoring or refusing to acknowledge his own hurt, putting on a smile so that his friends won’t worry about him, and in Kingdom Hearts III the cracks in his facade are finally beginning to show. Even aside from his breakdown at the Keyblade Graveyard, we see his negative emotions explode out of him through Rage Form, and we see throughout the game how badly failing the Mark of Mastery exam has rattled him. He still has not accepted that his own darkness is not something inherently negative. 

As of the end of the Kingdom Hearts III Secret Episode, Sora is officially entering the Descent stage of the Heroine’s Journey. It is at this point that the protagonist must confront the parts of themselves they have been burying in order to find balance and move forward. It’s not unintentional that Riku is the character with the healthiest approach to handling one’s own inner darkness because in many stories I know of that follow the Heroine’s Journey the protagonist is able to achieve the necessary balance to move forward by learning from the example of their Animus.

Even if one ignores the metaphors or symbolism of the games and only looks on a surface level, the divide between light and darkness in the Kingdom Hearts series still aligns with the core themes of the Heroine’s Journey. Strip away all the literary analysis of what light and darkness in this series represent, and you still have a very literal depiction of a world that stresses the importance of balance between a trait that the dominant social group sees as desirable and one that the group does not. The contrasting traits whose balance is central to the Heroine’s Journey are presented in the Kingdom Hearts universe as metaphysical forces that have tangible effects on the material world, presenting through implication that in order to achieve true balance in the outside world, Sora must learn to achieve that same balance within himself.

Sources: 

[1] Reblog conversation between @kitsoa and @blowingoffsteam2 about the metaphysics of the Kingdom Hearts universe; November 16, 2018. https://blowingoffsteam2.tumblr.com/post/179836265129/kitsoa-blowingoffsteam2-sorry-this-post-is

[2] Kingdom Hearts; Square Enix, 2002. 

[3] Kingdom Hearts III; Square Enix, 2019. 

[4] Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Paramount Pictures, 1982. 

[nadziejastar]

Even

Ansem's Report 2

It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is. I shall conduct the following experiments:

-Extract the darkness from a person's heart. -Cultivate darkness in a pure heart. -Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.

The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are!

Well, the experiments primarily involved three things. It seems like Even was involved in extracting the darkness from a person’s heart. In his Data Battle, he summons an Anti-Sora after extracting enough data from you. I think that’s exactly what he did to Riku in Castle Oblivion, which is why Riku Replica is actually Anti-Riku and he became a Seeker of Darkness. The Replica Project was definitely tied to these shadow replicas. Xion was also one of these "shadow puppets" but she was obviously unique.

Dilan

Maleficent: It's not a matter of "why," but of will. In your heart, there is darkness just waiting to be awakened.

Terra: I don't know what you're talking about.

Maleficent: Perhaps not yet... But I have power over sleep. And I can awaken what's inside you... Then you will be free to be who you truly are.

It’d be a waste not to use the concept of “sleep” in some way. When someone is in a sleep state, they are more suggestible. Roxas was given his new name and purpose while he was still in a daze. It’s basically hypnosis. Both Terra and Beast had their worst fears used against them while they were in a sleep state. This was probably Dilan’s role in the experiments. He was good at finding people’s weaknesses and manipulating their hearts. If the person was in a deep enough trance, they wouldn’t even consciously remember any of the things said to them. It would just leave an impression on their subconscious.

Every time he tried to wake up, all Axel could think was how badly he wanted to go back to sleep—although he was getting enough rest. He just wished he could have a day to himself and do nothing but sleep. It was probably some remnant of his human memories.

I think it’s very possible that Lea had difficulty sleeping during the experiments simply because he was so worried all the time and afraid of what they would do to him. Maybe he was afraid of being hypnotized by Dilan.

Saïx was standing next to his bed, as irritated as one might have guessed from his voice. Axel hadn’t been so rudely awakened since before turning into a Nobody.

It’s also very possible that he was deliberately deprived of sleep as part of an experiment. Sleep deprivation is a common technique of brainwashing. It could have been used to make him more compliant.

Aeleus

Ansem's Report 4

The Heartless appear in groups, and are multiplying rapidly. I've provided them both living and nonliving samples. They've responded only to the living. They seem to multiply after absorbing something from the living creatures. Their prey vanishes without a trace.

Then there’s fighting. I’m sure that the subjects were made to fight not only Heartless, but the apprentices as well. After all, vessels can't be weak. Aeleus wasn't good at manipulating hearts. His role may have been to test and train subjects. I think this may have been how Saïx’s berserk state was originally triggered. That is his Limit Break, too. In the manga, Saïx used his berserk state to test Demyx. Like Demyx, I think Isa was thought to be not good at fighting, so they had to get him on his last legs to get him to put up a real fight. 

Axel looked away into the distance. “Something in you probably does remember what it’s like to be scared. So you think you’re feeling it now.”

Since Axel was an assassin, I am sure he was forced to fight, too. Maybe he was even forced to fight against other subjects. I'm sure if he was afraid for Isa's safety, he'd get his hands dirty.

Xehanort

Marluxia: Naminé... Erase Sora's memory.

Naminé: But if I do that...

Marluxia: That's right. Sora's heart will be destroyed.

Marluxia: You ignorant fool. If Naminé uses her powers to erase your memory, you'll be nothing but an empty shell. Your heart will no longer be able to feel or to care. Just like---Vexen's pathetic imitation of your Riku.

The darkness experiments all started with Ansem the Wise’s experiments on the heart and memory. The Chamber of Repose looks like Castle Oblivion. So, Xehanort probably tried to manipulate the memory of his subjects as a form of mind control. Maybe he tried to wipe all of their memories, to turn them into empty shells. But this would have resulted in the collapse of their hearts.

Ansem's Report 8

There is no doubt that the Heartless are deeply connected to the people's hearts. Further study may unravel both their motivations and the mysteries shrouding the heart. As a start, I have built a device that artificially creates Heartless. By recreating the conditions that spawn the Heartless naturally, I should be able to produce them artificially. 

This device is the culmination of all my research thus far. The machine's test run successfully created a Heartless. This may be a step toward creating a heart from nothing. The artificially and naturally created Heartless showed nearly identical traits. But the two types remain distinct for the purpose of the experiment. So, I will mark the ones that are created artificially.

I’m convinced that a lot of the names of the days in 358/2 Days had a double meaning. One meaning refers to the present, the other refers to Axel's past with the experiments. “The Program” is a good example. 

Xemnas: Rub a few memories together, and you get a spark of emotion, a feeling. But in a digital world, memory does not work like that. Nothing is ever felt. You can hold a thousand, a million times the information, but there is still no heart with which to parse it. Once, my master, Ansem, found an old system and made a copy of its Master Control Program...and used it to serve his own ends. This is the original data of that system. Here, data can be copied. Memory can be changed and easily manipulated. Tron is a digital entity, so why would he be any different? He obeys the rules of this world.

Space Paranoids is referred to as “The Program”. Everyone was recompleted outside the entrance to that world. And in KH3D, we learn that The Grid was used by Ansem the Wise to create his datascape. I’m sure this world was supposed to be relevant in BBSV2 and the experiments. Xehanort wanted to create a heart from nothing.

Xigbar: Sora has a pretty powerful effect on her is all I'm saying.

Xemnas: Yes, it was not supposed to gain a mind of its own---nor become the person we see. But in the end, it only proves that the puppet is the more worthy vessel. The time has come. Saïx, are the devices ready?

Saïx: In a matter of days.

Xemnas: Both of them have connections to Sora, but we only need one of them under our thumb. Whether Xion takes from Roxas the rest of what he has to give...or, whether he destroys her first and takes back what is his, there is no change to our plans. No matter how, Sora's power will belong to us.

On this day, the effect that Xion and Roxas had on each other was brought up.

Beast: No... I won't believe it. He must have been lying. Belle, betray me? He said she would take everything from me. That's not possible. I trust her!

Roxas: He, who? Xaldin? It sounds like Xaldin made some kind of contact. Then he might still be somewhere in the castle...

Day 322 was also the day Xaldin made contact with the Beast, preparing him for KH2, where he couldn't trust anyone and lost control of himself. I think one of the experiments involved trying to dissolve the trust between Lea and Isa. Their bond---the effect they were having on each other---was preventing them from being made into vessels. If BBSV2 were made, I believe that Lea and Isa’s backstory would have involved Tron’s world and the premise would be similar to the Toy Story world. It was an experiment about isolating people from each other to test the strength of their bond. The void of isolation can be filled with darkness. I think that’s what was done to Isa.

Braig

“What about Axel?” Number 9, Demyx, softly mentioned the last missing member.

Luxord, number 10, answered bluntly from his low-ranking seat, “He’s apparently betrayed us.”

“…Betrayed us, hmm?” rumbled number 1—Xemnas.

“Really? Him?” Demyx practically squealed.

“He was involved in the incident at Castle Oblivion… I warned you he had a hand in the demise of Marluxia and the others, and yet someone failed to eliminate him.” Saïx, number 7, glared at Xigbar from under his hood with a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Hey, he’s the only one who’s had direct contact with the Keyblade wielder,” Xigbar replied, unruffled.

I think other than Xehanort, Braig played the biggest role in the experiments. His main role was probably psychological/emotional/verbal abuse of the subjects. This is a very important tactic in mind control. Degradation undermines a person’s sense of self. Braig was probably very integral in destroying Isa’s ability to trust. He’s very good at putting people down. In KH2, he was still trying to get Saïx to think Axel betrayed him. Saïx gave Xigbar a sharp glare. And we know how much Xigbar hated being glared at.

Braig: Oh, so this kiddo thinks he's a full-fledged Keyblade wielder? He's got the angry look down.

Aqua: Go ahead if you want to waste your time. Keep trying to drive us apart with your mind games. It'll never work!

Ventus glared at Braig when he was using mind games to break up the trust between Terra and Aqua, making them fight. Then Terra would fall to darkness. Ventus was a gentle person, but he glared at Braig with pure hatred.

Sora: Hearts are made of the people we meet, and how we feel about them--they're what ties us together even when we're apart! They're what...make me strong.

Xigbar: Duh! You're strong because of the ties you have with other people. As if the Keyblade would choose a wimp like you. But no pouting. We see much bigger and better things in your future...once you side with us.

I think Xigbar started to see Xion as Ventus because of his memories of Isa. On Day 117, he said Nobodies could never escape the things they’ve done as humans. Roxas reminded him of Ventus, obviously, and this was the first time Ventus is mentioned. Roxas's Diary entry was called "Special Nobodies". Xion was finally getting comfortable fighting separately from Roxas. Axel was clapping and praising her, then he saw her as Naminé. He seemed to remember something from the past while praising her. 

“Xion, fight fight fight~” Axel clapped, as she turned around.

“What are you doing?”

“What am I doing… I’m praising you, you know.”

“You’re weird,” said Xion, laughing.

Just then, Axel suddenly felt like Xion’s face had blurred, and he rubbed his eyes.

Then Xigbar taunted Saïx by praising Xion in a similar way. When Saïx said the Organization were special Nobodies in KH2, he was clapping and praising Sora. When Axel said the organization were special Nobodies on Day 95, it was about how Demyx wasn’t good at fighting, but everyone is good at different things. Isa probably wasn’t a strong fighter, but he had a strong heart. 

Xigbar, standing and watching their exchange with his arms folded, opened his mouth. “You’ve been working really well lately haven’t you, Poppet.”

“…Thank you,” Xion replied in a small voice.

“Thank you? Why do you have to say thanks?

“Well, you were praising me, weren’t you? Was I wrong?”

“Haha… Yeah, I guess you could see it like that.” He pressed his hand to his mouth and snickered.

“Did I say something funny?”

“No, no. You’re fine.”

Xion looked up at Xigbar, anxiously. Beside them, Saïx didn’t show any notable reaction. He just watched.

I think he finally felt comfortable fighting on his own because he felt inseparable from Lea after receiving encouragement and praise from him. I think that’s why on Day 96, Axel was so uncomfortable being thanked by Roxas and Xion. Then he got really sad and said they’d never be apart.

“Luxord is sweeping the worlds, but he hasn’t found him yet. And, Axel has been sent to Castle Oblivion to search for clues on the Hero and his friends,” Saïx answered, quietly. No change of expression could be seen in his face.

“Axel, Axel… you two are quite the pals, aren’t you? Wonder what you two whisper about,” Xigbar shot, jiggling his crossed leg.

“Now you’ve mentioned it, I wonder the same about you.” At Saïx’s words, the atmosphere froze over.

Xigbar started planning something with Axel and Saïx a few days after that exchange, on Day 119. During the meeting, they made a point of stating that Saïx showed no expression on his face. Xigbar didn’t like how close Axel and Saïx were, since he blamed them for half their members getting wiped out. He apparently started plotting to break up their relationship. 

“Yeah. I have no idea why you’re here either,” said Axel, with only the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Xigbar laughed like it was unbearably funny, body almost bent double. “Hahaha. So very true. It’s because I tagged along on my own selfish whim, that’s all. Guys shooting for power do make a point to listen to guys like me.”

Guys shooting for power—he means Saïx. Axel listened to Xigbar in silence. I’m sure Xigbar has noticed Saïx and my conspiracy. So, he’s trying to trick me into revealing the truth.

That’s what he seemed to be trying to do on Day 353, before Xion ran away. He wanted Axel to talk more about what he and Saïx were plotting, probably to make Saïx think that Axel couldn’t be trusted.

Xigbar stood up, laughing. “Haha!! So that’s how it is!!” Xion pulled her hood back up in a hurry. “For me to be able to see you, well, that’s something.”

What the hell does Xigbar see Xion as? And the way Xion looks to me—why do I see her like that?

“Why do you always glare at me like that?” Xigbar asked, and Xion pounced. The two of them clashed, and Xigbar hit the ground. 

And that’s probably why he saw Xion as Ventus at that exact moment. 

But, Xigbar only laughed at Saïx’s answer. “Haha! I see, so that’s how it is.”

“Is something funny?”

“Guess guys without hearts really are different,” said Xigbar, laughing.

Look at the glare Saïx gave Xigbar when he taunted him on Day 255. Then he made fun of him for having no heart. This is the first time we learn that Saïx can't see Xion. The next day, we learn from Xigbar's report that he saw Xion as Ventus. 

Xigbar: That’s RIGHT, he used to give me that same exact look.

Sora: I guess you think you can psych me out by saying really random stuff!

Xigbar: Gee… I just don’t know. Be a good boy now!

I definitely think Isa also used to glare at Braig like that. Braig probably also used to call him a “good boy”, like he did when Sora glared at him. Saïx is one of the most submissive organization members, and I’m sure Isa was submissive because of his fear. Deep down, I think Braig was jealous of anyone who had a close bond, since he didn’t have any.

[orangedodge]

Instead of flooding my blog with a deluge KH posts, I figured I'd do just one in-depth one about the end reveal.  

At least until the next trailer comes out, and my inner nine year old breaks out once again.

So despite Nomura's limitations as a writer, and his occasional technical naivete, I've always been a bit surprised that he's never really given his due as a director. He has good storytelling instincts, and can be skilled at framing information on screen to highlight what he wants, while making his audience ignore what he doesn't want them to pay attention to. His team can also cut a trailer very well. The 2.8 trailers were masterful at presenting actual spoilers, but framed within an artificial context that hid their meaning, and led to the audience anticipating story beats that did not actually exist. The respective natures of Aced and Gula as people, in particular, was something he was highly successful at concealing.

E3 trailer spoilers below the cut

The first E3 trailer drop, which I think we're calling the "Frozen" trailer, reminds me a lot of what he did last time, with those 2.8 trailers. The reveal at the end, and it's implication that Aqua is now evil, is driven by two lines,

SORA - "I wont let her fall to darkness"

and

AQUA - "You're too late"

The combination is framed to suggest that it's specifically too late for Aqua, but as these lines occur in two entirely different scenes, and this structure is unlikely to be preserved in the actual game, the thematic bridge they create is an artificial one. It's unknown what the full context of each scene actually is, particularly the latter scene with Mickey, Aqua, and Riku. Instead, Aqua's lines are being set up with by potentially false context by Sora.

What actually happens in that scene? I think the position of landmarks, and the continuity in way the scene is lit, is sufficient to establish that it most likely takes place within the same span of time as the previous trailer's Riku and Mickey scene, in which Riku's Way to Dawn Keyblade was broken.

By combining the two Riku scenes, I would posit that the chain of events is as follows: Riku and Mickey arrive at the Dark Margin > Aqua attacks them in her new shadow form > Mickey is disarmed, and Riku's Keyblade broken > Aqua stops fighting and reveals herself > Aqua picks up Mickey's Keyblade.

If the line "This Keyblade..." is native to that scene, and not something that was simply placed out of context in the trailer to create false context (a trick Nomura used with Phantom Aqua's dialogue in the 2.8 trailers), then it could be possible that she didn't recognize her opponents until she saw that Keyblade. Either way, I believe it's likely that she fought them until they were both disarmed, whereupon she stopped, and revealed herself to them.

Two things grabbed my attention,

Is breaking Way to Dawn, the Keyblade with one of Xehanort's creepy time-travel spy eyes (that we've been warned about), actually an inherently aggressive act? She appears to have been completely shrouded/cloaked in darkness, if not actually invisible (if that was a Red Eyes effect Mickey was under), when she arrived. Assuming that the two Riku clips are in fact one continuous scene, than it seems as though she didn't let them see her until that Keyblade was out of the way.

Why pick up Mickey's Keyblade? It was established ages ago that a Keyblade can't be stolen from its wielder, so unless that's being retconned, I don't see why she'd benefit from picking it up unless to demonstrate to them that she's still capable of doing so. And that's being done in a state where she's not just possessed by darkness, but seems to have been totally transformed into it. The only precedents I can think of for that are Anti-Sora and Ansem. Anti-Sora didn't have access to Keyblades, and Ansem could only wield one through Riku's body (and presumably Riku’s heart, since he lost his access to the Keyblade once he cast that away).

So is Aqua currently fallen to darkness? Almost definitely, unless this is just Phantom Aqua messing with Mickey, or a physical manifestation of an impression she left behind when she lived there, or the result of some unique circumstance like Aqua-removed-her-Heart-from-her-body or Aqua's-looking-for-Ven-in-the-realm-of-sleep that that would render her condition a temporary side effect.

Is she 'norted? It seems probable, but I'm not one-hundred per cent sure that it actually follows from what's been shown. Xehanort's never shown the ability to discorporate into dark fog or become invisible, I mean, and it seems like that would be a fairly useful ability to make use of if he had it. It seems not unreasonable to assume that it's therefore an ability newly unique to Aqua, and not something connected to a 'norting. I'm going to leave the changers to her hair aside because it's appeared that shade before (for example, in the daylight Wayfinder sequence at the start of the 0.2 trailer), and I'm not sure how much of the color change is being influenced by the lighting conditions, or even if the lighting is finished. The eyes seem like a big give away that she's 13th 'nort, as we've only ever seen glowing amber eyes in humans with Xehanort's vessels... but we don't actually know why he has those traits in the first place.

It could be nothing of consequence, just a unique aspect of his character design that made an easy shorthand for showing who he was possessing. Or it could be that amber eyes are actually meant to represent something in this setting (connection to Heartless?), and what specifically that is just hasn't come up yet, except as through the brothers and sisters 'nort. So it's possible that her eyes don't really mean what we assume they do, and it's just a fun way to use the trailer to mess with us.

(And because this series is so weird, it may also be worth remembering that incomplete beings have been shown to take physical forms influenced by the expectations of the people viewing them. Think Xion's magic flippy-floppy hood, or Aqua perceiving Ansem as Terra. So depending on what the meaning of Aqua's shadow form actually is, the way she appears to Mickey might not be what she actually looks like, as opposed to just the material consequence of how he expects her to look, reflected back upon his own reality. I... ugh. This series is something else.)

(There's also a possible exception to the only-'norts-have-glowing-eyes rule with Terra, who did have glowing amber eyes before he was 'norted, but portions of those cut scenes may now be apocryphal)

But even if Aqua is 'norted, does it automatically follow that she's now an evil puppet of the arch villain’s? I'm going to just throw this out there, and give a hard no. Could be! She could be evil now, she could even be a boss fight and a resulting fetch quest to fix her Wayfinder to bring her back to normal, or be a recurring super boss introduced to give the heroes someone more threatening to fight than Vexen and Marluxia, or anything else. But it's not absolutely necessary and it's a truly strange assumption to make, given past experiences with 'norts and people consumed by darkness.

Riku was 'norted for... really the entirety of the first three games in one way or another, and after a few initial close calls, he got his second wind, and was fine. Vanitas and Braig both seem to do whatever they want; it just so happens that they want to be evil, but I don't think Xehanort has ever shown any supernatural capacity—resorting instead to threats and possible torture—to modify their behavior if they wander off to undermine him. Terra is... well his body has been possessed for decades now, but also obviously is not being controlled in any meaningful way, unless Xehanort actually planned to choke himself and get whipped in the face by chains. Axel also didn't seem to have any problems with just throwing Xehanort out, when he was a heartless shell that theoretically had compromised means of resisting a takeover.  

So Xehanort is clearly not always in complete control of his vessels, other than Young Xeno (himself), Ansem (his own literal heart), and maybe Xemnas (some proportion of his own heart in Terra’s empty body), who could all be unique exceptions. And even the vessels that have been with him the longest have habit of doing as they please. I should find it strange should Aqua be the absolute only exception in the series. And thinking on it, all that's really said of the final confrontation is that you have 13 seekers and 7 guardians... but there's not really a rule that they have to form two opposed teams and stick to them no matter what.

To just fly off into blind speculation though, what I'm personally leaning towards is the possibility that Aqua has just become a part of the realm of darkness. That Mickey is “too late” to reach her before a point of no return, and now she just cannot leave. She doesn't sound particularly angry, or upset to see him. It sounds like she's just stating a fact, or just speaking with resignation. Mickey and Riku, in the clip where Way to Dawn is shown broken, also do not seem as defeated as one might expect them to if they had experienced complete and total failure. They seem pretty sure of themselves, whatever has happened.

I'm hesitant to add this in, given my own bias, but it actually seems not unlike they're saying goodbye. Perhaps just letting go of something, if they've failed and are moving on, or if Riku is just saying goodbye to the chapter of his life represented within Way to Dawn. Or they could be getting ready to split up.  

I've seen a lot of speculation, that I think rings true, that Disney would prefer for Mickey to not be involved in the final fight, whacking recognizable humans in the face with a sword-like weapon. The rumor's line of reasoning follows that he needs to be swapped out for someone else, and Aqua seems like the most fitting possibility. Maybe literally? One stays, so another can go? Thematically, she took on Terra's punishment for him, trapping her there in the first place. Mickey taking it on for her, so she can leave, would be a fitting continuation. And it seems to be what he wants. Edgy, traumatized, Mickey Mouse is a weird concept to introduce to a story, but it almost pulls it off where his trauma re: Aqua is concerned. This is clearly meant to be the great unhealed wound in his life, and to not just free his friend, but take her place in the underworld for a while is one way to help him patch it.

[violethowler]

Dark Enchantress

Following on from last week’s essay, I would like to talk about one character who has often been overlooked both in-universe and out. Someone who was a major character in the first game, but whose presence has diminished in the years since, even as subsequent games have subtly laid the groundwork for her return to prominence. 

I’m talking of course, about Maleficent. 

Because of the fact that she hasn’t been a major threat since the first game, many fans tend to overlook Maleficent in later Kingdom Hearts games and dismiss her as an unimportant distraction, or even an outright joke. Outside of Re:coded, her schemes have had no immediate impact on the overarching plot of any games, and she’s constantly overshadowed by bigger antagonists like Xehanort. 

However within the framework of the Heroine’s Journey, Maleficent fills a crucial role that has not yet been completed. To explain, I must first elaborate a bit more on the narrative archetype into which Sora and Rikus’ relationship falls: 

The character dynamic between the protagonist and their Animus in a Heroine’s Journey often follows what I have heard others informally label as a Dark Youth/Light Youth narrative[1]. There is no official name for this archetype, so I will be referring to it by the terms it was labeled as when I first learned of it. While the archetype is not exclusively used for romances, many Heroine’s Journey romances fit into this dynamic, as romantic Dark Youth/Light Youth stories tend to follow Beauty and the Beast, rivals-to-lovers, and enemies-to-lovers archetypes.

The Light Youth is most commonly the protagonist of a story, while the Dark Youth typically serves as a Shadow figure to the main character. While there have been rare instances where a Dark Youth is the protagonist of their own story, in most examples, the Dark Youth will be a deuteragonist to the Light Youth. The Dark Youth represents what their counterpart could have become had their circumstances been worse, and in a coming of age narrative they symbolize the more turbulent aspects of growing up. 

They typically begin the story as an anti-villain or tragic villain before transitioning to an anti hero or outright hero by the end, with their interactions with their light youth counterpart gradually driving them to change for the better. For all that various groups in fandom spaces will debate about whether or not a character “deserves” redemption, a well-written Dark Youth archetype is meant to teach younger audiences that no matter how many mistakes you make, it’s never too late to turn things around and do better.

Some examples of Light Youth/Dark Youth pairs include:

Belle & the Beast (Beauty & the Beast)

Aang & Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Rey & Kylo Ren (Star Wars: Episodes VII - IX) 

Lucy & Edmund Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe)

Allura & Lotor (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

Kagome & Inuyasha (Inuyasha)

In many examples of this dynamic, the Dark Youth often spends a significant portion of the narrative under the spell of an Evil Sorcerer figure. Someone whose actions and influence create or maintain a rift between the Dark Youth and their counterpart. In order for the story to reach its climax, the Evil Sorcerer’s control over the Dark Youth must be overcome. This hold can be literal in the sense that they are physically holding the Dark Youth captive, or it can be metaphorical in the sense that their words and actions influence the Dark Youth psychologically. 

While the character that fills this role in the narrative isn’t required to be magical at all, one of the most common forms this archetype takes is the Wicked Witch (hence why I refer to it as the Evil Sorcerer). In Dark Youth/Light Youth stories that deal with themes that are relevant to real world experiences, they can often take the form of an abusive parental figure, like Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar or High Priestess Haggar in Voltron.

Thus, we come to Maleficent. Despite the fact that she hasn’t been a serious threat since the first game, her influence still lingers. She spent much of her screen time in the original game convincing Riku that Sora had abandoned him, driving him down the path to villainy. Despite working in every game since to redeem himself, her influence still casts a shadow over his interactions with Sora. While they reconciled during their reunion in Kingdom Hearts II, Sora and Riku did not meaningfully address the latter’s behavior during the first game. 

Sora’s views about “Riku” in Chain of Memories prior to the Replica reveal indicate that he believes Riku was not in control of his actions and was therefore blameless for what happened. But we as the audience know that despite being manipulated by Maleficent, Riku was in control of his actions. In order for the rift between the two to fully heal, they need to have a conversation where they talk about why Riku behaved the way he did and, in doing so, they must get to the heart of why Riku was so jealous of Sora.

As mentioned in my previous essay, the depiction of Riku and his bond with Sora across the series is consistent with how love interests in the Heroine’s Journey are portrayed. In addition to this narrative pattern, multiple textual parallels with canon Disney couples point towards Riku and Sora having romantic feelings for each other: 

In the first Kingdom Hearts, we have two prominent moments of one character calling out for another as the party flees the location of the world’s boss while it quakes around them: Aladdin calling out for Jasmine as the party flees the Cave of Wonders, and Sora calling out for Riku as the party flees Monstro’s stomach.

Kingdom Hearts II uses plot details involving Disney Princess romances to foreshadow Sora and Riku’s reunion in The World That Never Was.

Aladdin is avoiding Jasmine at the start of the first visit to Agrabah just like how Riku is avoiding Sora throughout the game as a whole. 

After being freed from Xaldin’s influence in the first visit to Beast’s Castle, the Beast is afraid to talk to Belle after how he behaved, just like how Riku didn’t want Sora to find him after how he acted in the first game. (Notably, we don’t get to see the Beast’s curse broken until *after* we’ve seen Riku no longer trapped in Ansem’s form)

Ariel is afraid that since she’s a mermaid and Eric is a human that he’ll reject her, just like how Riku didn’t want Sora to see that he’d taken on Ansem’s form. 

When Sora, Donald, and Goofy are separated from Rapunzel and Flynn in the Kingdom of Corona during Kingdom Hearts III, Goofy says that Rapunzel and Eugene will be fine as long as they’re together. The last time this phrasing was used in the series, Goofy was saying that about Sora and Riku. 

Kingdom Hearts III connects Riku’s sacrifice for Sora in the Keyblade Graveyard with Hercules diving into the River Styx to save Megara’s soul. (This is more clear in the original Japanese, as the localization translated the term taisetsu na hito [literal meaning: precious person] as “person I love most” for Hercules and “what matters” for Riku.)

In Jungian psychology, which the Heroine’s Journey is heavily influenced by, the Evil Sorcerer working to keep the romantic leads apart is symbolic of romantic/sexual interference. They represent cultural forces attempting to dictate what kind of romantic relationship is socially acceptable for people who share some aspect of the protagonist or Dark Youth’s identity. 

Maleficent got her hooks into Riku at the beginning of the series by convincing him that Sora didn’t value him or their bond. Since then, he’s gone to the opposite extreme. Instead of lashing out over his jealousy of not being the center of Sora’s attention, he bottles his feelings up. While some fans perceived his distance from Sora in recent games as him stepping back, it ‘s more accurate to say that he has resigned himself to the belief his feelings for Sora will forever be unrequited. This is best demonstrated in the Limit Cut DLC, where even after a year of multiple characters attempting to trace their connection to Sora with no results, the idea that his own bond with Sora could be important never crossed his mind until the Fairy Godmother said there was a clue in his dreams. And until Riku learns to let down his walls and admit to Sora how he feels, Maleficent will still have a hold over him. 

Despite the narrative setup for a romance between the two of them, they will not be able to get together until Riku has fully broken free of Maleficent’s influence. This is the reason why the “Healing the Wounded Masculine” stage of Murdock’s formula where the protagonist and the Animus mend the rift between them is placed very close to the end of the sequence. Freeing the Dark Youth from the Sorcerer’s influence represents their relationship with their Light counterpart triumphing over the societal forces that the Sorcerer archetype represents. Until that has been achieved, neither lead is emotionally or psychologically ready to begin a relationship.

So while Maleficent may not have been as significant a threat as she was in the beginning, she still plays a major role within the framework of Sora’s Journey, and she will continue to have a presence in the series until that role has been completed in full.

Sources:

[1] Death of a Dark Youth, Desecration of the Animus; December 20, 2018. https://www.teampurplelion.com/death-of-a-dark-youth/