#also she’s wearing the same thing as the radiant garden people and Kairi is from there so?????

[sir-cookieton]

I know we make this joke every time there’s a new character but IS THIS KAIRI’S GREAT GRANDMOTHER

[oveliagirlhaditright]

What are your favorite KH headcanons? Just in general, nothing specific :)

It’s funny... I can think of headcanons when I’m writing or whatever--or just at the spur of the moment--but when asked for them, they all disappear from my mind. Uhh... let’s see what I can come up with.

Because Kairi has had a different hairstyle that every year that we see her, I headcanon that she changes her hair every year.

I also headcanon her birthday is September 17th (the day KH1 was released in the U.S. This is also SoKai Day), since Sora’s birthday is the day of the Japanese release and because it makes Kairi a Virgo. She somewhat reminds me of a Virgo. And apparently an Virgos and Aries (which Sora is) can be good together, so...

I imagine that Riku is rich, just because he has a balcony in the KH manga. So is Kairi, for being the adopted daughter of the mayor in my mind (I get into that just below). Sora, however, is probably middle class. For this reason, hangouts with the three usually happen at Kairi or Riku’s house. But sometimes Sora’s still... And these three totally snuck into each other’s houses after dark--through bedroom windows--all the time, and no one can tell me any differently.

And, like most of the fandom does, I headcanon that Destiny Islands’ mayor is Kairi’s adopted father... even though that’s never exactly said. It’s said that the girl who arrived during the meteor shower was at the mayor’s house, but that could have just been for the time and she eventually got relocated somewhere else. But nah. I also headcanon that the mayor adopted her.

I like my headcanon of Xion liking doilies for some reason.

And my one about Roxas being able to cook, too.

For some reason, I adore the idea that Riku can’t cook to save his life.

I also don’t think that Sora is dumb, and I’ll fight people on this. And at this point, I’m kind of stealing another’s headcanon... but I like the idea that Donald and Goofy teach Sora school things he’s missing on their travels together.

I can also get into the headcanon that Sora’s dad passed when he was young (sadly). Since we hear him mentioned in BbS, but don’t hear him calling Sora to dinner alongside Sora’s mother in KH1 or anything like that. 

I definitely headcanon that there are a few islands on Destiny Islands--since it’s Destiny Islands plural--but that they’re probably small, so that the kids still feel “trapped there”.

I imagine that Sora and Riku’s parents put up some of the Play Island stuff absent in Dark Road.

Until proven otherwise, because of the character files, I’m headcanoning that Roxas, Lea, Xion, Isa, and Naminé are all living together now (with Lea and Isa acting as their parents). Probably in the Old Mansion that they fixed up. But on the flip-side of that, I think that Sora and Kairi’s parents accepted their kids’ Nobodies and Replicas as their own, and they sometimes stay there.

I also want to pretend that Isa made a bigger effort to make things up to Roxas and Xion.

I actually don’t think Naminé would jump on the drawing train as most fans seem to think she would. Rather... since drawing is actually tied to traumatic memories for her, I think she’d want to get as far away from it as she could at first. And it would take her friends showing her that she could make good memories with it too, that would finally make her an artist.

Terra and Aqua came from other worlds than the Land of Departure (and how I wish we’d get information on that!). Right now--even though it’ll never happen in a million years, since this series isn’t even Disney--I’m writing that Aqua is originally from “Antar” from the Roswell series, but that’s more fanfiction territory. More likely than not, I want to believe that Terra and Aqua are from worlds that fit their names.

Strelitzia is bisexual. I don’t care that Player canonically is a guy at this point, thus probably making her het. Shh.

Speaking of bisexuality... I think that Sora is. I could maybe even headcanon Riku as that now.

Naminé would totally wear baby blue, if Nomura ever lets her get another outfit.

Xion probably eventually picks up some artsy thing that she can do too, to better fit in with Kairi, Naminé, and Aqua. In the novels, she wanted to make a lucky charm but didn’t know how to. So I can see it.

I don’t think this is a headcanon, so much as it is canon that we haven’t seen yet (since Nomura has slightly talked about this in interviews, even if he’s never going to do anything with it now). Rinoa exists in the KH universe. And it’s because something happened to her during the fall of Radiant Garden--that Leon really is beating himself up about--that he changed his name. And it’ll only seeing her alive and well again, that will get him to change his name back. And he eventually will (or maybe even has in my headcanon). And, yes: the letter he got in the KHII credits was totally from her, telling him that she was alright. Rinoa is also why he has wings on the back of his jacket.

Yuna, Rikku, and Paine aren’t actually tiny fairies, but Maleficent turned them into that... And this is so I can ship KH Tidus and Yuna, yeah. But I swear if you listen to one of Rikku’s lines, it sounds like she might be implying this.

While I think originally, it was Aerith that Cloud was trying to save in KH1 (...for some reason. Since she’s fine in the KH verse), fans have now convinced me that it was actually Zack, so I hope we eventually get the FFVII characters in KH’s story eventually resolved.

Some people argue that all of Traverse Town with the TWEWY characters was a dream--or maybe it’s that they argue Joshua saving his friends through Sora and Riku’s help was the dream--but in my book, it totally happened.

Naminé is an honorary member of the Destiny Trio and Sea Salt Trio.

Kairi and Naminé see each other as sisters, and Sora, Roxas, and Ventus (and Vanitas, if he ever comes back and is redeemed) see each other as brothers. But Sora and Roxas miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight slightly see themselves as more closely linked brothers, and same thing with Ventus and Vanitas.

I also see Xion as a third sister for Kairi and Naminé. Most of the fandom disagrees with this. And I understand why. Most of the fandom sees her as Sora’s sister (and maybe even then sistered to the other boys. And sometimes I now do this--sort of because of peer pressure--but I’ll also have her be a shared sister between the boys and Kairi and Naminé, even though Sora and Kairi themselves aren’t “related”. But I hate that when I do this, it ruins my RokuShi dreams. So it’s probably part of the reason that I usually don’t). But I still see Xion as closer to Kairi than Sora. I know she was supposed to be a Sora clone (but it didn’t really work and she was a failed clone of him), but she mostly defined by his memories of Kairi. And that’s who she chooses to be and how she sees herself. But people then argue that it’s Sora’s memories of Kairi, though, not Kairi herself. And I get that.... But I still think she’s closer to Kairi. Why? Because Sora was actively trying to make her Kairi. And I’m sure some of himself slipped into there, as parts of a writer--so to speak--shows up in all their work, whether they intended it or not. But for example... let’s say that Sora hates chocolate and Kairi loves it. Since he was trying to make Xion like Kairi, he would therefore have her like chocolate, even though he hated it. So that’s one more point for Xion moreso being like Kairi in my book. I also... when I first played Days, she reminded me a lot of Kairi, partly because of some of her snarky lines. It’s only recently that I’ve looked at Days and seen some Sora in her--and realized that also could have partly come from him--but I still stand by what I said.

And while we’re on the subject... after everyone got their own hearts and bodies at the end of KHIII, I don’t think pairings like RokuShi or RokuNami, or whatever else would be insert of self-cest at all. Really, I don’t ever think it was. Because KH rules state that it’s your heart and how you see yourself that governs everything around you... but especially not after KHIII resolved this. So it kind of ticks me off when people still bring up this argument.

Because this plot hole bothers me... Kairi totally remembered Merlin when she trained with him in KHIII.

Most the rest of these will probably be about Kairi. Since you all know she’s my girl, and I think about her a lot.

I pretend that Kairi did somewhat have an edgy stage, and still somewhat is. Maybe because I somehow combine that with tomboy in my head. IDK. Speaking of--though not that this is really “edgy”--I’ve written that Kairi likes Queen at least twice. Just pretend that Destiny Islands has Queen. Haha.

I also believe that even after Kairi became more girly in KHII, she still has some tomboy to her: like how even though she wears a dress in KHII, she still has sneakers on, and how her school bag isn’t decorated at all when Selphie’s is. She’s also a fighter, of course (not that that necessarily makes a girl a tomboy -looks at Buffy-). I imagine out of the three, Naminé is the girliest, Kairi is a mix of tomboy and girly-girl, and Xion is a tomboy. 

I think Kairi, Naminé, and Xion would all have great relationships with each other. Naminé and Xion, because they both know what it’s like to be “Nobodies” , told they shouldn’t exist, and forgotten (Kairi knows this, too), and have suffered (though Kairi has too, of course). They’re also both slightly shier. Kairi and Xion because they both can be snarky (though Xion not as much), are more outgoing and both fight, and are maybe pretty evenly matched right now (they’d probably spar a lot). And Kairi and Naminé, because they’re like the extroverted and introverted version of each other. And I imagine Kairi could convince Kairi to try things more, while Naminé would get her to chill the F out about things.

Kairi and Xion are probably both protective of Naminé, since she’s been so abused and they can fight and she can’t.

Sora, Roxas, and Ventus might be protective of Xion. But for me, Roxas is because of shipping reasons.

Back to the girly-girl Kairi thing... While pink probably is for sure her favorite color now, she still likes purple and other colors. And will use them.

I also just... don’t see her wearing makeup. I know other fans do, and that’s fine. But I don’t. Mainly because it doesn't look like she ever is in the game. I think that’s part of her tomboy coming through still. She cares about her hair, her clothes, perfume and whatever else, but she doesn’t care about makeup.

I used to headcanon that Aqua and Xion would become best friends--and they still could--but Melody of Memory maybe hinted at something else.

...I think this is everything right now.

Edit: And pretty much every headcanon that bluerosesburnblue comes up with for the KHUX world is right up my alley.

Edit 2: Destiny Islands maybe isn’t as technologically un-advanced as I and some had originally thought, but it’s still not modern day Shibuya or anything like that.

Edit 3: A lot of Destiny Islands’ culture is based on Japan.

Edit 4: This isn’t a “headcanon” at all. But I love to joke with the fandom, that Naminé and Xion might as well be Sora and Kairi’s daughters. LOL

Edit 5: And because of that one scene in KHII, where Kairi, arguably, hits Riku in the arm, if you look close enough--and that one translation of the KHII manga, where Kairi tells Riku not to be such sourpuss--I headcanon that these two somewhat play off just how much they mean to each other. But really, they love each other of course. I mean that platonically.

Edit 6: And I want to believe Minnie and Daisy could eventually go on an adventure with Kairi or something. I like the headcanon that Daisy’s a magician, too--since Minnie is strong with light magic--even though it’s not true. Haha.

Edit 7: Sora says Kairi’s name over and over again at the end of KHI and tells her “I love you” at the end of KHIII.

Edit 8: Riku is Sora’s best man at Sora and Kairi’s wedding. He’s also the “uncle” and godfather of their kids. 

Edit 9: Speaking of, Sora and Kairi have a daughter named “Sakura”. But it’s pronounced like how you would say “Sum” (but drop the “M”, of course) and then “Cora”. “Sumcora” (but without the “M”).

Edit 10: Kairi’s a Disney princess.

Edit 11: Max Goof exists in the KH universe, as do the Three Caballeros, who Donald is friends with.

Edit 12: Terra and Naminé are friends.

Edit 13: This is completely unoriginal--and just “Riku” backwards--but in fics, I often call Riku Replica “Ukir” (I pronounce it “You-Kai-Err”, because I’m too lazy to come up with anything else and don’t want to steal other people’s ideas. And Repliku probably did want to be the opposite of Riku, so... -shrugs-

[phoenix-downer]

Kingdom Hearts 3 Novel Volume 1

I’m going to give a brief overview of what the chapters seem to be about as I skim through for now. I’ll be skipping some things and not covering everything, just what sticks out to me.

These are summaries, not detailed translations, so take them with a grain of salt and when in doubt, consult a translation, not a summary. How I word things here won’t be exactly how the Japanese version worded them. This is meant to be a brief overview, not a word-for-word version, so please keep that in mind.

This volume covers:

Olympus

(The) Dark World

The Mysterious Tower

Twilight Town

Toy Box

If I notice any errors, I might update my summaries. Now, without further ado...

There’s some nice Shiro Amano art inside (think I already saw a post floating around with it so I won’t upload it here unless asked to).

The prologue talks about Scala ad Caelum and the chess game between Young Eraqus and Young Xehanort.

Then there’s Sora’s quote at the beginning of the game (they can take your world... etc.)

The Olympus section starts out with Sora returning to the Mysterious Tower (the 2.9 material).

Sora thought Riku, Kairi, and Mickey would be waiting for him, but they aren’t.

Donald and Goofy are worried about what happened with his Mark of Mastery Test, but Sora lifts his head and answers cheerfully. 

Skimming some more, stuff about Olympus, several pages dedicated to what happened in 0.2 with Aqua from the looks of it, including the scene where she talks to Terra and he protects her and Ven. Then the novel goes back to the Mysterious Tower and the scene with Riku and Kairi’s conversation from 0.2, followed by Riku and Mickey’s search for Aqua in the realm of darkness, etc...

There’s a section dedicated to when Kairi and Lea trained together, titled Intermission 7 days, taking place on the seventh day since Kairi arrived I believe? He asks her every day how long it’s been since she first came to the forest world where they train, and she asks him why he asks that question every day. He apologizes and she tells him all you do is apologize, Lea. He says he feels like there’s something he’s supposed to remember. She tells him that Merlin told her there is no time in this world, but that it’s been seven days since she’s arrived. She points out that Axel arrived before she did, but he tells her they can count the time from when she arrived.

This exchange before Sora’s first visit to Twilight Town. I haven’t played the game since I finished it, but I believe this might be an addition that’s unique to the novel?

Sora remembers meeting Roxas in the Sleeping Worlds and reflects on how he felt a lot of Roxas’s feelings... and his sadness. Sora has a beautiful speech that from what I remember is taken from the game where he basically says that the heart’s pain (probably hurt, if we’re going by KH terminology) is its bonds/connections to other people. 

Donald and Goofy exchange glances, then point out that the Data Sora said the same thing. They also repeat something similar to Sora’s line to Riku in KH2 and Kairi’s line to Riku in 0.2, but using Sora’s name - “Sora’s Sora, no matter what” basically (the grammar in these quotes is similar in the Japanese version, donna ~ demo, XYZ Character wa XYZ Character da). Nice callback to previous games.

Sora hears the Dusks calling out to him, he meets up with Hayner, Pence, and Olette again, etc., etc.

The picture of them taking the picture is hilarious, Donald’s face in particular. The meeting with Rémy is covered, etc., etc.

Sora stands in front of the window of the Old Mansion, and he tries to remember who was there before, but he can’t. Hayner sneaks up on them, plot continues, etc. The Bistro visit happens, etc.

Next is Kairi’s intermission letter and her conversation with Lea that is in the game. It says that she comes to the secret forest every day after training to watch the sun set.

Lea has a habit of apologizing to Kairi, even though she’s told him he doesn’t have to many times already. Kairi suspects his apologies are directed at someone else.

Kairi smiles softly at Lea as he apologizes again. He goes and sits down on the rock, and she goes back to writing her letter. He asks if it’s for Sora, and she tells him it’s addressed to Sora but it’s more like a diary.

The novel mentions that Lea stares at Kairi’s face a lot, mentions he’s trying to remember something important. More stuff, pretty similar to the game... Kairi thinks to herself that she hasn’t ever seen a guy older than her cry like this before. More stuff happens similarly to the game, and Lea tells her to call him Axel (throughout the narrative up to this point she’d think Lea---Axel and called him Lea).

In Kairi’s footprints, there’s a four-leaf clover, and the sea salt ice cream fell on top of it.

Next is another intermission, this time for what’s happening at Radiant Garden. Dilan’s showing Mickey and Riku around. Looks like the cutscene we saw in the game, basically, with Riku figuring out what happened to Terra.

Then we go to Toy Box, and it opens up on the Yozora segment, same as the game. A young man is fighting in a big city somewhere. He has silver hair, and his pupils are different colors. He’s got two companions, a young man with red hair wearing a hat, and a young man with glasses. The three of them are facing a beautiful woman who is being taken captive by a robot. She is surrounded by light, and the young man reaches out to her. But will he reach her or won’t he - 

The game’s title appears, Verum Rex.

Same stuff as what happens in the game, basically, the confrontation with Xehanort, etc.

They skype (my phrasing, not the novel’s, haha) with Mickey and Riku, and Riku asks Sora what happened, seemingly worried. Seeing Riku’s face puts Sora at ease a little, so he brings up his concerns to him.

They talk about replicas, Riku tells him what they are, etc., etc., Sora cheers up when he learns that replicas might be the key to saving Roxas, etc., etc. 

There’s one last brief scene at the Keyblade Graveyard. Saix is talking to another figure in a black coat, Vexen. Vexen wants to continue his research, etc., etc. 

That’s all for now, but hope it gives a good overview of what the first novel covers!

[dusky-dancing]

Formal

Summary: Radiant Garden is holding it's first formal ball to celebrate its restoration, and Kairi and the other Princesses of Heart are guests of honor. The event brings about a reunion that Kairi wasn't sure she was ready for yet.

Rating: T

Genre: Romance

Length: 3788 words

Fluff warning.

The young woman reflecting in Kairi's mirror looked vastly different from any version she'd known of herself. She supposed it was what she got when she let six other princesses and three fairies dress her for her first ball.

The fairies demanded that they make the dress after the princesses decided on a design, and the narrow A-line gown fit her shape perfectly. Its length reached her ankles, and her back was covered only by lace. The sleeves fell softly off of Kairi's shoulders, showing off her collarbone. The light, breathable fabric prevented the dress from feeling fully formal, not to mention it still allowed her to leap and spin to her heart's content.

From the color it was obvious that Flora had the most fun designing the dress, for her dress was almost entirely pink. Not that Kairi complained, it was her favorite color.

Kairi wouldn't have been so self-conscious of her appearance if it weren't for the occasion: the new Radiant Garden's first ball to celebrate its restoration. The committee - Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, Cid, the Gullwings, and Tifa - they had all worked so hard to make this world the beautiful land it was before the Heartless attacked. They deserved all the recognition in the worlds, so people from each corner of the galaxy were invited. Each Princess of Heart agreed, of course, and because Kairi was technically from the world, she felt high expectations.

If anyone was going to be guests of honor at the ball, it should have been the Restoration Committee. Though it was wonderful to see the other Princesses again, the Committee members were the ones who put forth all of the effort that rebuilt Radiant Garden. All Kairi did was train. If anything, she distracted them from restoration efforts.

Still, it wasn't just the occasion that put butterflies in her stomach, but also who would be attending. Each Princess of Heart was to be presented before the court at the start of the ball, so they would each receive a partner of their choosing to escort them. Most of the Princesses' choices were obvious, and as for Kairi, she wasn't much different. The Guardians of Light, a group that Kairi was also a part of, were all attending anyways, so it wasn't too far of a stretch, right? It was a formal event, so they must've sent a formal invitation, asking him to escort her. She cringed at what it might've said.

Worst case scenario:

The honorable Princess Kairi dutifully requests that Sora, chosen wielder of the Keyblade, be her personal escort to the Radiant Garden Restoration Ball.

It would've been worse than asking him to prom. He probably laughed himself to tears at how ridiculous it sounded. Regardless, after months of training and waiting, Kairi's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him again: his bright smile, his deep blue eyes whose gaze could lift any spirit.

"Kairi?" a voice snapped her back to reality.

She turned to see six pairs of eyes staring at her curiously. Each of the other princesses were adorned in their own beautiful, personally customized gowns. They waited together in a large powder room in the west wing of Radiant Castle, putting the final touches to their ensemble.

"I'm sorry?" Kairi replied.

They giggled. "I asked which earrings you wanted," Aurora said. She held out a small jewelry case lain with various options.

"Were you daydreaming again?" Cinderella asked.

"It's okay to be nervous, you know," Jasmine said.

Again? How often had her mind wandered in the last hour?

"Sorry," she replied, smiling bashfully, "I guess I am a little anxious."

She perused the collection of earrings and settled on a pair with dangling peach sea shells.

"That was quick. Why'd you go with those?" Alice asked.

"I may technically be from Radiant Garden, but my home and my heart will always be with my islands. I want all the worlds to know that." She smiled as she donned them. They made a surprisingly nice accent to her wardrobe.

She turned back to her company and rose from the seat of her vanity. "You all look so amazing!"

"WE look amazing," Belle corrected her, "I wish we could be there to see the look on Sora's face when he sees you."

Kairi began to blush. She was about to defend Sora when a knock came at her door. The guard posted to the hallway outside spoke, "Ladies, Princess Kairi has a visitor."

"Just a moment, and just Kairi is fine," she replied.

"We'll give you some privacy," Cinderella said, and each of the princesses exited into the adjacent dressing room.

Kairi faced the door, "Go ahead and send them in, please."

It opened, and a tall young man entered the room, his shoes tapping against the hardwood floor. His scars from the Dark World were hidden beneath a long, buttoned up dress shirt fit for royalty. Everything about him seemed princely, but his silver hair still hung loose, barely covering his aquamarine eyes. This wasn't just any visitor, this was her best friend. His gaze found her.

"Woah," he muttered.

"Riku!" She exclaimed, hugging him, "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"Um," he held out his arms at his side, still frozen.

"What's wrong?" She stepped back.

"Uh, nothing. I'm just afraid of ruining your..." he paused, gesturing to her whole self, "everything."

"Oh please," Kairi replied, "I'm still me. What brings you over here?"

He leaned casually against the wall. "Just checking up on you. Figured you might be nervous." He smirked at her.

Kairi twirled her fingers together. "Maybe just a little."

"Relax," he said, "you'll do great, and besides, even if you do mess up, you can always count on Sora to do something more embarrassing."

She laughed. He wasn't wrong entirely, but the thought of Sora only being a mere few halls away from her didn't help her anxiety.

"How's Sora doing?"

He folded his arms, "You'll see in a bit."

She resumed her seat, finding it more difficult to breathe when standing. "You're no help," she pouted at him.

"Just don't think too much about it. Instead of a ball, imagine it's just us hanging out back on the island."

He was right. If she took away all recent events, they were still childhood best friends. She needed to remember where they came from.

"Okay, that helped a little," she mumbled, "thank you, Riku."

He nodded. "I won't take too much of your time. See you soon." He stopped himself before leaving. "Oh and Kairi," he said, "you really do look beautiful."

"So do you," she winked.

He shook his head, laughing as he closed the door behind himself.

Later, as she waited in the hallway of the west wing, Kairi's anxiety worsened. Each of the other princesses looked so calm and collected before they presented themselves. Had they felt nervous too?

Kairi took a deep breath as the guard opened the door to the Main Hall.

And there he was.

He stood on the other side, adorned with a white long-sleeved dress shirt, the full collar extending up his neck. A golden sash draped from his left shoulder to just above his right hip, and stringed golden shoulder pads added width to his frame. Unlike his usual style, he wore blue dress pants that hugged his legs, and his calf-high white boots were actually proportional to the rest of his body. His signature crown necklace hung where a bowtie would have been.

From afar, he almost looked like a different person, but there was no mistaking that hair. She'd hoped that he wouldn't change it for the occasion. Kairi had seen him grow, both physically and emotionally, but in that moment it was more apparent than ever. One thing was certain: he wasn't the same boy that had been napping on the beach years ago.

She was sure that her heart stopped when their eyes met. Sora was never good at hiding his thoughts with expressions, but as much as she wanted to tease him for his wide eyes, she was more concerned with remaining calm and walking a straight line to him. It was only a few steps, yet it felt like miles.

"Hey, Kai," he gave that smile that he always did.

Before she could respond, he pulled her close. She melted into the embrace, dismissing the formality that she'd tried to instill within herself for the past hour after only a few seconds. Unsurprisingly, it was easy for him to have that effect. It may not be conventional, but she no longer cared. Months of separation, and a whole year before that, came pouring forth - time spent worrying about where he was, training for what would come, and wishing to return home.

"I'm glad you're okay," she muffled into his shoulder.

For once, he didn't wear gloves, and the feeling of his calloused hands directly on her skin brought a comfort she didn't think possible. She reached for his back, and a tinge of guilt stung her for not being able to return the favor against the thick fabric of his suit.

He gripped her tighter, his hair tickling her ear, "You thought I wouldn't be?"

He'd grown bold, having never hugged her so tightly before. It brought a giggle out of her. She pushed herself back and took in his full form. He was still Sora, she told herself, and always would be.

"You changed your hair."

His eyes widened slightly as he pulled at the brown spikes, "Y-you don't like it?"

"It suits you," she smiled, and her reassurance softened his face.

Their time alone was cut short when the large double doors before them opened wide. No words were needed as the two faced forwards. He extended his elbow out to her, and she slipped her hand into his arm.

It felt right.

The ballroom was already filled with enough people that the whole town might have been in attendance. She curled her fingers into his arm, grateful that she didn't have to face everyone alone.

The guard at the door announced their arrival. "Presenting Kairi, Princess of Heart hailing from Radiant Garden, and her escort, Sora, Guardian of Light."

She cringed at the formal announcement. She and Sora glanced at one another and stifled a laugh at their respective titles. Though she couldn't deny that their names sounded good together.

When they entered, a crowd of their friends moved to greet them. Kairi had the privilege of seeing Radiant Garden everyday, so she knew they weren't rushing over to greet her. Kairi wasn't the only one who missed Sora.

"Sora, lad, it's good to see you again!" Merlin shook Sora's hand aggressively, "And Kairi, you look stunning as always."

"Good to see you all too," Sora laughed.

One after another, people came to greet Sora. He really could make friends anywhere. Despite all the commotion, he'd kept his arm interlocked with Kairi's. She felt safe, wishing she could cling to him all evening. That dream was interrupted, however, when Tifa pulled him into a hug. The sting of letting go was quickly replaced with amusement at Sora's bashfulness.

Kairi scanned the room for musicians and found a string quartet stationed near the balcony doors. It had been so long since she'd taken the time to listen to music, and she grew eager to hear them play.

"Nice entrance, princess," a familiar voice spoke from behind her. Riku stood in the same attire she'd seen him in before. He'd also chosen not to drop his sarcasm for the ball, it seemed.

"Riku!" Sora shouted.

The two clasped hands and patted each other's backs.

"Who knew Sora could clean up this well," Yuffie smirked.

"It's because he can't," Riku laughed, "atleast not alone."

So Riku hadn't only visited Sora before the party; he'd helped him get ready as well? She wondered if he spilled how nervous she'd been.

"Hey!" Sora's face turned pink, earning a chuckle out of the group.

"Anyways," Sora said with an exaggerated tone, "enough about me. Congrats on completing the restoration, everyone! How does it feel to have your home back?"

"I can't quite describe it," Leon said, "it's good to have a safe home again."

"Well, this is to celebrate all of your hard work," Kairi smiled, "you all deserve a long rest."

The strings began to play, their sound bright and sweet to the ears. Short notes stuck, long ones fluttered, and the urge to dance grew. Kairi soon found herself swaying in place. Some princesses were already twirling to their hearts' delight, either alone or with their partners.

The music was pulling her in. Before her nerves stopped her, Kairi kicked off her shoes and joined them. The others were actual royalty, so they knew more about dancing than she ever could.

The violin broke into a playful fiddle, and Kairi quickened her pace to keep up with it. With every second, more people joined in.

As she turned, she caught Sora smiling at her from the sidelines. Both he and Riku clapped to the music. Her nerves returned, wondering what was going on in Sora's head. She pushed the paranoia down. They were her best friends; she'd done much more embarrassing things in front of them, so there was no need to be nervous. She ran to them and grabbed their arms.

"Come on!" she yelled.

Sora nodded with a laugh, but Riku held his position.

"I don't dance," he said.

"You do now!" Sora shouted.

He took a hold of Riku's other arm, and together he and Kairi pulled him to the center. Hand in hand, they danced in a circle. She and Sora earned a chuckle from Riku as he began to loosen up. Trusting that he wouldn't run back to the wall, they released one another and danced on their own.

She watched Sora, who hadn't needed any coercing. He raised his elbows when he spun and kicked his knees high. She matched his energy and loosened her hips. Her dress was light enough that the bottom lifted with every turn, giving her legs more freedom.

Though they danced solo, she couldn't pull her eyes away from him. He was still the same old Sora, laughing and having fun wherever he could. That time it was him who caught her staring, but it didn't stop him. His smile only brightened.

She twirled one last time as the music came to an end and found herself in his arms. She blushed. He looked down at her, just as surprised and out of breath as she was.

She didn't know if it was just her adrenaline, but her heart told her to close the gap between them and kiss him.

The temptation only made her face more flush, but she resisted. If he had seen her addition to his paopu fruit drawing, then he knew how she felt. And If he still felt the same, then he would say - or do - something. She'd made her move already, it was his turn to make his.

"Kairi," he said, maintaining their distance.

"Mmm," she hummed.

"You, uh," he paused, "you dance really well."

She giggled. It was better than nothing.

"So do you," she smiled, "where'd you learn that?"

"Oh you know," he shrugged, "you pick up alot of things while travelling."

Someone behind them cleared their throat, bringing her back to the reality of where she was. He averted his gaze and dropped his hands.

Everyone continued dancing throughout the evening, but Sora seemed to avoid getting that close to her again. He'd be talkative until music would play, and he'd look away if they caught each other's glances. It frustrated her; all he had to do was ask.

She wouldn't allow herself to be brought down, however. After all, the three of them were together again. She'd even gotten to meet some of Sora's friends from other worlds. Unsurprisingly, there were many of them, including some of the other Princesses' dates.

The party lasted longer than anyone could have expected, but the ballroom slowly emptied throughout the night. The Princesses hugged Kairi goodnight, all having long and dangerous journeys home the next day.

Sleep still felt far from Kairi, but the night had to end eventually. Soon the crowd dwindled down to only a few people. The musicians even began to pack away their instruments.

"Hey Kairi," Riku approached her, "have you seen Sora?"

"He was just-" she glanced all around the room, but couldn't spot him, "I guess I lost him too."

"Knowing him, he's probably sleeping. Could you check the balcony while I look through the castle?"

Kairi nodded and made her way outside. She found Sora leaning against the balcony rails, but he didn't seem like himself. He hunched over the railing, staring into the distance with an absentminded expression. When she approached, he barely even acknowledged her.

"Hey," she smiled and leaned beside him, "ready to call it a night?"

"Um," he looked down at his hands, "not quite yet."

The balcony doors closed behind them. Kairi turned in surprise, only to find Riku standing on the other side. He saluted with a wink and backed away into the castle. The pieces began to fall together in her head. Confused, she searched Sora's expression for answers.

Sora exhaled slowly and faced her, "I realized I was doing a pretty terrible job of being your...you know."

Her heartbeat quickened. Was he trying to say 'date'?

He continued, "But you deserve better than that, so here it goes."

Inside, the music picked back up, slower and more melodious than before.

"Kairi," he held a hand out to her, "will you...dance with me?"

She didn't know what came over her, but tears began to form in her eyes.

Taking his hand, she answered, "Of course."

Her free hand came to a rest on his shoulder, careful not to wrinkle the formal attire. He held her at her waist, the unfamiliar touch sending goosebumps to her arms. He led without further hesitation, and they swayed together against the night air. The quiet strings just beyond the door guided their rhythm.

At first, she counted her steps. She caught herself watching her own feet, nervous that she'd miss and step on him. She looked up to find him doing the same.

"Sora?" she said.

His eyes darted up to hers.

"Thank you."

"What for?" He tilted his head to the side like a puppy.

"This," she smiled, "for coming with me. I know the invitation must've been super formal and cheesy..."

He chuckled, "No, it's okay. I actually thought it was kinda cute."

"Oh," she blushed.

Her shoulders relaxed, and his hand softened against the small of her back. Before she realized it, they were dancing smoothly together. No more feet-staring, no more overthinking, she was just allowing each moment to take her wherever it pleased.

His gaze drifted to the side of her face. "I like your earrings," he smiled.

Her head perked up. In all honesty, she'd forgotten she was wearing them, and no one else had made a comment.

"I don't know what it is," he continued, "I guess they just remind me of the thalassa charm you gave me."

Of everything she'd adorned that night, he'd chosen to point out her seashell earrings, the ones that reminded her of home - their home. They'd all been fighting so hard in order to return, but she remembered that her home wasn't just on the islands.

Sora was her home too, and she'd been feeling homesick for too long. She'd wanted to wait for the right time or for him to say something, but her heart didn't want to wait another second.

She pushed herself up onto her toes and captured his lips with her own.

Time seemed to slow down. She thought her nerves would ease, but the sound of her own heartbeat soon drowned out the music. His lips, though tense with shock, quickly warmed and softened against hers. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel him forming a hint of that contagious smile. Just seeing his smile was comforting, but feeling it pressed to her own was heavenly. His hand curled further around her waist.

Slowly, she pulled away and lowered her feet flat onto the ground. He followed her down, resting his forehead against hers. Their dancing had stopped.

It wasn't until then that she fully processed what had happened.

She kissed Sora.

A moment of silence lingered in the night air, and then giggles escaped from them both. He held her hand to his chest, gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Each minuscule movement sent shivers down her spine.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I couldn't wait any longer."

"Wait for what?" he clutched her hand tighter.

"For you to show me how you feel," she giggled.

"Oh," he raised an eyebrow, "You mean like this?"

He released her hand and caressed her neck before lowering his lips to hers. His kiss was unlike the last. Instead of timid and brief, he was bold and passionate. Butterflies erupted within her chest. Her empty hand clutched his collar. She didn't care if it wrinkled, she wanted him closer.

In that moment, she disregarded where they were, who might have seen them, and what would happen the next day. Even if they had to go their separate ways again, her promise would always remain true.

Wherever you go, I'm always with you.

He gave her one last gentle kiss before pulling back. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."

She knew from his somber tone that he wasn't just talking about kissing. He'd made a promise to her as well.

I'll come back to you, I promise.

She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heart beating away within. She was home, and it was all she wanted.

"It's okay."

There was no need for such formality, anyways.

[johnkatier]

(a chapter from a post kh3 au fic i have)

 A week and a half after their departure from Radiant Garden Ventus sends him a picture of him, Aqua, and Terra smiling together along with an excited message that they’re finally heading back to The Land of Departure.

A week and a half after that, he gets another message, that simply says that he’ll be visiting, and bringing some along with him.

Sora wishes he could feel something other than something akin to grief when he looks at it.

  -

  Life on Destiny Islands is slow, placid, nice (boring), after everything they’ve been through. Kairi goes back like she’s never been gone, and compared to him and Riku she really hasn’t. She’s stronger than all the boys in class now though, and part of lunch time is a line of people trying to beat her at arm wrestling (they never do). She’s having the time of her life and Sora always feels happier just watching her.

Riku is slower, hesitant, looks at everyone from their parents to their friends as if they’re too fragile to touch. As if Riku’s going to hurt them just by existing. And Sora thought they’d gotten past that, that Riku had learned to not be afraid of himself. And he has gotten better, Sora watches Riku stop flinching when Tidus throws an arm around his shoulder, sees him start sharing that smile that he and Kairi see so frequently more freely.

Beneath this sky they grew up under for so many years, around these people that are as close as family, Sora sees them both thrive and be happy.

And Sora, Sora’s fine.

(He doesn’t feel an itch beneath his skin waking up every day and going to school, coming home. He doesn’t jump at shadows, doesn’t have to restrain himself from going too hard against his classmates during gym.

He doesn’t dream of the wind in his hair as soars through space in his glider, doesn’t dream of the blood pumping in his veins as he fights through a hoard of heartless, nobodies, unversed.

Sora doesn’t do any of these things, because he’s completely okay and happy exactly where he is.)

Which is why beneath that lingering sense of foreboding, Sora absolutely does not feel the thrill of something coming, of something exciting.

Because this is the life he fought for, and it’s all he needs.

  -

  “I’m going to Play Island today,” He tells Riku and Kairi as they head home from school.

Kairi tilts her head forward leaning over to face him, “By yourself?” She asks, confused, and Sora laughs.

“Ven is coming to visit, I told him I’d meet him there.” He says, carefully not mentioning that he’s bringing someone along with him. Sora has a feeling he knows who it is, and he’d rather not admit to that just yet.

“Oh,” She replies, brightening at the mention of the other, “Really? Do you want us to go with you? I’d really love to get to know him more.”

Sora laughs, scratching his chin, “Maybe later, don’t wanna overwhelm him you know!” Kairi pouts at that but relents, leaning back so she’s facing forward once again, reaching out to grab his hand in the same movement.

There’s silence for a while longer, and then it is Riku who speaks, soft but firm. “If you ever want to talk, Sora, you know you can tell us right?”

Sora startles, confused, and Kairi’s hand grips him harder. “Riku? What are you talking about?” He questions, turning his head to look at him.

Riku shrugs, “I’m just making sure you know. Tell Ventus we say hi, okay?”

“Of course,” he agrees after a beat, feeling just slightly off kilter.

Riku smiles, soft and tender, and Sora blushes despite himself. “Alright.”

  -

  The sun is setting by the time Sora sees the distinctive light of something arriving in their world. He stares up at it, watching it twinkle and bounce before crashing into the beach around him. He stands from his spot by the shore, dusting the sand from his clothes as he walks over to meet them.

He sees them before they notice him, a split second before they notice him but even that feels just a touch too much. Vanitas’ hand wrapped around Ventus’ shoulder, presumably for balance as they rode in on his glider. He pulls apart quickly once they land, crossing his arms, but Sora notices that despite that he doesn’t pull away from the other’s space.

He grins, speeding up to meet up with them. “Hey! Over here!” He calls, laughing when Ventus jumps in the middle of putting away his armour and glider, and then harder when Vanitas turns a scowl on him.

“Sora!” Ventus exclaims as he notices him, rushing to meet him halfway, and from behind him he sees Vanitas sigh, following behind at a much more leisurely pace.

Ventus just about catapults himself at Sora and he willingly goes down, both of them tumbling down into the sand. Sora has missed him, more than words can really describe. Perhaps it is the consequence of sheltering Ventus in his heart for what was basically his whole life up to know, but Sora has missed him dearly since they separated. It wasn’t something he noticed when they were still traveling together after Sora gave him back his heart, but there is a part of him that calls to the other. It’s nice to see him again, like pieces of a puzzle slotting together.

(He wonders if this is even a small portion of how they felt. His heart twists at the thought.)

“Get up. Stop being mushy, you’re both horrible together.” Vanitas’ voice calls from above them and he watches Ventus’ face darken, lips thinning. Sora laughs harder at that, and the two of them sign in unison.

Ventus pushes himself off and gets about halfway before Vanitas reaches down and pulls them both up with a huff.

“Can we just get this over with,” Vanitas says, and it’s then that Sora notices he’s no longer wearing the black coat Sora had always seen him in. Instead wearing something that reminds Sora of the outfit he wore after his yearlong sleep, if not in different colours. He wonders where they got it from.

“Shush, it’s been awhile, give me a moment.” Ventus scowls, waving a hand at him.

“It’s been 3 weeks.” Vanitas replies, sounding near appalled.

Sora clears his throat, interrupting whatever silly argument they were about to descend into.

“So, are you going to tell me?”

“Oh,” Ventus says, perking up even as Vanitas stiffens, “of course!”

And so he does, recounting the events that occurred on that battlefield, and then everything that’s happened since.

  -

  “And that’s where we’re at. I’ve tried explaining it to Aqua and Terra but they won’t listen. I know what he did was wrong, and I know personally how cruel Vanitas can be but they don’t… he didn’t…” Ventus sighs looking away, and from beside him Vanitas face twists. “It doesn’t help that despite everything me and Vanitas are still learning to get along. He’s er,” he laughs awkwardly,” irritating, you know.”

“And the feelings mutual,” Vanitas scoffs.

“But also not!” Ventus replies.

“… Right.” Vanitas says after a moment, looking just a tad flustered, and Sora manages to not let a laugh out at the expression.

“But what do you want me to do about it?” He asks, tilting his head. They wouldn’t have come all the way here just to tell him this.

“Well… The Land of Departure is kind of big, or at least big enough that for a while we were able to hide Vanitas in the tower. But then Aqua found him, reacted predictably, and Vanitas didn’t even consider not fighting back.”

“She’s one of the only people to actually make it a challenge,” Vanitas interrupts, not sounding apologetic in the least.

“Time and place.” Ventus hisses before shaking his head, “Regardless. That obviously didn’t go over well, and ever since then Vanitas hasn’t needed to hide but…”

“His friends hate me and it’s making the place real downer to be in.” Vanitas cuts in when Ventus’ pause drags on too long.

“Yeah…” Ventus agrees hesitantly. “So I was hoping that maybe you could take him in for a bit? Riku and Kairi might be a bit more accepting of him, they don’t have the personal experience at least. Or at least, anywhere would be better than the tower where…”

“Your friends keep glaring at me and Aqua has threatened to kill me at least three times.” Vanitas finishes with a wicked grin as Ventus shudders.

“That. I’m also hoping that maybe without Vanitas there I can at least get them to consider it.” Ventus says, looking so lost and forlorn for just a moment.

“They’re right to be wary, you know.” Vanitas says casually, and it’s Ventus who scowls this time.

“You’re not all bad!” He says forcefully, not quite a shout, “Just like I’m not all good, we’re just people… we’re just human.”

Silence settles between them, and neither Vanitas nor Ventus will look at each other.

“No problem,” Sora replies as the silence stretches, “I don’t think my mom will mind, and you’re both always welcome here, my home is your home!”

Ventus reaches forward, grabbing him and pulling him into a hug once again, “Sora thank you so much.”  He says shakily, and Sora hopes he isn’t crying.

Ventus stays for a bit longer, but eventually has to bid them goodbye, he hadn’t actually told Aqua or Terra he was coming aside from leaving a note, so the two must be out of their mind with worry. He looks suitably terrified, a look that worsens when he notices both Sora and Vanitas are watching him with matching grins.

“Alright!” Sora says brightly as Ventus’ glider disappears into the stars above, “Let’s go home!”

Vanitas watches him for a moment, and then sighs, gesturing for him to lead the way.

Sora does, gladly.

  -

  His mother greets him with a smile, one that freezes for a moment when she sees Vanitas, before brightening up again.

“A friend,” She says calmly, already striding into the kitchen. Sora motions at Vanitas to close the door and then turns back to follow her.

“Yeah! He’s having some trouble over on his world, would it be alright if he stayed with us?”

She laughs, soft behind her palm, reaching up into the cupboards to grab some tea. “Your friends are always welcomed here, you know that. Stay as long as you like, ah, Sora you didn’t introduce him!”

“The names Vanitas,” He calls from the door, watching his mother warily as she puts water to boil.

His mother hums as she places cups around the table. “Oh that’s so long, can I call you Vani? It’s much cuter you know.”

Vanitas sputters at the statement, and his mother holds her placid smile for a few seconds before descending into laughter. Sora joins in and Vanitas looks between the two of them caught somewhere between annoyance and confusion.

“No need to fret Vanitas, I’m just kidding around.” His mother says as her laughter settles, turning back towards the cupboards to grab something, “Come, both of you, sit, we can have a small snack before bed.”

He shifts, scratching the back of his neck, “Oh mom that’s okay I’m sure Vanitas is tired.”

“Nonsense,” His mother says immediately, firmly, placing a tray of cookies on the table. “You promised you’d keep no more secrets, that you’d tell no more lies.”

“Yeah but –”

“And I think that involves telling me why you brought home a boy that looks just like my son, but darker.” She frowns. “Sadder.”

“Mom -”

“Tell me.” She says flatly, and the kettle whistles loudly into the silence that settles between them.

And so he does.

  -

  “I get it now.” Vanitas says as he throws open the door to Sora’s room, taking one look around before scowling and sitting crossed-legged on his bed.

“Get what?” He asks, moving over to his closet to get out the spare futon from his closet. They have a spare room, but it’s just full of random junk right now, he’ll have to clean it out soon.

Vanitas gestures vaguely at him, “I just get it. You’re mothers just like you.”

“Is that a bad thing?” He says cautiously.

“Too trusting, too kind, so willing to see the good in others.”

“That’s not a bad thing.” Sora says stubbornly. Sora’s no idiot, he knows some people can be beyond the point of redemption, Xehanort and Maleficent for example. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting to see the best in people, even after they’ve done wrong. Because everyone can have a good in them if they believe, if they look for it.

Vanitas speaks, Sora thinks, but it’s too quiet to hear.

“Did you say something?”

Vanitas stills, and then falls backwards onto Sora’s bed. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t bother me or you’ll regret it.”

  -

  He stays home from school the next day, and though his mother tuts she says nothing about his truancy. She helps him clean the guest room and they both say nothing of Vanitas watching them both silently from his place on the floor.

There’s a worried text from Ventus on his phone, asking if Vanitas settled in okay, if his mother was alright with everything, if he’d told Riku and Kairi yet. Sora answers each question patiently, and then tells Ventus to go talk to Aqua and Terra because Vanitas is perfectly safe here. His phone chimes immediately with a reply and Sora shakes his head, sending a disappointed face emoji at Ventus’ jumbled keysmash of a reply. While he’s at it, he texts Riku and Kairi to tell them to head to Play Island afterschool, and then drags Vanitas off.

There’s something he wants to do now that he has the time.

  -

  It had taken almost nothing to convince Vanitas to spar with him, which Sora appreciated.

“It won’t be spar.” Vanitas had said, already summoning his keyblade, “I won’t hold back so you better be prepared.”

He grinned, that was exactly what he had been hoping for, he thinks, as Vanitas sends another quick barrage of dark magic at him, followed by a swift hit from behind before Sora can even grasp his bearings.

He flips with the momentum, landing crouched on the beach but standing at least.

“Had enough?” Vanitas asks from where he had attacked him from, and even with the distance Sora can make out his smirk clear as day.

“Not even close,” Sora says with a grin and Vanitas eyes narrow, smirk sharpening.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Vanitas says as he warps out of view.

He shifts his grip on his keyblade, laughing despite himself.

Oh, it’s on.

  -

  (Sora won’t admit this (because it’s not true, he doesn’t, he doesn’t) but he hasn’t been able to settle right, not the way Riku and Kairi have. A part of him still yearns for something to fight, something to run after.

Sora’s been chasing something for so long that he doesn’t know what to do now that he can stay still.

Training isn’t enough, and neither is sparring. Kairi though strong and willing to fight doesn’t have the experience or stamina to keep going after awhile. Riku could but he always draws back after he decides is enough, isn’t willing to go far enough to scratch the itch of something Sora keeps looking for.

So sparring with Vanitas, who doesn’t so much as spar as much as fights. Like this is a real battle, like there’s actually something to lose.

Sora’s ashamed to say that he’s almost missed it, or felt something akin to that.)

  -

  “You’re just all kinds of fucked up aren’t you?” Vanitas says, both of them laying down in the sand panting after their fight. “Just like Ventus, just like me.”

Sora doesn’t reply, thinking instead that none of them really got out of this okay.

He sighs, closing his eyes and listening to the gentle crashing of the waves on the shore, and isn’t entirely sure when consciousness slips away as he falls asleep.

  -

  He awakes to yelling and he startles, jumping to attention immediately, keyblade summoned as he whirls around trying to spot the danger.

“What’s happening, is anyone hurt, I –”

“Sora!” Riku’s voice calls, cutting through his mini-tirade. He blinks, turning to see Riku standing a fair distance away his arm extended to block Kairi from approaching. He turns his head, seeing Vanitas seated crosslegged on the ground, chin in one hand. He shrugs when he sees Sora’s gaze on him, before rolling his eyes, and gesturing vaguely over at the two of them.

“Explanation time.” He says blithely, and Sora realises he has no idea what he’s supposed to say here? Did either of them ever even see him without the mask? Do they even recognise him?

“Sora what is he doing here?” Riku spits, enough venom in his voice to make it clear he knows exactly who’s sitting next to him. That answers that question.

“You know him?” Sora asks, idiotically, because for some reason that seems to be the most pressing concern to him.

Riku sighs, bringing one hand to his face, and Kairi pats his arm consolingly.

“Yes. We all saw his face during the battle, Ventus took off fighting before we could really process it but… you don’t forget that.” Riku replies, sounding just a bit pained at the end.

Kairi shifts turning to look at him, then Vanitas, and then back to him smiling cautiously. “Sora?”

He turns towards Vanitas, who raises an eyebrow, “Don’t look at me. This was that idiot Ventus’s idea, and you agreed.”

“It’s not what it looks like.” Sora says after a pause and both Riku and Kairi groan. “What!” He exclaims indignantly.

“It never is with you.” Riku says, somewhere between annoyed and fond.

Kairi laughs, “So tell us, we promise to listen!”

Vanitas mutters something under his breath, and Sora laughs hard enough that he reaches his arm out to hit him in the leg and Sora gasps, still snickering as he begins to explain.

  -

  It’s easier for them to understand, Sora thinks, because they don’t know Vanitas as personally as the Ventus, Aqua, and Terra do. Vanitas was just someone on the other side, someone else Xehanort took and twisted for his own needs. And just like the original members of the organization deserved a second chance, it’s easier for them to see that maybe Vanitas does to.

But they did not know him back then, neither did Sora, but he knows enough. Vanitas was cruel, uncaring, fought like he had nothing to lose uncaring of what happened as long as he came out on top, as long as someone other than him was hurting.

Vanitas was desperate, and like a cornered animal lashed out in anger and defiance.

Still, he doesn’t blame Aqua and Terra for their hesitance. Still, he hopes they eventually come around, for Ventus’ sake if nothing else.

[akingdomtheorist]

KH Catch-Up: BBS FM Aqua

AQUA STORY START

"Aqua is like a mom friend and Terra is like the cool uncle."

-sees Dodge and Dodge Roll Cartwheel- "Aqus is so cool."

"Is that an outfit or does Vanitas just have glowing red abs?"

"I just realized they're all wearing X's. Xehanort knows where they are at all times!"

"Oh don't make promises-don't-MMMM..."

CASTLE OF DREAMS

"Are we gonna turn into a mouse? I'm gonna be upset if we turn into a mouse again."

"These are some ominous camera angles."

"Aw we have to deal with the evil step-bitches now?"

He is in love with Barrier Surge.

-looks in the shop- "We don't have it (Cure) yet???"

"Oh we are a mouse- god dammit."

"So Aqua is 'we're late to the party' campaign."

"Take off your super anime shoes."

"Grenades?! When did she get grenades?!"

DWARF WOODLANDS

"I like how they assume the girls aren't here to steal their shit."

"I like how theres no context to this for us. Magic Mirror is just like 'Theres another anime kid in the castle, better take care of this one too.'"

"Yep he (Ven) had to go to that great Keyblade in the sky, thats why he left."

ENCHANTED DOMINION

"Excuse me? You're not allowed to do that, that's cheating!"

"Wait was this the room with the Rainbow Rocket bullshit?"

-during Spellweaver- "I sporkle."

"Run run run run run."

"Ah, this is where we get dragon'd."

"Kay Phillip I kinda need you to do your shield thing."

"In reality throwing your sword is entirely impractical. This is why you should keep a bow on you."

RADIANT GARDEN

"I like how Radiant Garden's tower is entirely nonsensical even before Xehanort took over."

"KAIRI! THAT'S BABY KAIRI!"

"Hi Mickey, what's up?"

"I am SO POWERFUL. I AM SO POWERFUL but also squishy."

"We're not grown ups!"

"We aren't even spying on him!"

"SHE DID NOTHING WRONG! NOTHING! SHE'S BEEN CLEANING UP TERRA'S MESS THIS WHOLE DAMN TIME! SHE JUST WANTS YOU ALL TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN! I'm upset. I'm mad."

Then the grinding that was spent resulted in 32 Blizzard drops and the most op Command Deck he's ever made.

"Oh hi Vanitas. Oh we're going to destroy you."

"Oh hun I have grinded for six hours-you know let's see what Mega Flare does."

Mega Flare did nothing.

"I hate this."

"Alright, Haley Joel Osment Joker laughing was not what I expected."

OLYMPUS COLISEUM

"Can you please hold, I'm preparing your destruction."

"Is Phil hitting on me?"

"You don't want-you don't want me to do that (my best) Zack."

"I'm sorry to crush your dreams kid. I'm sorry to crush them in a giant nuclear explosion."

"OH MY GOD THIS FREEZES HIM!?"

"Look, kid you're- no you're just fighting an archmage."

-sees Hades- "Same haiiiiir."

"What rules? The rules you just made up? Well I mean you're Hades so yes the rules you just made up."

"I remember how to do this, I don't need Curaga."

"Aqua just be like 'I appreciate your enthusiasm'."

DISNEY TOWN

"-sigh- I'll go nuke 'em for ya."

"Are we playing tennis? Is this Kingdom Hearts Tennis?"

"I am not good at this mini game."

"Awww... to be fair, we all got one vote, out of three."

"Did you forget she was a princess, Pete? Did you forget she had guards?"

"Awww..."

"She dumped him in the fucking Shadow Realm!"

"Is that Malefi- of course that's Maleficent."

"I didn't realize Disney had a Shadow Realm."

DEEP SPACE

"This might be the only one Gantu gets along with. Oh wait, never mind, he had to go and ruin it."

"Alright lets go leave all these monsters so we can tell her we killed all the monsters."

"Am I high enough high jump to do this? Nope. -shuts off gravity-."

NEVERLAND

"I feel like Aqua's campaign can be summed up as "Sigh... boys."."

"I sproing."

"Man these worlds are short when you don't have to fight anything."

If you ask my opinion. "I DIDN'T."

"This is the battle of the fuckin' I-Frames here."

DESTINY ISLANDS

"Riku must just be like 'man, three weird people today'."

He's a spitting image of Ven. "AHEM. HMM."

"They still get Keyblades anyway."

KEYBLADE GRAVEYARD

"Yeah Kingdom Hearts blahdiblah things I don't understand."

"Hey Braig."

"Nope. This is gonna be the final boss isn't it."

"Now when you have I-Frames, that's cheating."

"I don't believe this is real. Okay maybe it's real."

THE SECRET MOVIE WE WATCHED OFF YOUTUBE

"Terra's SASSY."

"Oh this is where he meets Ansem."

"This is after KH2 isn't it?"

"Yeah you were kind of a dick."

"I'm so sad Aqua's gonna get Norted."

"Every time I see these three (Sea Salt Trio) I'm SAD."

"Crackpot Theory: Sora restores everybody in 3 and that's what that scene is."

"Puberty hit these kids like a truck, they went from looking twelve to seventeen like overnight."

THAT'S THE END OF BBS

[mimiplaysgames]

Strength to Protect the Things That Matter (Ch. 20)

Pairing: Terra/Aqua (eventually) Rating: T Other characters: Riku Word Count: 3,361

AO3         FF.net

A/N: Here’s the promised ending of the previous chapter (and also the shortest I’ve released in a long time)! I rushed to push this out, and I released it early enough that I hope I will be able to get to the next chapter within this week, since that is it’s scheduled spot. There are now eight chapters left in this fic. I have decided to end this at the halfway point, and the rest will be released in a sequel that will be titled A Powerful Enough Dream. But out of these last eight chapters are three that I’m hell excited for, and the next one, “Clowning,” is one of them! Also, LOL over the Resident Evil inspiration I drew for this.

Hope, pt. 2

Getting to the clock tower isn’t exactly an easy task, being that there aren’t any stairs for them to take. The process is a trip through backyard alleyways, and climbing the fire escapes of neighboring buildings that are hidden from the main streets, away from the sights of anyone. Artificial light gives new life into the streets below while the stars slowly come out. Riku mumbles about how he doesn’t want to deal with any of Noctis’ confrontations, and they dart across roofs to finally reach the back end of the clock tower. 

All that’s left to do now is to climb up. They give each other boosts to reach ledges that are too high, getting lost in conversations about owning a Keyblade and what it in meant in the Age of Fairytales. If it’s a curse to have too many Keyblade wielders, and it’s a curse to have too few, then Terra wonders if it’s just better altogether to destroy them completely in order to keep everyone safe and happy.

But it’s when Riku mentions that the clock tower will be good training ground for Terra to practice controlling darkness that stops him in his tracks.

“Excuse me?” Terra holds the rung of a ladder that leads to the very top, staring at Riku.

“You don’t think that’s something you should practice?” Riku stands there, his arms limp to his side and his head cocked. 

“No, I mean- What if something happens?” He can talk about the headaches. He can talk about the anger. But it’s been such a relatively spectacular day, there’s no need to ruin it.

Riku shrugs. “What do you think I’m here for?”

“You’re here to help me find Aqua. Not fight Xehanort.”

“I’ve fought him before. He’s a little annoying, but nothing I can’t handle.” Riku waves his hand once and only once. “Besides, your armor sure had a power kick you can benefit from. It’s high time you get it together.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Darkness isn’t that much different than light. It just feeds on other emotions. Some more useful than others. Your job is to wield it like you would light. Consume it instead of letting it consume you.”

They stare at each other for a bit, and it’s like two people speaking a different language. “I just don’t understand what you mean,” Terra says, defeated.

“Think about any negative emotion. Anger is more accessible to utilize as a weapon because it’s an easier way to cope with injustice than sulking in sadness. But if you get too angry, then it dictates your behavior.” Riku brings a hand to his chin. “This is where I think Xehanort has a handle on controlling you. You need to take that control back.”

Terra leans toward the ladder as if to climb it then leans back. “What about using powers of nothingness?”

Riku’s eyes go just a bit wide. “You mean tap into Xemnas’ powers? Do you even remember what it was like to be him?”

“No.” It comes out like a scoff.

“Well, you’re human, and you can’t help but feel emotions. Getting into the mental state to create nothingness is a long shot.” Riku pauses for a moment. “It will be hard, and you’ve been through a lot.” He sighs. “But if it helps you remember, Xemnas was telekinetic. He also created explosions and unique barriers out of thin air. You’re going to have to learn how he did it... but don’t rely on those powers.”

Terra briefly looks for any way to plead a little more, but instead starts up the ladder. There’s just no time to argue.

At the top is a door bolted by several chains. But what catches his attention the most is a tower west of town, decorated with strings of light that stretch out from the buildings around it. The town for the most part is a sea of warm-colored sparkles. They outshine the stars, and they demand appreciation for their power.

To the east, however, is just a sea of shadows, a mass of abandoned buildings that go out into the horizon, not a single shred of evidence that anyone is home. 

“None of that is habitable,” he hears Riku say behind him. “It’s all crawling with Heartless. Noctis and the rest put up barriers to keep a border. But Kefka keeps pushing that border closer and closer.”

Terra crosses his arms and suddenly considers two children playing together in an alleyway far below him more interesting. It’s a nicer sight, anyway.

“I guess it’s not a wonder that this world is going to fall,” Riku continues. “Nothing good has happened here in a long time.”

Riku leaves Terra’s side and takes the bolt cutter out of his back pocket. He says that the mage who was responsible for sealing the clock tower was attacked here and couldn’t finish the job. He cuts the chain into several parts until the door is bare. It’s locked, but he kicks it open.

The inside of the clock tower looks just as much as the rest of the second district, with parts that look renovated to include brightly colored tiles, and updated machinery. Just another blend of the old and the new.

Where they stand are gears and other moving parts that keep the time. In front of them is a wooden staircase, and Riku goes ahead to start walking down, darting his eyes in every direction, probably for a sign of a Heartless.

“What exactly did your dream show you?” he asks as he continues down.

“Nothing much. Just the sound of the bells,” Terra says, also looking around. Hopefully for a fake door. Hopefully for some mass of darkness. “There was a lot of water and it was dark. I was with a girl named Naminé.”

“Naminé?” Riku stops and abruptly turns to face up at him. His face is in utter shock. “So she exists in dreams.”

“Who was she?”

Riku smirks. “She was Kairi’s Nobody.”

Terra almost loses his voice. For as much as he hates the idea of Xemnas and his existence, it’s not something he can apply to her. “Is it normal for Nobodies and humans to be so different?”

“So she got you thinking she’s her own person, too, huh?” Riku says with a laugh. “It seems that way. Although Lea swears he was the same.”

“Of course she’s her own person.” Terra swallows bile. “I mean, she always said that she was a figment of my memory. That I built her up. You could say that she probably was, since she knew things my heart already knew, even if my mind wasn’t ready to face it yet.” Terra shakes his head and draws a sharp inhale. “But she was too sentient to be just that.”

Riku wears a gentle smile. “So she’s still doing what she does best - looking out for others.” He looks ahead of him. Not at Terra, but just into the empty air. “I’ve actually spent quite a lot time with her when she was around.” His voice trails off. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Definitely.”

“The next time you see her,” Riku says slowly, “can you tell her that I’m sorry? That I’m sorry for everything I’ve done? And that it had to end that way?”

It probably has something to do with the fact that Naminé was a Nobody, but Terra doesn’t ask for more details. He hasn’t dreamt of her since that nap when he swallowed too much of the potion, and he isn’t exactly sure if he will ever see her again after such a violent vision. “I will.”

Terra steps down and passes by the boy, holding his shoulder in comfort. “I honestly should have pulverized him when I had the first chance to.” The thought of it is enough to start a headache.

Riku stops himself from snorting. “Are you talking about Xehanort?”

“Yeah. I often wish that I wrung my hands around his neck instead of listening to him. It would have avoided...” Everything? The pain caused to thousands of people, yes. But would that include preventing Naminé’s existence?

“Nah,” Riku says. “You’re talking about beating up an old man before knowing anything about him. That’s not your style.”

Terra scoffs. “It’s exactly my style that got me into this mess.”

A pregnant pause. “I think Aqua would want you to stay the same.” Riku says this with a seriousness that it’s hard to tell if he’s teasing.

It’s certainly a concept. Aqua will need a sense of home when she gets out. A semblance of normalcy. It’s hard to believe if his face is the one she wants to see, though. Terra moves the thought out of his mind, not realizing he hasn’t replied to Riku at all. He simply continues down the staircase, but when he gets far enough ahead, the silver-haired boy calls out, “I need to ask you something, Terra.”

Now he’s the one facing up at the other. “Shoot.”

Riku’s expression changes to resemble authority. “I need to know what to expect from you with this mission.”

It’s the tone and the fact that he still doesn’t know Riku quite well enough that bothers him. It’s almost talking to Eraqus when being questioned. Or when confronted by Aqua that day in Radiant Garden. “Excuse me?”

“I need to know what you want to do.” Riku maintains his tone. “I know you want to find Aqua. Quite desperately, I might add. Not to mention the very possibility that this world won’t be standing for much longer...”

Terra grips the wooden rail of the stairway enough to hurt his palm. “I don’t like what you’re implying.”

“I’m not here to judge you, Terra.” Riku makes sure to look Terra straight into the eyes when he says this. “But some honesty would be appreciated.”

It’s now Terra’s turn to look into empty space as he slowly forms his words. “You need to know that I don’t intend to use Noctis or the others as payment for saving her. I’ve always wanted to be a Keyblade Master. I know it’s my job to save them.” He takes a pause that is a second too long and uncomfortable. His voice lowers into an almost-whisper, waiting for the retaliation. “But... I can’t pass an opportunity to free her.”

When retaliation doesn’t come, Terra continues. “I want to think the way Sora does. I want to see if there is some portal, or some thing in this place that can be a better answer than just letting everyone else perish.”

“I agree with Sora’s approach, if such a thing is possible.” Riku nods slowly. “But I need a back-up plan.” He crosses his arms for a while, and then his eyes light up with determination. “You know what? I’ll just call it. I’ll rely on you to help me save the others. I need you to be with me on this. But if it gets to the point where it’s too late and we both drown, then we’ll go find her together.”

Riku walks past Terra, clearly not noticing how pale the older Keyblade wielder’s face is. It’s one thing to be reckless with himself, and throwing his own body away to the Realm of Darkness. It’s another to drag someone else, especially the sole person responsible for his giving him back his existence, into such risky territory. Especially since it’s my fault she’s there anyway.

But he doesn’t have the time to object. Riku steps right out of the staircase and onto the tile floor, attracting a swarm of Heartless that surround him. However, it’s not a problem to squash them all without so much of a sweat. Terra doesn’t need the power of darkness to do this, and doesn’t try to summon it. A moment of silence, and Riku looks over to Terra, almost as if he is searching for something. Another swarm appear from thin air to replace the earlier one. They fight this group off just as easily, and Terra still refuses to call on darkness. Again, Riku eyes him warily, and Terra wonders if he’s being a disappointment because he isn’t practicing like he is expected to.

This moment of peace lasts longer than the previous one, giving the two of them incentive to search the tower. Around all of the ledges and in every room, but there is nothing to find. Another swarm appears, another missed opportunity to practice at controlling darkness.

“Let’s check the basement,” Riku says, bringing out two flashlights from the storage room. It’s difficult to determine whether he’s let down by Terra’s performance.

They go down a long staircase until they reach the bottom. The basement is huge and incredibly dark, and it’s like descending into nothingness. Their flashlights expose some piping and a boiler, which is humming. Before they can find some switches to turn the lights on, the familiar bubbling sound of Heartless approaching echo through the entire room.

“They’re like gnats.” Terra summons Ends of the Earth and begins hacking away. It’s difficult to see in the dark, but the creatures’ bright yellow eyes dancing in the shadows give them away.

And they all seem to multiply. When he sees one pair, three others join it. And three more for each one he destroys until he is surrounded by them. He pauses for a moment, listening to Riku fight his own targets. It sounds as if the basement has a high ceiling, giving too much room for Heartless to pile over one another. Without enough movement to get rid of them, they are going to continue to be attracted to this room.

And it’s going to be nine o’clock soon.

This is taking too long.

It’s like slipping into a set of old, comfortable clothes. It’s powerful, and with it he can do anything. He swings his Keyblade in the dark, emanating shock waves. He strikes the floor, and it crumbles outward, carrying electricity that illuminate the Heartless as it strikes in dark purple. Some of his attacks are doused in black fog, dimming the weak light of his flashlight, which is thrown somewhere onto the floor. And he is so quick about these attacks and he is just hammering at these stupid monsters and he is trying to do this as fast as he can so he can get to more important matters that when all is said and done - he collapses on his knees with an ear-splitting headache.

“Are you okay?” Riku scurries over with his flashlight in hand, and the glare hurts to look into.

Terra breathes, drinking a gulp of Tifa’s potion with a shaky hand. “I’ll be fine.” It sounds completely unconvincing, but he has to try. Maybe I got carried away. Darkness hurts.

Riku finds the other flashlight, not giving any critique to Terra’s performance, and together they try looking for light switches - although Terra has to will himself not to limp. When they do, the basement is finally illuminated by fluorescence. All of the piping is color-coordinated, as if for the sake of organization. The walls are painted an off-white. It’s much more modern than the rest of the clock tower, so it must be a newer addition. They search the walls, behind nooks and crannies, in between pipes, behind the boiler. Nothing.

Terra is standing straighter now, the headache still pounding but manageable. He curses to himself. All he wants is a clue to anything. Or has he interpreted his dream incorrectly? He drags his eyes all over the room, on the off chance that maybe there is something he is missing. Riku comes to his side and breathes a sigh of defeat.

There, on the floor, is a manhole. They give each other excited glances, and rush to pry it open. Surprisingly heavy and thick, they peer into the depths of the hole below them, the hot smell of sewage rising up.

Riku then turns his attention to Terra, and with a presentable wave of his hand, says, “After you.”

The sewers are just as modern as the basement. Everything is built in crisp, straightened cement. They land on a walkway, and the water directly in front of them gushes, dark and discolored. There are electric lights that illuminate the immediate area, but just barely. He can’t see too far down the large, curved halls.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to keep this sandwich in,” Riku says behind him.

“Yeah, it stinks.”

“Ugh, at least we don’t have to be here long tonight. We should split up, but we need to be back by nine.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Terra prays that Riku will not find anything. It’s enough having just one person trapped in the Realm of Darkness.

“And next time, we’ll bring gas masks or something.” He nearly vomits.

Riku’s voice trails off as he walks away, and Terra goes his own direction. He holds his flashlight in his left hand, in case he needs to summon his Keyblade. The farther he traverses from the ladder that leads back into the basement, the darker it becomes. The walkway is covered in dirt and dust, and it curves sharply to the left, where there are no electric lights illuminating the way forward. The flashlight isn’t powerful either. By the looks of it, it is damp and disorienting. Just a long, dirty hallway of doors.

He approaches the closest door, and beyond it is another long hallway of what he guesses are more doors, since his flashlight can’t allow him to see that far. But what he does see in the shadows are two pairs of bright yellow eyes. Or perhaps three.

He chuckles to himself for a bit. If things were normal, if Eraqus was still alive and his home still existed, if he was younger and more naive, he would be a little nervous.

“I don’t think there is anything worse than the abyss,” he says out loud. To no one in particular, but he doesn’t need anyone there.

Summoning his Keyblade, he wipes the hallway clean of those three wandering Heartless. Then he stands, trying to get an idea of how long this particular hallway is. But the flashlight shows him nothing. I wonder just how many of these doors will open to more hallways.

Deciding to walk back the way he came, he passes by a door labeled Control Room. Inside, there are a few desks huddled together in the middle of the room. There are large computer monitors on the wall opposite the door, but they do not turn on. There are lockers with uniforms and other personal objects that belonged to whoever worked here last.

He searches the desk, which are mostly filled with reports. They all stop at the same date - perhaps the date when Noctis decided to seal the clock tower.

There is a map. Hovering the flashlight above it, he tries to get a sense of where he is. He hears the bubbling of Heartless materializing in the room, and he grunts loudly before doing his duty and getting rid of them.

“I’m trying to read,” he says to the now empty room. He waits a moment to see if there is a response, and when there isn’t, he yells good riddance before he puts his attention back to where it belongs.

There is no way to determine where he is on the map since he has no reference point. It seems that this is a map of the sewers that are part of the second district. Which is fine - he shouldn’t stray too far from the clock tower, anyway. Doors are marked as well. Although there are faint lines on the map that twist outside of the sewers, and it’s impossible to tell what that’s supposed to mean.

The clock strikes nine.

He slams his free palm against the table.

Staring blankly at the table only makes it feel like time is frozen, but it will continue ticking anyway. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, praying that Riku will come back empty-handed, and promising that he will be back later that night.

Tumblr readers! I’m celebrating having 100 followers! Thank you so much for reading my work and supporting me along the way. I am taking different writing requests, and you can find guidelines for that here. And yes, I’m taking anonymous requests as well. :)

[nadziejastar]

KH3 Plot Holes and Analyzing the Weapon Names of Organization XIII (Part 1)

After beating KH3, I was immensely disappointed. All I could think of was how poor the story was, how many plot holes there were, how many questions I had that should have been answered, how unsatisfying so many character arcs felt, and how little closure we got on so many topics Nomura previously promised answers to. Almost all the issues that felt unsatisfying or poorly explained are now being tied to the next game, when by all rights they should have been resolved in this one. And most of these subplots are now being tied to Union X, when they had no foreshadowing that they involved that game’s lore or original characters ever before.

One of the main topics I felt NO closure on was Ansem’s six apprentices, as well as Lea and Isa’s connection to them. We know Nomura originally intended 0.2 A Fragmentary Passage to be a full-volume game, and that it would have made the characters “more complicated”. Given the scenes chosen in Blank Points, it seems we would have learned much more about the apprentices and their fall to darkness. Here are the things Nomura said in interviews that indicate how much more we were supposed to learn about the original Organization XIII:

What sort of people were Organization members 3-8 as humans?

We know now that they had ordinary lives in Radiant Garden. In BbS we’ve seen one part of Xigbar’s past, as well as members 3-8. 3-6 were apprentices under Ansem the Wise and did things like act as guardsmen, but Axel and Saïx were just young boys who were friends.

What happened to Ansem the Wise?

He is left wandering in the Realm of Darkness. Ansem the Wise, who had been banished to the Realm of Nothingness by his six apprentices, in KHII, wanted to release the Kingdom Hearts made from people’s hearts that the Nobodies of his apprentices had made. The machine that he used for that ended up exploding, taking him with it. It looked as though he died, but we know from the secret event in BbS that he was sent into the Realm of Darkness. Ansem tried to encode the heart’s form into data with his machine, but it didn’t go as planned and the machine went berserk. Ansem the Wise was thrust into the Realm of Darkness, forgetting all of his memories except those concerning Sora.

Did Apprentice Xehanort really lose his memories? Master Xehanort commandeered Terra’s body, and became Ansem the Wise’s apprentice. According to Secret Ansem Report 1 From KHII, the young man asked to become a test subject for Ansem’s research so he could get his memories back. After that they began the study of darkness, but did he really lose his memories? And are those memories Terra’s or Master Xehanort’s?

Why is Xemnas searching for The Chamber of Waking?

To find Ventus. The Chamber of Waking is the room where Aqua leaves Ventus sleeping in Last Episode, and is a part of Castle Oblivion. As you can see from Xemnas calling Aqua’s armor his “friend”, it seems Xemnas has Terra’s memories and he is searching for Ventus, making the other Organization members look for the Chamber of Waking. The only one who can solve the mysteries of Castle Oblivion is Aqua, though, so the Organization was never able to find it.

What are the details of Ansem’s apprentices fall into darkness? Most of what had happened with Ansem’s apprentices before their fall into darkness is unknown, aside from what was touched upon in Secret Ansem Reports. And the mystery of “the plan that was decided on after Axel and Saix entered the Organization” that was talked about in the Secret Reports in Days still remains. According to Nomura there is still much about the Organization’s humans that has yet to be said.

Where is Master Xehanort’s keyblade? As was stated in Secret Ansem Report 13 in KHII, while studying darkness the young Xehanort opened the door to the heart of Radiant Garden. This would have been possible if he had a keyblade, but according to the Ansem Reports 4-8 in KH, he did not yet know about the keyblade at the time. In Last Episode Master Xehanort used his keyblade up until going to the world of darkness, but what happened to it after that...? 

Roxas, the "Sora + Ventus" Nobody, was able to use a Keyblade. In contrast Xemnas, the "Terra + Master Xehanort" Nobody, wasn't able to use a Keyblade. Why is this?

I'd rather that point remain a mystery. It's possible that he intentionally wasn't using one.

The King seems to come in contact with Kairi, the heroine from Kingdom Hearts I.

Because the story takes place before Kingdom Hearts I, the part about Kairi couldn’t be ignored. However, the cause for her going to Destiny Island and her detailed history are not revealed. It draws on the mysterious special existence.

Why did Kairi end up with Sora and Riku?

It has to do with Aqua’s “magic”. Nine years before KH, Kairi was thrust into the outside world, and found herself on Sora and Riku’s world. Ansem Seeker of Darkness thought that she had been able to search for a keyblade wielder, but what actually saved her was the magic spell Aqua had put on her.

Lea and Isa also lived in Radiant Garden apart from the Organization members up to No.6.

That’s right, however they are merely residents at this time. They’re just innocent Frisbee playing boys.

Where did the Organization’s coat and mark come from?

Xemnas remembering his human years. One year after BbS, Xehanort as well as five other apprentices toss aside their hearts. Then the Nobody Xemnas was born, and the Organization which he creates takes a lot of things from his memories as a human. But as Xemnas had two people who he was, Terra and Master Xehanort, he takes from both of their memories.

In KH BbS, Master Xehanort's goal behind opening Kingdom Hearts was to "create a new world." But in this game, he says it is to "reset the world." Why the difference? What was revealed in this game was another piece of the truth: his goal was "this world is no longer any good, and we have to recreate it from scratch."

We are interested in why Xehanort would come to such a conclusion. At first, I did want to use a next game to dig down into how Xehanort went from that simple boy playing the chess-like game to an admirer of the darkness. But, if I do that, then the Dark Seeker Chronicle wouldn't have ended with KH3 after all (laughs.) Some ideas had solidified to a degree, but it's shelved for now.

The Dark Seeker arc has concluded, but since when have you been thinking about the conclusion?

The Dark Seeker arc has been a concept ever since KH2. In those days, I just kind of threw together and decided an outline. I was often told by the manga artist that they felt "the characters come alive however they want", and some parts did change from their original conceptualization, but in the grand scheme of things not much changed.

Emphasis mine on the mention of things changing from their original conceptualization. There are many details I suspect were changed, while keeping the overall grand scheme the same. I believe there was supposed to be way more backstory to the Organization than what we actually got. So I decided to look for possible clues in the story. 358/2 Days revolves around Organization XIII and I noticed that the names of their weapons are very unique and interesting. They may very well shed light on what the members’ backstories could have been.

In Days, the weapons are sorted into specific Gear types. The are three types that are the most interesting and most defining for the character. The first is Pandora Gear, “a formidable weapon with exceptional capabilities.” For Organization members, this Gear grants them two of their most powerful weapons; the color scheme is the same for all of the Organization's weapons provided by the Pandora's Gear, consisting of black, gold, and blue or red. 

The second is Zero Gear, “a powerful weapon that draws forth its wielder's true worth.” The Zero Gear is emblazoned with the Nobody insignia, signifying that for the Organization members, as well as others who wear the Black Coat, this gear produces that character's signature weapon. 

And finally, perhaps the MOST interesting is Mystery Gear “a weapon that draws forth its wielder's personality.” When equipped, it transforms the user's weapon into one that "draws forth its wielder's true personality.” Were these weapons a hint at the mysteries of Organization XIII’s true personalities? I will analyze all of Organization XIII’s weapons, but not necessarily in order.

No. IX -  Demyx (Melodious Nocturne)

Prefers to kick back with his sitar, and leave the dirty work to the water under his command.

Not all the Organization members have weapon names that are super interesting, possibly indicating a fleshed out backstory was not thought of for all of them during the creation of 358/2 Days.

Most of Demyx’s Sitars are named after musical or rock and roll terms. Basic Model, Tune-Up, Quartet, Overture, Old Hand, Da Capo, Power Chord, Fermata, Interlude, Serenade, Songbird, Rise to Fame, Rock Star, Eight-Finger, Concerto, Harmonics, Million Bucks, Fortissimo, Up to Eleven, Arpeggio, and Prince of Awesome (joke weapon). The joke weapon is a tennis racket and its name is a reference to the "Prince" brand of rackets, which have the general shape of Demyx's sitar. It may also refer to the anime and manga series, The Prince of Tennis.

Demyx’s Pandora Gear is Sanctuary, a reference to the English version of Utada Hikaru’s opening song. His Zero Gear is Arpeggio; musically, an arpeggio is the playing of notes from a single chord in rapid succession. Dance water, dance! His Mystery Gear is After School, a broom. It is probably a reference to after-school clean-up of a classroom, which is common in Japanese schools. For some, this assignment may have been given as punishment for getting caught sleeping in class. Because it brings out Demyx's true personality, it may be a reference to his tendency to "sweep things under the rug" or evidence that he was a rather ordinary person compared to the rest of the Organization.

No. XII - Larxene  (The Savage Nymph)

Wields sharp knives and a sharper tongue. Her lightning strikes as quick as her temper.

All of Larxene’s knives have French names relating to storms and heavenly bodies. Her weapon names translate to Sharp Edge, Thunderstorm, Whirlwind, Tempest, Carmine, Meteor, Star, Irregular, Dissonance, Eruption, Setting Sun, Indigo, Wave, Flood, Squall, Typhoon, Eradicate, Southern Cross, Luminous, Moonlight, and Damselfly (joke weapon).

Some of her weapon names seem like a reference to Final Fantasy games. Squall, Lightning, Typhoon (summon) and Luminous (the engine). Other than that, they seem to describe a stormy femme fatale personality. The Tempest is a play that was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600s. When the play begins, Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, and his teenage daughter, Miranda, live on a remote island where they have been stranded for the past twelve years. Unbeknownst to them, the storm is the work of Prospero, who aims to shipwreck them on his island. It is a tale of magic, deception, revenge, and marriage. The main political theme of the play is gaining power and control over others. A reference to her role in Castle Oblivion? 

Her Pandora Gear is Vol de Nuit or Night Flight in English. Vol de Nuit is the name of a book from the French author Antoine de Saint Exupéry, in which a pilot is trapped in a storm. A major theme of the novel is whether doing what is necessary to meet a long-term goal is more important than an individual's life. Her Zero Gear is Lightning. Her Mystery Gear is Light Bulb. The light bulb is the symbol of invention, intelligence, and a great idea. Perhaps Larxene was a lot more complex and intelligent than we have gotten a chance to see.

No. XI - Marluxia (Graceful Assassin)

In the arc of his scythe, flowers grow and all else perishes. His pretty face hides ugly motives.

All of Marluxia’s weapons are named after flowers along with a typically negative adjective. The only exception is the Stirring Ladle, one of his joke weapons. His weapons allude to some tragic backstory, as well as his inner resolve.

The rest of his weapons are Fickle Erica, Jilted Anemone, Proud Amaryllis, Mad Safflower, Poor Melissa, Tragic Allium, Mournful Cineraria, Pseudo Silene, Faithless Digitalis, Grim Muscari, Docile Vallota, Quiet Belladonna, Parting Ipheion, Lofty Gerbera, Gallant Achillea, Noble Peony, Fearsome Anise, Vindictive Thistle, Fair Helianthus, and Solemn Magnolia. 

His Pandora Gear is Hallowed Lotus.The lotus flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions, as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. His Zero Gear is Graceful Dahlia. The dahlia is known to represent one who stands strong in his/her sacred values. His Mystery Gear is Dainty Bellflowers or Dainty Liliies-of-the Valley in Japanese. Bellflowers symbolize unwavering love. The Lily of the valley means "return to happiness" and most often symbolizes chastity, purity, happiness, luck and humility. It does apparently indicate that Marluxia was not conceived as an evil character, even as early as 358/2 Days’ writing.

No. X - Luxord (Gambler of Fate)

Life, to him, is just a game to be won...and he has all the time in the world to do it.

Nearly all of Luxord’s weapons are named after tarot cards, with the exception of his joke weapon. His joke weapon is Finest Fantasy 13, which takes the appearance of many compact discs; an obvious reference to how the PS1 Final Fantasy games came on multiple discs. 

The rest of his cards are named after the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The Fool, The Magician, The Star, The Moon, Justice, The Hierophant, The World, Temperance, The High Priestess, The Tower, The Hanged Man, Death, The Hermit, Strength, The Lovers, The Chariot, The Sun, The Devil, The Empress, and The Emperor.

His Zero Gear is Fair Game, his main weapon from Kingdom Hearts II and not related to the Tarot. His Mystery Gear is High Roller’s Secret. Instead of being related to the Tarot, its name and design is drawn from the superstition that four-leaf clovers are blessed with good luck. His Pandora’s Gear is The Joker. The Joker is often compared to The Fool in the Tarot deck. They share many similarities both in appearance and play function. 

Nomura said that the “Wild Card” that Luxord gave Sora while he was fading away will come into play later and that perhaps it holds the key to Sora's revival. The Fool Arcana is often also called the Wild Card in Tarot decks. The Fool represents new beginnings, having faith in the future, being inexperienced, not knowing what to expect, having beginner's luck, improvisation and believing in the universe.

Luxord wrote a report in 358/2 Days indicating he admires children for some reason:

“I find myself envying the children. Perhaps some fundamental difference exists between those who become Nobodies as adults and otherwise. The longer you have lived, the more you are positioned to lose with such a gamble. But a child can look forward, unafraid even in the face of immeasurable odds. I doubt they even see life as a gamble the way we do.”