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katkeyboardmastah · 1 year

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The Young Xehanort inconsistencies

Originally posted: September 3rd 2022.

I want to slowly migrate some of my Kingdom Hearts lore musings instead of just sharing links:

Speaking of links, the original Google doc version of this post can be read HERE.

First up! The YMX doc that I had made after playing through the remainder of Dark Road's story.

Disclaimer: I will only reference material such as in-game cutscenes, interviews and Ultimanias, so other supplementary pieces such as the novels and the like will not be considered. Everything written here is my own personal interpretation. Interview translations were done by KHInsider.

Putting everything else under the cut cuz boy this is gonna be a long one-

First of all, let us review the updated timeline provided by KHDR itself:

----------------------------------------------------

So, Kingdom Hearts Dark Road did not shed light on a couple of things, Xehanort’s eyes becoming golden being just one example. While I cannot say anything concrete about the hows and whys behind the fact that his eye colour changes at some point in time, I CAN, however, make an educated guess as to why the time-travelling Young Xehanort seems to flip flop between gold and silver eyes.

(Xehanort throughout time: 9 years ago, KHDR’s story, 7 years later and 54 years later)

Xehanort’s eyes are naturally silver throughout his youth. Chronologically, the first instance we see him with golden eyes, if we rule out time-travel, is when he is already in his late years, as an old man, 54 years AFTER KHDR. The latest point in time shown to us before that era is when Xehanort leaves Scala Ad Caelum, 7 years AFTER KHDR’s main story. Meaning, the point in which Xehanort’s eyes change colour can be ANYWHERE between age 22/23 and 69/70, assuming the Xehanort in the main campaign is 15/16 years old (if we take Nomura’s statement from TGS 2018, that old man Xehanort is around 80 into account).

Here’s the big kicker though: What about the time-travelling Young Xehanort? In both KHDDD and KHIII his eyes are gold. But then you might say: Well, maybe he was pulled from that blank period of time you just mentioned, his early 20s onwards? The problem with that is the fact that the encounter between Xehanort and the Master of Masters takes place only ONE YEAR after the main events of KHDR. Additionally, in the second part of that very same encounter Xehanort implies that he has already time-travelled at least once:

The MoM: Sounds like you already know where you’re headed. YX: It’s funny. Somehow, I can sense where I’m supposed to go, and what I’m supposed to do. Yes, even this coat, there’s something familiar about it, as if I’m meant to wear this.

This corresponds with what he told Sora in KHDDD:

Since in both KHIIIRM’s and KHDR’s version of the scene his eyes are silver, this means that upon time-travelling they become gold but upon returning they go back to silver. My answer for this ‘switch’ can only be the following:

YX: I will return to my time, and grow into the man who becomes all these others. While I know this future now that I have lived it, returning to my own time will erase the memories and experiences I have gained here. Still my appointed path is now etched in my heart, which will first lead me to seek the outside world. (will return to this part later in the post)

The old man Xehanort gave Young Xehanort a piece of his heart.

Which sounds kinda ridiculous (even for KH standards), but I can prove that might be the case. Let’s remember who makes up KHIII’s true Organization XIII:

The recompleted Master Xehanort, the version furthest on the timeline;

The recompleted people turned once more into Nobodies: Xigbar, Saix, Marluxia, Larxene, Luxord, Demyx and Vexen. The last two being reserve members;

The versions of Xehanort pulled from the past but came to be after KHBBS-era Master Xehanort: Terra-Xehanort, Xemnas and Ansem Seeker of Darkness;

The non-Xehanort characters pulled from the past: Vanitas, Xion and Dark Riku (Replitwo);

The first of the Xehanorts, the Xehanort of the most distant past: Young Xehanort.

You can see that none of the other members aside from YX originate from a time before KHBBS. And as it is now established, this iteration did not originally have golden eyes. To add onto that, as stated in group 4, these 3 were the only characters that travelled to the future by having their hearts be placed inside replicas and are not a version of Xehanort. Vanitas is debatable because we don’t know if he had that eye colour inherently even when his face changed to reflect Sora’s or was it because of old man Xehanort. The statement about Vanitas originally having red eyes while he was still faceless does not apply because its source is solely the KHBBS novel, which is not canon material. Replitwo’s change is more noticeable since you can directly compare him with the original Riku Replica who even appears in the same scene as him at the very end. As for Xion’s change, it’s only visible if you bump up the brightness while her face is not fully covered or mod out the shadow cast by her hood. If there is a need for official confirmation that these 3 characters do come from the past look no further than this chart from the KHIII Ultimania:

Do note that ‘eliminated’ can also refer to simply returning to their own time period but ceasing to exist in KHIII’s time as it’s said in Young Xehanort’s section of the very same chart.

Ok but, why would there be any need for this. Simple, that version of Xehanort was not ready to handle the darkness the same way old man Xehanort does yet. He needed the Black Coat or the armour or any other form of protection. And as seen in KHDR itself, were it not for the MoM saving him in the Dark Corridor, he would have perished. The following lines from the second encounter cement this further:

The MoM: No… you’ll ditch it soon. YX: What do you mean? The MoM: I mean that one day you’re going to outgrow it. YX: How so? The MoM: If you truly possess great power, the darkness can’t control you. You won’t need a silly old coat to stay safe. In fact, you’ll be the one controlling the darkness instead.

It wouldn’t seem far-fetched either knowing that the explanation behind the Young Xehanort boss fight at the end of KHDDD that the Ultimania provides is this:

Question: Did King Mickey’s time magic not work properly on Young Xehanort because Young Xehanort has the power to control time? Nomura’s answer: Not Young Xehanort’s but rather Master Xehanort’s power. King Mickey was surprised at the time, seeing his Keyblade and noticing he harboured the power of Master Xehanort…

Additionally, aside from King Mickey, Master Xehanort and Young Xehanort are the only other characters who directly take note of Sora’s reckless usage of the Power of Waking in KHIII and KHIIIRM, meaning that at the very least, YX was imparted with such knowledge as well the power to transcend time, which he receives from potato sack Ansem SoD.

The secret endings to KHRe:Coded in the KH HD II.5 Remix collection are another piece of evidence, because we see YX already in place before KHDDD begins, ready to gather the remaining vessels. Meanwhile, since both Ansem SoD and Xemnas have been vanquished, Master Xehanort should by now exist at this point in time as himself given how the same thing has happened with the other ex-Nobodies of the Organization.

To add onto that video we finally have a confirmation from Nomura himself that yes, the design used in KHDR that depicts Young Xehanort’s time on the Destiny Islands is the correct version while the one used in KHBBS and KHDDD is outdated according the most recent Q&A:

Now here’s the funny part. When did Young Xehanort time-travel? Or a better question, if KHDR has revealed that his initial encounter with potato sack Ansem SoD was not the point from which he began his journey to the future but rather his what led him to Scala Ad Caelum… did he encounter him again at some point which finally did spur him to time-travel?

Sonny Novus made a video about how fleshing out Xehanort’s backstory by deaging him even further caused more problems in hindsight and I believe it still holds up so I recommend watching it if you haven’t done so by now.

Question: In previous titles, we saw the Xehanort who leaves Destiny Islands as a young man. He seems a lot younger in KHDR. Nomura’s answer: KHDR presents the correct version. For previous games, we used the young man model we already had as a catch-all symbolic representation of "his youth," in order to save cost modelling a young boy version. In KHIII, they were specifically split. I'd like you to interpret it as the symbolic representation becoming a rich one.

So the only time Young Xehanort could time-travel to the future while still having a consistent design with the one we see in KHDDD and KHIII can be anywhere between the point he changes his hairstyle and his second encounter with the MoM that takes place 1 year after KHDR’s main campaign. Thus, confirming that he could not have possibly transcended time after his first encounter with potato sack Ansem SoD. While it does go in line with the implication that at the time, Xehanort did not realise he was talking to a version of himself, it still contradicts another line in KHDDD by suggest that his now forgotten time-travelling escapades were not the reason he sought out the outside world by rather his dreams of the Player’s life (or lives).

YX: Still my appointed path is now etched in my heart, which will first lead me to seek the outside world.

Putting this contradiction aside, there should have been a second encounter between these two during that 1 year year interval. Either YX found his way back to Destiny Islands or has met potato sack Ansem SoD somewhere else, realising that he is a future version of himself, which would finally spur him to travel forward in time.

Now let’s address the other elephant in the room, Young Xehanort’s Keyblade. We still do not have an official name for it but what we do know is that it’s supposed to be No Name (the goat themed Keyblade) with the hourglass keychain you can see on No Name (the Keyblade you receive after defeating Mysterious Figure aka. Young Xehanort in the Land of Departure).

Nomura: That Keyblade was designed as the one Master Xehanort used in KHBBS combined with an hourglass, you see. (KHDDD Ultimania)

It’s weird, because you can easily interpret that scene in KHDDD as him technically borrowing MX’s. Not to mention that he does not use a Keyblade at all in his fight as the Mysterious Figure in KHBBS. But come KHIII and KHDR, where in the former, YX still uses his unique Keyblade, while in the latter he uses the nameless default Keyblade of that era (KHML has its own default Keyblade too judging from the footage) even during his encounters with the MoM. Let’s try to wrap our heads around this without just saying it’s a retcon that we should move on from:

Nomura changing his mind about plot beats and having genuine oversights is nothing new, there are more examples in this series one could ever hope for, like the eye colour switch that started this whole document. If you recall, the first time we have ever seen an even younger version of Xehanort was in KHIII’s E3 2015 trailer (man I feel old), where his eyes were gold. And in the finalised version of the same scene, his eyes have been changed to silver.

Ok, so let’s say that from YX’s own youth, without his time-travelling escapades, he wields the default Keyblade all the way until him and Eraqus become Keyblade Masters 6 years after KHDR’s main campaign, then they inherit No Name and Master’s Defender respectively to use them from that point onwards. Now winding back to the interval of about 1 year between the ending of KHDR and YX’s meeting with the MoM, you can say that he somehow gains another unique Keyblade upon travelling to the KHDDD era and decides to stick with it in KHIII as well. The time of KHBBS in which he travels to become the Mysterious Figure in order to grab Vanitas for the true Organization XIII, you can maybe stretch it and say that he possibly has foregone that unique Keyblade (or any at all) during that particular fight, much like how Xemnas does throughout the whole series despite also having the ability.

From that you can guess that Nomura reconsidered the meaning of the golden eyes. Because from DDD (not counting BBS since that game only implied it) up until KHIII, when someone would have that colour it would mean they were a vessel of Xehanort or, if we are to use the fan-coined term, ‘norted’. I think we all collectively assumed that Anti-Aqua was actually one of the 13 vessels when she was revealed in KHIII’s Frozen trailer in E3 2018, only for that to not have been the case at all. If anyone needs a refresher for her Gummiphone entry:

Anti-Aqua: Aqua, after she fell to darkness. Years and years of wandering through the realm of darkness ended with her being cast into the watery depths beyond its margin.

Sure, for the members of the true Organization you can say that this still applies (again, Vanitas being debatable) but it’s not exclusively golden eyes = Xehanort’s influence anymore. It’s as if they are meant to represent darkness like they have been prior to KHDDD. And this change sort of makes sense, since the story’s focus is shifting heavily to be about the primordial darknesses and shifting back to how one can fall to darkness due to strong negative emotions. One can conclude that maybe Xehanort’s eyes have changed from silver to gold over time due to him actively trying to become a “dark vessel” as seen in KHDR, and that subsequently, since he has gained them, they have become a trait of his other selves. A parallel to this scenario is how the characters on the protagonist's side associate the Black Coat with the Organization even though, in truth, it dates back much further back into the past.

Like I’ve said before, KHDR did not manage to cover and explain every single facet of Xehanort’s life, for better or for worse. However, it did give a lot of context to preexisting scenes and other character moments in the series, and I think it did a good job at that. As for the remaining mysteries such as the now discussed golden eyes, the fate of Scala Ad Caelum and more, depends entirely on whether or not Nomura wants to or has the chance to flesh out, much like how KHDR’s existence itself was once in a lifetime opportunity to dive deeper into the mind of one of the most important antagonists in the series.

I know what you're probably thinking: the Dark Seeker Saga, which depicted the battle against Xehanort, finished with KINGDOM HEARTS III, didn't it? Well, it's a grey area, but I wouldn't call this title part of the Dark Seeker Saga. Why? Because this isn't about battling against Xehanort—it's about the battles of Xehanort.And maybe you're thinking that's a bit of a reach, but… okay, maybe it's a bit of a reach. However, I had the concept in my head for many years. It got shelved because it never really fitted what our team wanted. But around then, I heard from the Union X team that they'd like to do a parallel title with a new protagonist. And, since it seemed there was an unexpected number of Xehanort fans out there, it all came together like it was destined to be. I do tend to believe in destiny. (Tetsuya Nomura on the launch of KHDR in June 2020)

Author’s note: Sorry if this turned out to be more of a ramble than an actual theory post but… I wanted to say that… I feel content with this story, even without the answers I may have wanted. I still thoroughly enjoyed following Xehanort’s journey from start to finish, which made me like him more as a character even. Anyhow… thank you for bearing with me and I hope you have a wonderful day!

#theory doc repost!#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts dark road #khdr #kingdom hearts dream drop distance #khddd #kingdom hearts 3 #kh3 #kingdom hearts iii #xehanort #young xehanort #katvtalkskh

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roxasboxas · 1 year

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The "Luxu is Ventus' Dad" Theory 3rd Anniversary Remastered Edition

AKA: Theorizing two characters are related based on their lack of screentime together. Because this post is now 3 years old and we have some more information, I'm finally rewriting it.

Due to the release and completion of Dark Road, we now have a more solid idea of Luxu's personality and can say with relative certainty that we never met the original Braig. That was always Luxu. This was always likely, since as far back as BBS the guy was trying to snag MoM's keyblade back from Xehanort, but Bragi's mannerisms being revealed as Luxu-isms basically confirms it 100%.

This means that Braig's one (1) shown interaction with Ventus is also Luxu's one (1) shown interaction with Ventus.

The interaction goes as follows:

Braig (who is Luxu): How 'bout you leave the popsicle with me, so you can go have your little fight with Terra. You can't be too happy about him deep-sixing your Master. Aqua: Who are you? Braig: You think you two have got some grand role to play. As if. You're only here so that when I finish you off... Terra will succumb to the darkness. So... who wants to go first? Ventus: Shut up! Braig: Oh, so this kiddo thinks he's a full-fledged Keyblade wielder? He's got the angry look down. Aqua: Go ahead if you want to waste your time. Keep trying to drive us apart with your mind games. It'll never work!

Now, this is admittedly not immediately promising, but it actually gives us a lot to work with. It's their only interaction, and it's not exactly a positive one. Even though it's only a bluff, it's still a pretty heavy threat.

[Please note, lots of things after this point, Tumblr has eaten at least once.]

But then, if it's their only interaction, then...

Why does he talk like there have been more?

For that first bit, we know he's not talking about Roxas at that point in KH2: Roxas doesn't glare at him like that during Days.

And the second image is even more interesting. Most people at this point are seeing Xion as Sora. Axel, one of her best friends, sees Sora's face. Xemnas, the guy who's made of Terra (who trained alongside Ventus for multiple years) and Xehanort (who trained Ventus for a time and grew up dreaming memories of someone else’s life that include him) sees Sora's face.

Xigbar sees Ventus. I dunno about you, but to me having one hostile interaction with a teenager ten years ago does not override psychic mumbo-jumbo better than knowing that teenager for a cumulative 4 or 5 years. Even if you have amnesia-- especially by Kingdom Hearts rules, those memories are still there, even if you don't have access to them.

(Before that line, he also comments "What a blast from the past." Wouldn't be a "blast" if they met, like, once.)

And, as of Dark Road, we know that Luxu is willing to let the people he cares about die.

Bragi's confrontation with Baldr begins with him saying "You... It was you..." in reference to Baldr having killed, like, a decent chunk of the people they know. This is not an emotionally detached reaction! Luxu cared about these people! Maybe not as peers the way they cared about him, but he did care! He does care about the ones that are still alive!

So what does he say after revealing his identity and disarming Baldr in a single motion?

He's not gonna do shit! He demonstrably could kick this guy's ass, but he chooses not to. Even though he cares about these people. Even though one of them is the grandson of someone he already demonstrably has a connection to from back before he wound up this jaded. That one, which he later on again did nothing to save, even with more and more reasons to do so stacking up.

Let's go back to the scene where Luxu and Ventus actually, you know, talk to each other, because there's actually a subtler detail in it that I want to talk about.

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

In this one line of dialogue, Braig calls Ventus "kiddo." You might be wondering, "What's the big deal? He calls Roxas that all the time!" Yes, he does. He also calls him "Tiger," and Xion gets called "Poppet," both with notable regularity.

Contrast that with how he talks to, say, Sora. He still talks down to him, but he uses nicknames much more sparingly. In fact, he doesn't use any for Sora until Dream Drop Distance. All through Kingdom Hearts 2, the Organization is trying to stir Roxas' consciousness within Sora, but Xigbar doesn't call him any of the nicknames he used for and around the guy the whole time.

Not until DDD, when they've already given up on that plan. He starts out with a "sleepyhead", but there's a very specific moment I want to draw your attention to. A moment I may have neglected to mention earlier in this post, despite its relevance.

Xigbar comments on the thing Sora does that reminds him of Ventus. Then he calls him "Kiddo." And then he never calls him a nickname ever again. I'm not kidding. Never ever.

We don't see a lot of him interacting with young people outside the Heart Hotel, but we do see once in Kingdom Hearts three he calls the Real Organization's Riku Replica "Kid." Not "Kiddo," but "Kid." An interesting distinction, don't you think?

So, to recap so far: One interaction, yet Xigbar talks about Ventus consistently. He's the only one to see Xion with Ventus' face. He uses nicknames more often on kids that remind him of Ventus, and specifically uses a different variation on a kid that doesn't.

"Okay Ace," you're probably thinking, "I can accept that this proves a connection definitely exists between Luxu and Ventus. But why are you so sure that they are father and son specifically?" Well, I have a few reasons.

We don't technically know how old Luxu is, but he is an adult when Ventus is like 10 or 11. It's not impossible for them to be, like, siblings or something, since some people have kids pretty far apart, but it's not dreadfully likely to me. Based on my own experiences with my big sister, they don't really act like siblings to me, but I suppose that's a personal thing. You could say Luxu "sounds young" in Back Cover, but once you hit a certain point a lot of peoples' voices stay the same for a long time.

Nomura has stated that the next part of the series will be focusing on "bloodlines." We already know we're probably gonna be seeing Eraqus' grandfather in ML and that guy's probably gonna be Brain. Xehanort's already descended from Ephemer. Characters are already descended from each other.

Luxu is short for Luxuria, the sin of Lust. So, from a certain perspective, Xigbar canonically fucks.

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themattress · 8 months

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The story of Xehanort in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Convoluted and stupidly written, but honestly not that terrible when taken on its own.

....But it's not on its own, is it?

Let's go red line by red line, shall we?

1 - From Xehanort's Report in BBS: Upon reflection, my life underwent the most considerable sea-change when I arrived at that place. Yes, it began when I found a Master, and another I would later call my brother—when I found a new home. And then later, to dispel any notion that he is talking about Scala ad Caelum, this is what he writes when mentioning bringing Ventus to the Land of Departure: I had not visited this second home of mine for some time, and discovered Eraqus had already found two pupils of his own. BBS established that the Land of Departure, not Scala ad Caelum, is where he received his training and met Eraqus.

2 - Let's look at Xehanort's Report again: I believe a balance of light and darkness is what sustains our World, but too much of the darkness has been stamped out, disrupting that balance. Someone must tear down this tyranny of light and reorganize the World around the darkness which then creeps back in. That's literally the opposite of saying an endless pollution of darkness is a problem. It's saying that an endless flow of darkness is good!

3 - First off, it's never explained how in blazes Young Xehanort can extract hearts when he's just a disembodied heart himself. More importantly, note that Xemnas, Xigbar, Saix, Luxord, Marluxia and Larxene are on that list, plus as we later learn Vexen and Demyx were brought in as reserves. If Nomura hadn't decided to pander and bring Xion back, Xaldin would have been there too! And yet in DDD, Xemnas says "most of the original members we had chosen for the Organization were inadequate" for the "true" Organization XIII!

4 - Why is Master Xehanort the one recompleted when it was Terra-Xehanort who actually split into a Heartless and a Nobody? Master Xehanort's original body was not in any way a part of Xemnas, so why does he get it back after Xemnas' death?

5 - How and why is the Master of Masters even here? Why does he need to give Xehanort his black coat when he should have already gotten it for his time traveling venture earlier? Why does Xehanort need to tour the worlds and come to this conclusion when he basically already did in Dark Road? How many excuses to become evil does this asshole need?

6 - See Point 1 again.

7 - What Xehanort spoke and wrote about, and was even shown attempting to do in BBS, was to forge the X-Blade to destroy the worlds' barriers and start another Keyblade War among the masses of the universe so that the darkness in their hearts engulfs the universe and then from there he can create a new one. So why, by KH3, is his plan suddenly to have a small-scale Keyblade War to forge the X-Blade and then just use the X-Blade's power to engulf the universe in darkness all by himself?

8 - Except that it's later said that Vanitas did NOT actually come from the darkness of Ven's heart and was a dark entity hiding inside his heart. Dark Road then shows that Xehanort became aware of this fact! So why even still call him Vanitas, and why do Xehanort and Vanitas himself still act as though he's a part of Ven?

9 - Calling himself Ansem might have made sense had he never recovered his original memories and went back to pursuing his original goal. But as this then goes on to say, he did! So why even pretend to be Ansem at all? What does he gain by that?

10 - So then why did he specifically write in a report that he was discarding his body in order to communicate with the Heartless and fully utilize the powers of darkness? Why did he say he'd "come to see the door" to Destiny Islands' heart if he was actually just on Destiny Islands the whole time? Why did he have such a dismissive attitude toward Sora as though he were insignificant if he knew he was important enough to mark with a Recusant's Sigil? And if his goal was the Seven Princesses themselves, why did he tell Kairi "The Keyhole is now complete. You have served your purpose, but now it's over"? And yeah, why enter the Final Keyhole at all? Again, whatever he did as Ansem's apprentice shouldn't really matter anymore if he fully remembers that he's Master Xehanort!

11 - For that matter, how did he not know that Kingdom Hearts was light!? It being light is a fundamental part of both the Keyblade War legend and Master Xehanort's grand objective!

12 - All right, let's go back to Xehanort's report in BBS: It is only forged when two hearts of equal power intersect—one heart of pure darkness, one heart of pure light. Why write this as an absolute fact if it's not, in fact, the proper way to forge the X-Blade and you're supposed to have 7 hearts of light and 13 hearts of darkness?

13 - Xemnas himself writes in a secret report in Days: We embarked upon the Replica Program to ensure our new power stays ours. So the Replica Program was only started after Roxas was found as a means to copy the power of the Keyblade, not to have extra vessels for Xehanort. There is no reason for Xemnas to lie about that in his own private writing.

14 - See Point 10 again.

15 - See Point 4 again.

16 - See Point 7 again.

17 - So after all of this, depicting a villain so omnipotent that he transcended space and time, built flawless contingencies for failure, predicted his enemies' every move, amassed a veritable army of dark pawns and followers including multiple versions of himself, and was perceptive enough to notice things like Vanitas not being what he presented himself to be....you're really saying someone like that never noticed that Xigbar was playing an angle far beyond just obtaining his Keyblade? Or that the weird guy he met that one time as a teenager might be more than he let on and manipulating him for something that differed from his own objectives? Or, heck, that such a person who went through such lengths would just easily give up because the best friend he murdered and thought nothing of it told him to!?

Worst-written video game villain EVER. It's hilarious that this series' blind stans will say "oh, the story isn't really that confusing, you just need to really pay attention to all the games" when this one character proves that paying attention to all the games is part of what makes the story so confusing due to all the damn contradictions, inconsistencies and retcons!

#Disney #Square Enix #Kingdom Hearts #Xehanort #Analysis #Objection #Correction #The Scrappy #Bad Writing #Character Derailment #They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character #Anti-Kingdom Hearts #Anti-Square Enix #Anti-Nomura #Anti-Tetsuya Nomura

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alphascorpiixx · 3 months

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[ID: screenshots from FFXIV of Emet-Selch's dialogue. First: "Two individiuals, identical in appearance, yet reduced in all respects. Strength, intelligence, the soul itself—all is halved." . . . "But yes, moral relativism and all that. Case in point—I do not consider you to be truly alive. Ergo, I will not be guilty of murder if I kill you." End ID]

I have not stopped thinking about this scene from ShB. I have two ffxiv/kingdom hearts crossover AUs bouncing around in my head, one with Xion as the wol and the other with Player as the wol, so here are some ramblings about how they'd react to these revelations:

Xion would absolutely call Emet-Selch out on his bullshit "moral relativism" bc the way hearts work in Kingdom Hearts directly contradicts his reasoning here. A person split into two beings might be halved at first but the heart will seek to replace what was lost given time and connections to others. Xion's entire existence is because of this nature of the heart and Emet's justification for destroying the reflections is straight up wrong. She immediately starts explaining hearts and Nobodies and the power of connections and meanwhile Emet is like "what the fuck is a Nobody?"

Emet-Selch: "You are not alive therefore killing you is not murder."

Xion: "Provably false, let me make a call real quick." *pulls out her gummiphone* "Hey Ienzo, put Even on the phone."

Cue three-hour long story time about The Kingdom Hearts Plot(tm) and Emet realizing he should have looked more into how a random keyblade wielder ended up on the Source in the first place. Exarch and the Scions standing in the background realizing they should have looked more into how Xion ended up on the Source as well 😶

Now for Lyra (my version of Player), her reactions stays mostly consistent with the wol's silence in the cutscene but with a "that's fucked up" comment like Y'shtola. The sticking point for her is the "I'm going to destroy thirteen worlds to bring back my home" part of Emet's story here. Because Lyra is from Daybreak Town back when EVERY world in the universe used to be part of one singular World. So while Lyra doesn't say anything to Emet at this moment, in her head she is absolutely thinking about how ironic this is, that the worlds of today only exist because their homes were destroyed. She's both empathetic of the "lost home" part but furious over his actions for the rejoining. there's going to be a moment in the future when she can't keep quiet about this anymore and says something like "you think you're justified in destroying thirteen worlds to bring back your home? so do you think I would be justified in bringing back my home by destroying yours?"

Emet: *old and tired* "I'm going to destroy everything just to bring back my home"

Lyra: *also old and tired* "are you fucking stupid"

To summarize, both have different ways of making Emet-Selch realize he is in fact not the person most knowledge about metaphysics and the nature of the universe in the room

#xion 🤝 lyra: i'm about to ruin this man's whole career #and then the rest of the shb plot happens and they get corrupted by light 😊#(i assume. i only know the shb story to the end of mt gulg. no one tell me what happens after i will find out for myself)#kingdom hearts #xion #ffxiv #final fantasy #lyra aubade #shadowbringers spoilers

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palizinhas · 8 months

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Kaixi and 23?

The other one I found in my inbox!

…in relief.

Xion might be the most insane person Kairi knew.

(and she was best friends with Sora and Riku, so that wasn’t something she said lightly)

It had seemed like such a good idea to start training alongside her - Aqua a good Master, even if she seemed to treat Xion with a lot less caution than Kairi. She was tired of needing protection, and Aqua sometimes still put her Princess status over her Keyblade Wielder one.

But even with that issue, the training was good.

Going into her first actual mission with Xion, however, quickly proved that perhaps there was more Sora in her than Kairi actually realized.

It had all started extremely simple - the two of them needed to go to a beach world to research the weird Keyblade guys in animal costumes that Terra had come across recently. But Keyblade wielders had this thing where they often ended up meddling in things they shouldn’t, and somehow they ended up helping this cool Princess of Heart Moana with a problem.

And because sometimes things worked like that, there was some sort of quest island that they needed to solve stuff to go forward.

And Xion just THREW HERSELF OFF A CLIFF TO CHASE A GIANT BIRD.

It was an important bird, but Kairi couldn’t believe what had happened until Xion simply showed up again, having transformed her Keyblade into a grappling hook and landed back safely, holding the giant key the bird was guarding.

“Did you lose your mind?” Kairi tried to keep from screaming, a bit more panicked than she perhaps should be.

“I knew things would turn out alright,” Xion shrugged, not looking really phased by anything that had just happened.

“You’re insane!” Kairi complained, slapping lightly Xion’s arm for worrying her. “There was no need to do that.”

“Well, it was definitely faster,” Xion pointed out.

“And reckless.”

Xion opened and closed her mouth, because apparently she hadn’t noticed until then how reckless she had been.

One of Xion’s main issues was paying zero attention to her own life - and she needed to have someone who would. Kairi wanted so badly to make Xion care about her own safety.

“You’re right. We knew there was a trick to it, and it would have been safer to follow it instead of taking an unnecessary risk. i’m sorry,” Xion apologized like she was writing a report, and Kairi figured there was probably a reason for that too.

“You do this again and I’ll throw you off a cliff myself,” Kairi threatened, and then kissed Xion, just to make sure she was still there.

#kingdom hearts #kaixi

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vanibear · 2 years

Text

rough wip of a fic where roxas and kairi have a conversation and learn a bit more abt each other (set post melody of memory) !!

i have a lot more stuff to add but I have other things i need to be doing today :(

"I had a feeling you'd be up here,"

Roxas jumped about a foot in the air; he'd been too engrossed in his writing to notice anyone that anyone else had climbed up to the tower.

"Careful! Don't fall!" Kairi yelped, surprised that he’d been so startled.

Roxas grabbed his pen right before it rolled off the edge of the tower and disobeyed Kairi's instructions.

"Don't worry. I've learned how to keep my balance up here, but it takes some practice,"

Their first conversation flashed through his mind. Admittedly, the clock tower was not the safest choice for a hangout spot.

"What brings you here?" he asked, offering his hand to help Kairi sit down.

Hesitantly, she took it and settled down beside him on the ledge. Roxas noticed that her hands were clenched- nails digging into palm. The same way Xion does when she's nervous.

"You okay?"

Kairi took a deep breath, avoiding his gaze.

"Yeah. Heights just.. aren't my thing. I'd rather have the ground under my feet, that's all,”

She paused.

“But, tomorrow, I leave to go train with Aqua, so I figured I ought to visit this place again before I go,"

“Y’know, you really shouldn’t force yourself up here if you’re scared of heights. This place isn’t that special,”

Roxas knew that statement sounded wonderfully ironic, coming from his lips.

A cloud passed in front of the sun. Kairi shivered.

"It's- the height's not everything," her voice grew soft.

Roxas looked over, concerned. Her shoulders were trembling.

"The last time I was here... was with him."

Him.

Roxas remembered how she'd walked back without him that day. Deep down, a voice he tried to ignore asked why Sora didn't feel like saying goodbye to him.

"It's… been awhile since then," Roxas stared ahead.

Kairi murmured in agreement.

The two watched the clouds roll by.

"Roxas?"

"Hm?"

"What were you writing about, when I came up here?"

"Oh, that,"

Roxas reached out to grab the notebook he'd set aside- yellow on the front, with painted stars and a thalassa shell. Xion and Namine had worked together on it, all for him. He still didn't know how to thank them.

"I was just journaling. I come up here in the afternoons when everyone's doing other things. It's a nice place to write."

Kairi nodded, pulling something from her pocket. It was a small purple journal, with a bow on the front.

"I like to write, too. Mostly poems, though. I've tried to keep a diary before, but it never stuck. I feel like I just don't remember enough to write anything," She twisted the ribbon on the cover between her fingers.

"I've been there before.”

“Really?”

“I… think you should keep trying. Trust me, it helps. And not just with memories,"

Kairi looked up.

"It helps you… see what you feel. Sometimes, I can't understand what I'm feeling until I write it down."

"I see. I think I'm the same way with my poems,"

She went back to messing with the journal’s ribbon.

"Though, I feel like I can't write anything at all, nowadays," she whispered.

She sighed. It sounded just like Namine's.

Roxas drummed his fingers on top of his notebook, then, taking a deep breath, slowly reached into his pocket. He pulled out a fountain pen- navy, with black and silver trim- and pointed it towards Kairi.

"Take this. For you to write with. It was my first one,"

"Your first... pen?"

"Yeah."

Roxas rubbed his thumb over the cap. The motion alone brought back countless memories. He didn't know why he held onto it. It had become a habit to carry around, even after its matching journal had long been filled. He didn't use it, though. Something in him couldn't. It was from a different time, a time long gone; secretly, he felt like if he used it, it might just have the power to bring those times back.

"Back when.. I first joined the Organization... Saix gave it to me, with a journal as well,"

"Saix did?"

She sounded confused.

"Well, Isa now, I guess. He told me that I should keep a diary, to keep track of things that happened. I didn't know what to write at first, but... it eventually became like a lifeline to me. In the beginning, I... I don't know how to describe it, but I couldn't hold on to anything. Everything would swim around me, but I think- I think writing was one of the things that saved me from… losing who I was,"

"That was... very kind of Saix."

"Huh. I guess it was.”

Kairi stared down at the pen.

"Roxas,"

Kairi looked at the boy in front of her. His face was set in a determined, almost familiar way; his eyes shone so blue, so earnestly; she couldn't bear to meet their gaze.

"I can't take something so important from you. I-"

"No." There was a storminess in his eyes as he interrupted her.

"I don't even use it anymore. It's a gift. A… thank you."

"A thank you?"

"Yes. Do you remember the first time we talked?"

He watched as Kairi closed her eyes and searched for the memory. It made him sad, when people struggled to remember things; he knew too well the pain of forgetting. He felt worse that she knew it likely as well as he did.

"I- think so. It was when I was... trying to remember S-" Her voice faded off so that she wouldn't have to finish the name.

"Yeah. You ended up finding me instead."

#In conclusion . I need to see more of them in canon #i also just have so many ideas for what’s happening post kh3/mom #kh #kingdom hearts #kat writes #kat post

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mysophobix · 1 year

Text

discord kpop 1x1 rp search

heyooo! i’m yumi, age 23, they/them! currently lf a few krp/kdrama partners, preferably within the age range of 19-23+! it’s safe to say that i’m open to any pairings such as mxm, fxf, poly, and trans/non-binary characters, oc x oc (faceclaims ok!) - i will say that i do have a preference for writing masculine characters and will often default to that unless discussed.

my writing style is always mirrored, so don’t be shy if you’d like to write with me in any way, shape, or form! my preference tends to lean towards novella and advanced lit (comfortably up to 500-1k or more) with present or past, third-person narratives. i have some writing examples i can send your way if you’d like to see them before committing to rp with me! i typically want to strive for quality over quantity.

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ PLOTS : regarding plots that i enjoy tend to lean super heavily into the human condition (any variation or avenue of slice of life, modern aus), very lightly toeing into supernatural with succubuses/incubus or angel/devils, fallen angel concepts, and “darker” themes. some examples would be religious trauma/historical themes, substance abuse, violence, heavy angst, etc.

i also really enjoy media-based or established works of fictions like ao3, video games (the last of us, detroit become human, etc), films, and kdramas (strangers from hell, all of us are dead, the glory, bloodhounds, and more).

i’m totally interested in including nsfw into our rps aswell, though i tend to write my characters as versatile switches and would prefer if my partners were flexible and willing to collaborate to make it fun and comfortable for both of us. i will send a kink list to be as transparent as possible, or you can view that on my carrd alongside other in depth info here!

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ MUSES & GROUPS : i’m open to a majority of groups including, but not limited to the ones listed below! regarding muses, i’m very open-minded and flexible and will include some examples of those i muse the most. the starred groups are the ones that i muse very heavily for currently:

☆ aespa : winter / karina / ningning

ateez : wooyoung / san / yunho

enhypen : jay / heeseung / jungwon / jake

☆ exo : jongin / sehun / chanyeol / baekhyun

le sserafim : sakura / chaewon

mamamoo : moonbyul

☆ nct (all subunits+wayv) : taeyong / yuta / jaehyun / jeno / mark / donghyuck / jaemin / xiaojun / kun / yangyang

oneus : seoho / keonhee / xion

☆ onlyoneof : nine / love / mill / rie

p1harmony : theo / intak

red velvet : wendy / seulgi / joy

☆ seventeen : jeonghan / jun / seungkwan / vernon / joshua / minghao

☆ stray kids : minho / hyunjin / han / bangchan / jeongin

tempest : hanbin / taerae / hyeongseop / hwarang

☆ the boyz : sunwoo / hyunjae / juyeon / jacob / eric

☆ txt : soobin / beomgyu / taehyun treasure : asahi / jihoon / hyunsuk

☆ xg : jurin / chisa

☆ zb1 : jiwoong / hanbin / matthew / taerae

solo artists : woodz, dpr ian, jackson wang . .

(these aren't including my ships, but you might be able to get hints from who i bolded - don't be afraid to ask for clarification though, i'll definitely mention them once we connect).

please prioritise discussing triggers and preferences within the RP. they will always be stated by me during plotting as well. my ‘no’s’ are only detailed self-harm/gore that goes alongside it. i'll let you know if I'm uncomfortable at any point otherwise.

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ MISC. NOTES : the most important part of this i would like to make sure is noted is that writing won’t always be a priority for me as i have other hobbies and responsibilities that tend to take up a lot of my free time too. i work two jobs while also taking classes for my university and gaming. i’d appreciate and prefer partners that don’t mind gaps of time between responses and won’t spam or pressure me to be quicker. i've had some bad luck with rp partners that don't understand that and overstep boundaries. i will end the rp if it gets excessive. however, i’m very chatty and enjoy making playlists and pinterest boards alongside our rp au’s so it’d be cool to have partners open to that sort of connection. i’m always down for friendships outside of our rp too so the gaps of time don't feel awkward or stilted.

if all of this sounds good to you and you’re interested in getting to know me as a potential friend or likewise to write, don’t hesitate to dm me on here or head on over to discord and add me; my username is gyumie. ♡

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cq-studios · 1 year

Text

So I’ve been debating back and forth whether or not to do this because I knew it was gonna be a lot of work. But you know what? Screw it!

Here’s a cohesive list and description of all, 2+ hours (I think…), of my KH (mostly KHUX) animation ideas

You know… in case someone cares lol

(Four things before we start)

(If you look at a script and there’s nothing there, try looking at the comments, chances are I’ll have notes on the side)

(If a idea has a script the descriptions will most likely be more vague. I need to save time somehow lol)

(Unless it’s Xehaqus or Soriku, shipping wasn’t the intent but if that’s what floats your boat don’t let me sink it)

(No pressure to read all of these descriptions and scripts or listen to all the songs or whatever. It is so much and I know that. I honestly appreciate that you even clicked/tapped "Keep Reading" lol)

Let’s start off with my…

Pre-UX Finale Ideas

These ideas tend to be a bit outside of cannon/outdated now but they still haunt me when the song comes on

This is also the most you will get of any non-UX character lol

Song: Ready as I’ll Ever Be

Character(s)/Game Focus: KH 1 (endgame)

Description: Varian’s sections are Riku pre possession (first part when he steals ‘Sora’s’ keyblade, last part him getting possessed by Ansem). Cassandra’s sections and the “I’ll save my home and family” is the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee doing things to help (what I presume they were doing before they just kinda, show up at Hollow Bastion), and Rapunzel and her dad’s(??) sections as well as the “prove they can trust me” are Sora and the Beast.

This idea is primarily lip sync and not really specific scenes. More so just a point in time

Length: 2:04 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yes, as an animatic (I don’t think my description did it much justice since it really is mostly lip sync, but there’s very vivid images of it in my mind)

Song: Meet Me in the Woods

Character(s)/Game Focus: Lea/Axel

Description: An animation depicting Lea/Axel’s life starting with him and Isa finding Subject X (the “journey to the unknown”). “The darkness getting ahold of them” is referring becoming Ansem’s apprentices and their eventual initiation into the Organization because of it. The music between verses is the early days of them in the Organization then shifts to Roxas’ early days there. “How long baby have I been away” is post-Castle Oblivion. The first chorus is the Sea Salt Trio kinda becoming a trio. “Yeah the truth is stranger than my own worst dreams” is him learning about Xion being a replica. Then right after is everything falling apart for the trio. The second chorus going into the wind down is Axel/Lea’s redemption and KH3 stuff (keyblade war too before it starts to slow down). Then at the end when it really slows down is the Sea Salt Trio’s reunion.

Length: 4:23 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: I want to say yes but chances are no, this one doesn’t even have a script but I might give it one for sticking around so long

Song: Unravel

Character(s)/Game Focus: Heart Hotel/Sortas (Sora, Ven, Roxas, Xion, Vanitas)

Description: First section is UX Ven. Post first drop to "that is where I'll live on" is Xion (just her story in Days). The section ends with her dying then switches to Roxas after her death for the 'angry part' (fighting Riku) then when the music chills out a bit he returns to Sora. Then when its the instrumental of the chorus we start Vanitas' section/BBS Ventus' section. The "breakable, unbreakable" back and forth is basically their talk before their big fight in Ven's heart, which starts at the "I won't let you contaminate me!" (from Ven) but the scene cuts before they start to fight. The next part is Sora in DDD. The part where they're repeating "Don't forget me" is when Riku is in Sora's heart talking to each Sorta (and Vanitas is there too I guess). Order is the same as in the game with Vani in there somewhere (unless Xion isn't last, she needs to be the last one). The part where they repeat the first line is the scene in KH3 where its 'revealed' Sora has other hearts withing him.

Length: 5:21 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Same as the previous, I love it but I’ve built it up so much in my head I don’t think I could do it justice, I'll make it a script eventually

Song: Don’t Make Me

Character(s)/Game Focus: Lauriam

Description: This one is definitely outdated. Like it pre-dates the update where Lauriam actually finds out that the NULs know his sister is dead (the script obviously has been updated since then but I think the fact that it is that old still kinda shows). But yeah Don’t Make Me is basically Lauriam slowly becoming more suspicious of everyone and really really hoping none of them had anything to do with his sister’s disappearance. Because if they were he might just end up being a villain in their story. Again really old, so my interpretation of events were kinda off since I hadn’t seen all the cutscenes a bajillion times, but I think it’d make a fun AU.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 3:10 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: I don’t think so, the time for it has come and passed… like almost 3 years ago now

Song: Help Me

Character(s)/Game Focus: Subject X (Skuld)

Description: Subject X is in her cell and is contacted by the ghosts of the Radiant Garden scientists’ previous victims.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 1:20 (0:00-1:20)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, I decided to scrap this one a while ago

Song: Cold Feet

Character(s)/Game Focus: Mostly KH 3 and 4 (whenever it comes out)

Description: Patience is the game for this one. The idea is incomplete until Riku finds Sora but here’s my thoughts so far. Before the first chorus it’s a bunch of events from Sora’s story leading up to Riku’s sacrifice. The sacrifice is then the chorus (“cold, cold feet”, is Riku stepping forward etc etc). The drop is Sora reviving everyone and resetting the timeline and stuff and the rest of KH3 if there’s enough room. The “wherever you are I wish you well” to “they’re not ringing for me” is Riku being angsty about Sora’s disappearance, looking for him and stuff. The “couldn’t do a thing to make you stay” to “one hell of a story” is Kairi being angsty about it. The pre-chorus is the stuff with the Fairy Godmother and the Final World in MelMem and there’s the cut off. The rest I just gotta wait for I guess lol

Length: Full Song?? (Depends on KH4)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Unlikely but I’ll probably script it out to soothe my mind

Song: Stuff is Way

Character(s)/Game Focus: Vanitas

Description: Basically the animation meme, just Vanitas lip syncing for most of it. The second voice is Xehanort. The images behind would just be various flashes of his life.

Length: 1:36 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: As much as I want to, probably not

Song: The Other Side of Paradise

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ventus

Description: Basically just the scene where Ven walks in on Lauriam attacking Brain and decides it’s a good time to confess to murder. The first two lines are just Ven lip syncing. Then Lauriam attacks for the next line two lines. Darkness leaves Ventus on “caught up in a grip when we where us”. “Fingers in a fist like you might run” is Lauriam tightening his fist around his Keyblade. And the last three lines are a shot of Darkness, and shot of the NULs, and then a shot of the two standing across from each other.

I could’ve sworn I had this scripted out somewhere but I searched all my google accounts and nothing… must’ve been on paper.

Length: 1:01 (3:39-4:40)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Maybe, this one is very vivid in my mind, but its been around for years, and I still haven't touched it so...

Song: I can Go the Distance

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ventus

Description: Purely headcanon based on how I feel Ven’s character might go in the future. Basically about Ven (Post-KH3) going out and trying to find out more about his past. Find the friends from his dream. One of the ones he mentioned he had while while within Sora (“these people I didn’t recognize and weird animal creatures” which I assume are the NULs and Chirithies/Spirits). Mostly just him singing to himself around the Land of Departure (then other worlds he’s exploring during the second half of the song). Herc’s mom and dad are Aqua and Terra.

Length: 3:03 (Full Scene)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Depends on how whether or not Ven actually goes looking

Song: I’m not Fine

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ventus

Description: Just UX Ven vibes really, I try not to think too much about it since I’ll never be able to go forward with it.

Length: 3:29 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, the artist prefers you don’t animate their songs without permission

Song: And the Day Goes On

Character(s)/Game Focus: Xion

Description: The song is kinda goofy and nonsensical but I think it actually really works with Xion's story. The first verse is her normal, missions and some identity issues thrown in for fun. The second is her going to Castle Oblivion. The first chorus is the trio at the clocktower. The third verse is the stuff with Naminé, DiZ, and Riku. The second chorus is her going back and fighting Roxas. The post chorus is her dying and returning to Sora. And the rest of the song is post KH3, just hanging out with her pals (and Isa lol).

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:12 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Mayhaps, this one is one of my favourite non-UX ideas

Song: Graveyard

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ventus

Description: Basically Ven's journey through BBS. This one would have the lyrics on screen. The chorus would be the pretty much the same every time. The majority of the chorus would be a looping run animation. The "they say" and "to the graveyard" parts being the variables. For the former the character to the side of the text 'speaking' changes each time and the later the location Ven ends up is different each time. Everything post "it's funny how the warning signs can feel like they're butterflies" is BBS' final battle.

Length: 3:13 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, I don't think so

Song: Don’t do Sadness/Blue Wind

Character(s)/Game Focus: Lauriam and Strelitzia

Description: Lauriam after realizing Strelitzia is dead and singing down the streets about how he doesn’t have time to be sad, he has to be strong and stuff. Strelitzia’s ghost follows him trying to help him feel his emotions. Then at the end he cries and Strelitzia disappears.

Length: 1:12 (3:53-5:05)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yes, as an animatic, I actually tried to start it a few years ago (here) but if it do finish it I’ll remake it

Song: Revolution

Character(s)/Game Focus: Marluxia

Description: Marluxia in Castle Oblivion having some flashbacks because of Sora and Naminé and stuff.

Script Link

Length: 0:22 (1:21-1:43)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Probably not, its just old and I don't really feel like it anymore

Song: Empty Crown

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ava

Description: Ava during the Keyblade War right as Kingdom Hearts is summoned.

Script Link

Length: 0:26 (3:08-3:34)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: It’s done actually, here

Song: The Valley

Character(s)/Game Focus: Franchise Wide

Description: This one covers so much in a kinda disjointed way, if it described it here it’d be like twice the length of the others. I’d recommend just reading the script.

Script Link

Length: 2:57 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: It’s up on YouTube as an open MAP (here)

Song: Crazy

Character(s)/Game Focus: Luxu/Xigbar

Description: The first verse is mostly just shots of Luxu on the hill reminiscing about what MoM told him before sending him off, then the chorus is him still on the hill singing to No Name. The second verse and chorus is the scene where Ava confronts him. The “my hero’s had the heart to lose the lives I wanna live” to “ever since I was little x2 it looked like fun” is the Forteller’s in Keyblade War and flashbacks to Luxu felling left out and stuff. The “and it’s no coincidence I’ve come” is a transition to Xigbar. The rest of the song is the scene where Xigbar summons back the Foretellers.

Length: 2:59 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Probably not

Song Video: The Rain

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ephemer

Description: So this one has been tweaked a bit. Before UX ended I was pretty positive Ephemer was gonna die, so it was originally centred around that. Now though its Ephemer in the Lifeboat, floating in the water, alone, questioning what he did wrong, why none of his friends are there. Which I think works better, honestly.

Length: 0:36 (Full Video)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Maybe, I like this one a lot and it’s quite simple but I think it may get beaten out by newer projects

Song: Youth

Character(s)/Game Focus: The NULs (Ephemer, Skuld, Brain, Ven, Lauriam)

Description: I think this song fits so well with KHUX, I like lost my mind when I made the connection. Like that whole first verse? So on the nose it hurts. The first verse, pre-chorus and chorus would focus specifically on UX, with the first verse being Ava talking about/to Ephemer, then it following Ephemer through the events of Union X. The next verse is Subject X (Skuld) having vague memories of UX. Then next the pre-chorus and chorus follows Ven through BBS. The following pre-chorus and chorus are Marluxia. And the last “pre-chorus” is Brain in Scala (I originally thought he was the founder so my original idea kinda holds up).

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 3:54 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Despite how well it works, probably not, just doesn’t ensnare me like other ideas (I say after writing a whole paragraph about it)

Song: There Right There (Gay or European)

Character(s)/Game Focus: The LowerClassmen (Eraqus, Vor, Bragi, Hermod, Urd, Xehanort)

Description: 🎶Gay or an off worlder🎶

The LowerClassmen at various points in time arguing about whether Xehanort is an off worlder or gay because as soon as he showed up Vor gaydar went off. Bragi uses advanced tactics to try and get Xehanort to admit it. And when Xehanort denies it Eraqus comes in. Also the part where Urd says “Metro, hetero, jerk” I like to imagine she’s gesturing aggressively towards Bragi, who is just staring at her confused like “I’m not even straight??” (Urd has no gaydar, fight me lol).

The script is just which character is saying what

Script Link

Length: 3:28 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Probably, I try to resist but this idea will win out eventually, I can feel it

UX Finale Era Ideas

You’d think there’d be more since this was one of the peaks of my hyperfixation but I actually was just writing and drawing a bunch during this time, not listening to a lot of music lol (also Neo came out and stole my attention until Christmas because I watched Tennelle and Whitney play it as they were streaming it)

I also got really stuck on making the scripts look a certain way during this time and that led to a lot of them being incomplete

Song: Blackout

Character(s)/Game Focus: UX Endgame

Description: Literally the UX Endgame, starting with Darkness knocking Ven out.

Script Link

Length: 2:11 (1:30-3:41)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Depends on how many animations I make of the same events lol

Song: Choice

Character(s)/Game Focus: UX

Description: This one, like Stuff is Way is an animation meme, semi inspired by the one Blackie Sootfur made. "Love" is Lauriam and Strelitzia since that's what their stories revolve around (different types mind you). "Brain" is, uh, well, Brain, for obvious reasons. "Heart" is Ephemer and Skuld since it was the open space and they're also besties. And "control" is Ventus since he's lowkey possessed. The rest of the meme outside of the loop is centered around Ven's whole "oops murder" plot and his and the other's reactions too it.

Script Link

Length: 0:40 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Working on it right now actually

Song: Soldier

Character(s)/Game Focus: UX Endgame

Description: Starts with Luxu and MoM talking, then some glitches on the "Ooh"s , the rest is Chi trio during the finale

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:07 (1:38-3:45)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Maybe, a lot of my ideas have very similar scenes though, so it depends on how often I animate the same events lol

Song: Warriors

Character(s)/Game Focus: The Foretellers

Description: Kinda headcannon-y at the start, which is the MoM and the Foreteller's + Luxu when they were younger. Then on the first "Here we are, don't turn away now" it turns to them while leading their Unions and stuff leading up to the war. Then there's some Keyblade War stuff in the drop.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:17 (0:00-2:17)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, I try my best to stay away from headcannon-y stuff since I already have so many canon animation ideas I need to choose between

Song: My Way (Minor Cover)

Character(s)/Game Focus: Luxu/Bragi/Braig/Xigbar

Description: This used to be very different but got a new coat of paint and breath of life once DR came out. But yeah, kinda just Luxu living his lives.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 4:37 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Either this one or one you see later (Dust Bowl Dance), I would like to do one but not both since they cover primarily the same events

Song: Mama Said

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain

Description: Brain reflecting on his UX days after arriving in Scala, looking at Ephemer's statue, then lying to Sigurd lol

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 0:29 (1:54-2:23)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Its short, its sad-ish. Giving it a solid maybe

Song: Guillotine

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ephemer and Skuld

Description: Skuld has a nightmare and Ephemer comforts her and then does a dance to try and make her feel better

Length: 1:08 (0:00-1:08)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Maybe, I started it then got possessed by the next one and lost interest, but now that I’m looking back at it I’m definitely tempted to try again (just as an animatic tho)

Song: Safe and Sound

Character(s)/Game Focus: Chi Trio (Ephemer, Skuld, and Player)

Description: Basically just the Chi Trio's part of the UX finale again. Geez, guess that scene really got to me or something.

Script Link

Length: 1:36 (0:14-1:50)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yep, this one’s finished, but YouTube took the original version down so here’s the original version and here’s the YouTube version (I tried my best to find a cover that lined up properly but the original syncs up best)

Song: Oh Ana

Character(s)/Game Focus: Back Cover and UX

Description: The first section is MoM, the second is the Foretellers (telling the events of Backcover from Ava's perspective), the third is the NULs (telling the events post-glitches in UX).

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 1:14 (0:28-1:42)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: If I can sort out the MoM part I'd like to

Song: Bugbear

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ventus

Description: Just UX Ven vibes again, him feeling like an imposter and stuff (because he is)

Length: 2:54 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, not enough clear images and scenes in my mind

Post-ML Announcement Ideas

Less Brain centric than you’d think but I’m making this a separate section because of the way they’re scripted and the ideas behind them. I got much more lax about how the scripts look and started think more about Ephemer and Brain’s futures.

So basically a lot of “I miss my friends” kind of angst

It’s also after I started reading Dandelion Seeds so there’s definitely inspiration from that in here too

Song: Hey There Delilah

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ephemer

Description: Ephemer after using the Lifeboat writing letters for the other Union Leaders. Each "different section of the song"hey ther Delilah" is a different letter (and point in time). The first and second ones are to Skuld. The third one I haven't decided yet. The forth is to Brain (I don't ship them, I just headcannon its a running joke between the two of them and Skuld that Eph and Brain are secretly madly in love. Skuld started it, Ephemer went with it, Brain is amused annoyed by it lol). Then "A thousand miles seems pretty far" to "and you're to blame" is just general, to everyone, just like a montage I guess, with some memories behind him. Then the last letter is to Brain when.

Length: 3:57 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, I don’t think so, the idea isn’t fleshed out enough visually, but it breaks my heart to say that

Song: King and Lionheart

Character(s)/Game Focus: The NULs

Description: This one is very inspired by Dandelion Seeds, I wrote it after getting caught up to the update it was at at the time (just know that in the script every time I'm like "NULs helping the Dandelions" or "NULs having fun" there's a scene from Dandelion Seeds playing in my head there lol).

It starts off with Ava, but then pretty much follows all the events of UX.

Script Link

Length: 3:06 (0:00-3:06)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Very likely, I love this one so much. But I know for a fact that I'm gonna get stuck on making Maleficent look right in my style (which is gonna be the biggest game of trial and error ever)

Song: Uncomfortably Numb

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain, Ava (and Luxu for like 2 seconds)

Description: A split screen animation telling both Brain and Ava's (the masculine and feminine voices respectively) stories (its only split screen during the parts they're both singing though). During the chorus where the singers are going back and forth so are the characters through space and time (not actually but you know lol). Brain's sections would take place during Missing Link, whereas Ava's are during Backcover/Chi. Ava's section alone is the scene where she confronts Luxu on the hill.

Length: 4:11 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: I don’t think so, because a) it all depends on how Missing Link goes and b) it isn’t super set in my head yet (like I might just change the all Brain stuff to Luxu)

Song: Faded

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ephemer

Description: Ansty animatic of Ephemer looking for his friends in the wreckage of his home with all sorts of water symbolism.

Length: 3:33 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No, not enough actual images in my head just a vibe for a concept (kinda like Hey There Delilah I guess)

Song: Masterpiece Theatre III

Character(s)/Game Focus: The NULs and Luxu

Description: Start of the song to a bit after the second "I'll wreck this if I have to" is UX Ven focused. Mostly angsty stuff about him being possessed. "You get separated" to "you were a friend of mine" is Ephemer during the finale. You know the drill. Player gets 'possessed' and killed, oof. Alternitively if we get a bit headcannon-y it can be after UX and him rebuilding Scala, the "You were a friend of mine" referring to a possessed Brain. All the "'cause they don't know you like I do"s are Brain in Scala. Super angry rock part is Subject X/Skuld being upset about the scientists and being unable to return to the world she sees so vaguely in her memories. Then it slows down and turns to Marluxia until the last "getting better in the worst way". After which it switches to Luxu.

Length: 6:41 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: HAHAHAH NO. Way too long and not vivid enough for some characters. I’m sorry lol

Song: We are Stars

Character(s)/Game Focus: Sora and Riku

Description: Very stylized PMV. With black and white silhouettes and funky transitions. Not very specific scene-wise but references DDD the most. I don’t know how to explain it without just saying the script so, like, check out the script if your interest is piqued lol

Script Link

Length: 0:10 (0:21-0:31)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yeah, I was thinking about making it in PowerPoint

Song: Ocean Eyes

Character(s)/Game Focus: Stelitzia

Description: Basically Strelitzia’s little intro thing she has. She sees Player get ditched by Ephemer, low key stalks Player, gets told she’s a Union Leader, needs to know whether Player is a Dandelion if a war is coming, gets murdered. All to some chill music.

Script Link

Length: 1:06 (0:00-0:42 and 2:42-3:16)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Kinda working on it now? Have a few frames done but no storyboard yet

Song: Eyes Blue X Heather

Character(s)/Game Focus: Ephemer and Brain

Description: First chorus is an older Ephemer remembering his friends and being upset that he just can't seem to remember their eye colours. Then it switches to UX Ephemer and continues to focus on him until "you played", where it switches to both him and Brain (the scene where Brain gives him the book and his keyblade). "Jack and Rose" it switches to split screen of them both at the computers at their respective versions of Daybreak Town. "But you sunk only you froze", Brain's side of the screen consumes Ephemer's as Luxu approaches him. "'Cause you gave her your sweater", Brin spins around and tries to summon his keyblade but can't. Black screen. Then the rest of the verses are Ephemer in the wreckage of his home and the last chorus is Brain arriving in Scala.

Length: 0:54 (0:00-0:54)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Ughhhhh, so tempted, but I don't think so, but I want to

Song: Lauren’s Interlude

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain and Ava

Description: Ava writes Brain a letter telling him that she has decided to fight in the Keyblade War.

Script Link

Length: 1:13 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yep this one is made and up on my YouTube channel (here)

Song: Change your Mind (but a cover)

Character(s)/Game Focus: Isa, Xion

Description: Post-KH3 Isa singing this to Xion telling her that its okay if she doesn't want to forgive him and that he's willing to reconcile for his past actions, but if at any point she wants to actually get to know him, Isa not Saïx, she can.

Length: 0:55 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yeah, eventually

Song: Homeward Bound/Home

Character(s)/Game Focus: The NULs

Description: Similar to King and Lionheart just even more from the NULs perspective (and giving more focus to each NUL individually... except Brain... RIP lol)

Script Link

Length: 4:17 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yep, this one I’m working on making an animatic of right now

Post-DR Update Ideas

Biggest difference here is that now Baldr is here and Bragi exists so we have them now lol

Song: Dust Bowl Dance

Character(s)/Game Focus: Luxu/Bragi/Braig/Xigbar

Description: Starts with Xigbar reminiscing a little in the Keyblade Graveyard post-KH3 ("the young man sits on the edge of his porch" to "given all it could yield"). Then does a full on flashback to UX, starting with MoM sending him off and ending with his confrontation with Ava, for "I've been kicked off my land" to "this same kind of remorse". The first chrous is him during the UX finale and possessing Brain. "Well you are my accuser" to the first "I am the only son" is Bragi getting threatened by Baldr then uno reversing him. The next two choruses are Braig and Xigbar stuff, all the way up until the end of KH3. Then the goes out of the flashbacks to where we left off in the first scene. He finds No Name summons and back the Foretellers.

Length: 4:44 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Like I said earlier either this one or My Way, but not both, they're too similar (but if I’m honest I lean towards this one)

Song: I AM NOT INSANE

Character(s)/Game Focus: Baldr

Description: Alright, first things first, this is another animation meme, please watch it first to properly understand my passion and description.

K. You back? I watched this meme once and had a vision.

The falling parts show Baldr’s victims at the point in time the animation is showing. The fact that that gives me a chance to do the sickest transition ever with Baldr summoning his keyblade and slashing his victims, turning them into the blood on his face. Ahhhhhh! The way I can end it with Baldr begging for his life and Xehanort being the one to say the last “I don’t really care now” thereby paralleling them and foreshadowing Xehanort’s future crimes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I wanna ramble more but I don’t have any more words in me, just screaming.

If you only read one script please let it be this one I’m so happy with/proud of this idea (in case you couldn’t tell lol)

Script Link

Length: 0:54 (1:14-2:08)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yes. Yes. 100 times, yes. I love this idea. I love they way it looks in my head. I just need to get a bit better at humans, and angles, and editing first

Song: Fine, Great

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain

Description: Brain is having a TIME in Scala. Starts off with a bit of PTSD. Then some sitting at a board meeting where some people are complaining about the government (they want him to take over). Then Player shows up. Then I need to wait for ML to come out and fill in some blanks for me. Then it ends with Brain and Player being friends and having a conversation.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:32 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Depends on how Missing Link goes (need it to fill some of my ideas out more)

Song: Hell of a Ride

Character(s)/Game Focus: MoM

Description: Literally just Brain watching MoM (on his computer) singing about the NULs with little pictures of events behind him then it glitches at the end. Mostly a joke but it lives within me rent free.

Length: 0:15 (1:34-1:49)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Probably, it’s short enough

Song: When the Lights Go Out

Character(s)/Game Focus: UX Endgame

Description: Very slow dramatic retelling of the UX finale, starting with the big glitches in the sky right before Wreck it Ralph that turns to a very quick, still dramatic, retelling of each of the NULs lives afterwards that I need to edit in the script (the way its written there no longer lines up with the way it looks in my head) at the big final bit.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:46 (1:47-4:33)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yes, I made it simple enough up until the end that I should be able to actually finish it despite the length… but I might make it into a MAP instead if I can get enough attention from other artists for my sanity’s sake

Song: Love Don’t Go

Character(s)/Game Focus: DR

Description: Speaking of dramatic retellings. Lets change it up a little and do Dark Road this time. This ones a bit Baldr centric but it does have a decent amount of focus on what the other two active parties are doing as well.

Also in the script I say "V Gang" that's what I call Vidar, Vala, and Vali (and usually Vor but not in this case) as a group. Since, like... all their names start with V... and they work together... I dunno man lol

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:32 (0:00-2:32)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Not alone, way too animated in my brain to actually reasonably expect to finish it all by myself, even as an animatic. But I do also love it dearly

Song: Are You Satisfied

Character(s)/Game Focus: Intended NULs (Everyone minus Ven but including Strelitzia)

Description: First half of the song is Strelitzia being told she's meant to be a Union Leader, Ephemer living his life, and Brain having to deal with actually being a Union Leader + the end of UX. The second half is Skuld as Subject X, Marluxia, wrapping up with Strelitzia again, now finding Sora in Quadratum.

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 3:19 (Full Song)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Maybe, but if I do I'll probably shorten it to just Ephemer and Brain's sections

Song: Goodbye to a World

Character(s)/Game Focus: Player and Ephemer

Description: Here I go again with the scene where Ephemer kills Player. There's a little more to it this time though, I swear. This one has a little bit more of "Ephemer built a future for his friend" flare!

Script Link

Length: 0:30 (1:44-2:14)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yep, this one’s a WIP, I’m super close to finishing it (the YouTube WIP is old) but the Scala Fountain is making me procrastinate lol

Song: Skyfall

Character(s)/Game Focus: Chi Trio

Description: A really dramatic and slow animation depicting Player's sacrifice and the events before it

Length: 2:00 (0:00-2:00)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Probably not, I already have so many animations I want to do more with that one scene, and this one is looong

Song: Don’t Tell Your WIFE About This Game!

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain

Description: Nope, this isn’t a joke, hear me out. The… drop?? meltdown?? of this song just really gives me Brain vibes, and a very specific image in my mind. I mean “you refuse to look at the guide ‘cause you think you’re way too smart”, this kid literally had the Book of Prophecies this whole time, and I mean sure, it was probably a trap but he didn’t exactly know that. And the whole video game motif fitting right in with data world stuff? Eating it up. Giving Brain a non-cannon breakdown moment? Necessary for that emotional high note (but also Brain should get to have a canon one *preemptively does vaguely threatening gestures towards ML*).

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 0:40 (2:21-3:01)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Yes, I was thinking this could be my project once we get a proper release date for ML (so I could release it the day it comes out)

Song: It’s about Time

Character(s)/Game Focus: Skuld

Description: This one covers all of Skuld’s story we know so far, minus the Subject X stuff (yes my money is still on her, thanks), with a twist. The song talks about being on a tightrope so why not put her on one. Like, she’s been through some pretty precarious situations. It’s symbolic. Also the I’d cut the song right through the middle. RIP first chorus and second verse, you didn’t fit in my vision.

Oh also this one has concept art

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 2:44 (0:00-1:07 and 2:09-3:46)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: No clue, the concept art might’ve scratched my itch, but I also think it’s a fun idea, but I think all of these are fun so…

Song: Moonsickness

Character(s)/Game Focus: Brain

Description: Brain is upset with the way history is so muddled in Scala, has a flashback, then yells at the government

Script Link (Incomplete)

Length: 1:38 (3:52-5:14)

Do I plan on actually making it some day?: Depends on how much Missing Link fits into my current headcannons

Whoo! That’s all of them

Or, well… most of them… the ones I felt were worth mentioning.

Is this a cry for help? Definitely. Maybe.

Seriously though, thank you for getting this far into the post. Even if you didn’t read and/or listen to everything (I get it, it really is a lot). This took forever and I hope you found some enjoyment from it.

And hey, if any of these sparked your interest let me know. DM me, tell me in tags, what have you. I’d love to hear feedback

Especially if you were inspired enough to want to do a collab or have ideas for blank spots in scripts (I’ll love you forever if you want to help me /p /hj) .

#I have a very active mind #and it uses all of its energy listening to music torturing me with animations #If by any chance a miracle happens and any of these catch your eye (like you wanna collab with me) let me know #I’m always down getting any of these ideas out of my head will bring me such joy #Hey its the me that's actually finished this now #this took like two weeks on and off lol #I'm so glad its done #such a satisfying experience to finally get some of these out there and out of my head #kh animation ideas #khux #(only tagging this KHUX ‘cause that’s pretty much all it is lol)#sometimes i think about khux

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venjamin-kingdomhearts · 2 years

Note

OKAY I HAVE TO APPROACH ON MAIN THIS TIME

i got to read a couple of your writings after the past few days of work and i just ??? Holy crap, what a stroke of genius to take the replica concept with Roxas. im always enamored by the reality that KH has set up, with the rules behind hearts and bodies and souls. like a heart being able to shatter. having a replica start to break down? im gonna sound like an insane person, but there's just something there that's intriguing.

the manga for chain of memories and 358 tried to tackle that kind of thing, but it never went too far past some creepy visuals. but having it written out, something like losing your sight, the sensation of touch. it's terrifying, and it's so fitting for Roxas. it would be horrifying for him, familiar in a sense to when he gave up his life to Sora in kh2 and was forced into non-existence.

IM BAD AT WRITING LIKE THIS, but I wanted to come and sing some praises bc it's just so interesting as a premise. i am going to continue reading everything, but i wanted to drop this comment before i forgot :3

AHH hi again!! im so happy to hear you enjoyed some of my drabbles, thank you so much for stopping by! oooh, eheh, this is a headcanon i haven't talked about too much but have written about a few times!! iii should really post my other stuff to AO3, i have a few older fics that kinda touch on this headcanon... hmm... I've always had a headcanon that since Roxas was brought back into a Replica body in KH3, he sometimes has dissociative episodes and more literal moments of disconnect from his Replica body! I think it can both be terrifying for him and kinda just... "a thing that happens". I have a lotta headcanons about Roxas, Xion, and Ventus, and the effect being a part of Sora has on them. For Xion and Ventus, I kinda imagine they have a lotta issues with their identity (Xion being scared of losing herself again and not wanting to be compared to Sora, while Ventus has to deal with this odd attachment/desire to be more like Sora) while Roxas is more confident in who he is, but has a lot of frustration realizing that other people don't see him as "Roxas", and see him more as just "Sora's Other". Along with that, I like to think all of them are susceptible to feeling "disconnected" from their own bodies, with Roxas in particular having problems adjusting to his Replica body. (Xion's fear is losing herself to "Sora", Ventus' fear is that he misses being "Sora", and Roxas' fear is being seen as a shadow of "Sora". And they all have a hard time being used to just being themselves again, both mental hurdles and physical ones. ) I don't really see the Replica bodies as robotic, buuuut I kinda feel like they wouldn't be 100% human, either. I don't mean in the cyborg sense, juuuust that maybe they'd malfunction sometimes! Especially if the Heart inside (Roxas) wasn't originally a Replica (unlike Xion, who was literally made to inhabit a Replica). Though, I guess every human body can "malfunction". But Replica hiccups are more Heart-magic related, or somethin, like the Heart has trouble connecting to a new body. I just like messing around with that idea, aaand I'm really excited to share my thoughts about this eheh. I don't know if it would make too much sense in canon, but! I think it's fun to think that people who's Hearts have been "disconnected" from their physical bodies at some point might have some issues just... being a person again! Xion, Ven, and Roxas know this best, of course. So they're always looking out for each other. Xion's a lot calmer/more understanding when it comes to Roxas' Replica hiccups, while Ventus is a huge worrywart and is usually in charge of going to get help when Rox wants it. Oh man, I can imagine Ventus doing a lotta research into Keyblade Transformations so he can convert his glider into a wheelchair of sorts if Roxas ever needs it.... though on this note! i didn't know the KH manga touched on this sorta stuff!! if you or anyone has the pages as examples, feel free to tag me in them, if ya want! either way, thanks for chatting to me about this and giving me an excuse to ramble, eheh. 💚

#my thoughts #my headcanons #heart hotel #AHH eheh thank you so much for the ask!!!#i kinda like viewing this headcanon as both. 'oh it can be scary' and 'oh it can just be a slice of life sorta thing'.#after a few terrifying encounters with his replica body loosing certain senses for a while... roxas accepts whats going on #and as long as ven and xion are by his side. he can calm down until he recovers.#if anything ventus is. always more scared for roxas than roxas is. ooops.#the days where roxas has a REAL bad time... his replica body almost 'shutting down' in a way. those are the days ventus NEVER #leaves his side.#ventus #xion #roxas #ventus and roxas

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angelthefandomobsessed · 2 years

Text

Where Kingdom Hearts III Went 'Wrong'

I should probably open this by saying that I love Kingdom Hearts III. I love KH for what it is, and the usual "Omg it's so weird, the plot doesn't make sense, eVeRyOnE iS sOrA" thing doesn't strike me as the best form of criticism for the series.

Instead, I wanted to highlight why things got so convoluted (in my opinion, anyway, it's not like I was in the writer's room or anything). I think the direction KH has gone (and is going) serves as a good lesson for any aspiring writers out there - we can learn from these shortcomings and love a series. Wild, right?

So... where did KH3 go 'wrong'?

The writers wrote themselves into a corner in DDD. That's it. It doesn't seem like a lack of planning that came back to bite them, but rather, that they went about planning in an inefficient way.

Let's look at the conflict of KH3.

(Warning: There will be a few spoilers for KH3 ahead!)

Xehanort has put together the 'real organisation' so that he can do a keyblade war reenactment, forge the χ-blade and summon Kingdom Hearts. His main goal (as I understand it, which might be very, very incorrect) is to create a new world where darkness and light can be equal, quashing the imbalance of power that is skewed towards light.

It's not a bad conflict to have. KH has very strong motifs of 'light vs dark', and having a villain fight the inequality between these sides is interesting.

The big problem is the setup behind it. The complicated, hard-to-grasp, tedious setup.

Thirteen darknesses have to fight seven lights. Cool, okay, we can see the imbalance between the sides, we have slots for our characters to fill, roles for them to play... Except, there's not enough room in the plot for them all. By sectioning off each side with neat, numerical values, the bloatedness of the cast becomes obvious.

There are seven lights:

Sora has to be one of them. He's the main character, not to mention the poster child for the light.

Riku's been there since the start, plus he's had the most fleshed-out arc by far, having overcome his own darkness. He's a worthy guardian of light and a true keyblade master.

Kairi is a princess of heart and has been there from the start. This ties a bow on our three main-est characters.

Mickey Mouse. He kind of has to be there, it's a Disney game, right?

Axel/Lea. Roxas and Xion are out of the picture, and he's a fan favourite, so sure, why not?

Aqua. A keyblade master who's suffered for ten years, torn apart from her best friends... Sure, maybe a war isn't great for her right now, but she's a lost master, so she should be.

Ventus. Pure cinnamon roll Ven, newly awakened and ready to beat up some Xehanorts.

Okay, but... what about Donald and Goofy? Oh, okay, they can just... hang out with the seven lights. As moral support, I guess? At that point, why not make it nine lights?

Double but - what about Terra? He's going to be saved at some point, so he can just... join the herd. And Roxas? And Xion? Eh, they can act as sub-ins in case anyone accidentally dies.

Oh, what's that? Kairi's dead? Wow, sucks for her, call in the reserves. Wait... If the 'Guardians of Light' can be swapped out, then what's the point in having a set number of them?

It's almost like it's entirely arbitrary.

Right. So our seven lights are more like ten-ish lights + friends. It happens, maths is hard! How do our darknesses fare?

The thirteen darknesses are (in no particular order):

Xehanort

Xemnas

Ansem

Young Xehanort

Terra Xehanort

Riku Replica

Saix

Vanitas

Marluxia

Larxene

Luxord

Xigbar

Xion

Somewhat hilariously, the dark side also has a team of reserves.

Demyx

Vexen

The wiki lists 'Replica Xehanorts' as reserves, but I'm not about to unpack that one

Imagine being Vexen, the guy responsible for dealing with replicas, the invention sustaining this organisation, and being benched in favour of teenage angst incarnate Replica Riku. Ouch.

By this point, you might be wondering how this use of arbitrary numbers actually impacted the storytelling. Organisation XIII only had thirteen members for like, a week, so clearly counting isn't a strong suit of Xehanort's.

It all falls apart when the writers say (in DDD):

"KH3 will be about this, where this happens, with this many people, at this specific place, so get your popcorn and buckle in!"

On its own, that's not a problem. But when there's a giant pile of other plot points to worry about (Aqua's in Disney hell, Ventus is napping, Terra is somehow, kinda sorta, three different people whilst also being trapped in heartless thingy (whilst also being a suit of armour, but not quite), Roxas is stuck in Sora's heart, Xion has been wiped off the face of the earth via memory nuke, Naminé is in Kairi's heart, Sora needs to discover the mystical (and vague) 'power of waking' to deal with half these problems, Lea and Kairi need to train, and Riku needs to go to the 'Heartless Barbershop in Disney Hell' (the most relevant plot point of all)).

What we get is a tangle of 'this can happen when this happens, but first we need to do this one thing, and to do that we need this other thing' (i.e. "To find Ven we need to find Aqua, who is evil and needs to be good again, and Sora needs the power of waking to deal with this... probably, let's put a pin in it and hang out with Buzz Lightyear").

The plot is murky. The plot is confusing.

This entire plot raises the question of 'Why don't Sora and co. just... not go?' That's a good question, which should have a simple answer (if they don't, the org will do baaaaad things, wooOOOoooOOO), but instead what we get is "If they don't, Xehanort will use the new seven hearts (because there are new ones now for some reason, but Kairi's still one of them, dw about it) instead, guaranteeing bad things... probably?"

Xehanort's a bad guy who needs to be stopped. That's it, that's all we needed. But that avenue was closed off once they said 'nah, it's more complex because of prophecies, I guess'.

So, what's the moral of this long, drawn-out post?

Sometimes, it might seem like a super cool idea to have a group of characters band together to defeat evil. Sometimes mashing them into a prophecy can seem appealing (the five great owls will do the unholy hoot, defeating the nine-and-a-half orange rats at sundown in Mississippi). But sometimes, this kind of self-restriction won't work for you.

KH3 could have just had 'the bad guys' and 'the good guys', and nobody would have to worry about the arbitrary parameters set by the writers.

Keep your options open and don't overcomplicate things just for the sake of it! It'll only give you and your consumer a headache.

All that being said, KH3 really delivered on the emotional payoffs so like, forget the randomly numbered groups, let's appreciate the joy that (most of) these characters are allowed to feel now.

#kingdom hearts #kh #kingdom hearts iii #kh3 #writing advice #spoilers #xehanort and his ridiculous plan #man really said “I'll just confuse them into doing what I want”

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lightandfellowship · 1 year

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I'm nosey but also curious on what your opinion is on whether or not the khdr should come back in some way into the main plot. Like if they were in quad or something. Personally I would love to see them come back but idk if that would weaken khdr's tragedy or not. Its the days dilemma

(Major KH3/MOM/KHDR spoilers)

The KHDR fan in me would be thrilled to see KHDR breach the confines of its game. It's an excellently written story with a compelling and likeable cast of characters, even if many of them are underdeveloped/underutilized. I think there's a lot of fun and interesting things you could do with them to make their potential shine more, if you were to bring them back. And in a way it would almost seem fitting to bring them back precisely because of this aforementioned lost potential.

And even speaking more neutrally, I don't really have too big of a problem with characters from KHDR "coming back to life" in some shape or form. That's just kinda normal for this series, even before Roxas and Xion were brought back in KH3 (see: the entire Organization coming back to life because they got recompleted. AFAIK this plot point was discussed in interviews long before it finally made its debut in DDD, so the concept of KH bringing back dead characters is pretty old, actually). And of course everyone has different opinions on these once-dead characters returning, but I'm of the mind that coming back to life doesn't necessarily erase a prior tragedy, at least not in all cases.

I'd say the only problem I see with bringing them back is the fact that Xehanort and Eraqus are now canonically passed on in the present timeline. With no one around left to make these characters' "revivals" emotionally relevant within the story, their inclusion in the main plot might feel kinda strange and unncessary. Unless, like you say, this is a Quadratum scenario where Xehanort and/or Eraqus are running around alive as well.

Of course characters have inherent narrative worth outside of their relationships to other characters, but I'm just saying it'd be a bit of a wasted opportunity to, for example, bring Vor back but then not have Eraqus around to emotionally react to it, you know? Their return, ideally, should have a strong impact on the characters, not just the audience.

#rambling about dim path #One exception to the last point I think would be if a revived character has to grapple with one of their loved ones #Not being there waiting for them when they come back #That can be an interesting emotional thread to explore

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blackhakumen · 2 years

Text

Mini Fanfic #1048: Morning After Midnight Intruder (Kingdom Hearts x SSBU)

9:25 a.m. Inside the Smash Mansion.......

Pit: (Licks his Seasalt Ice Cream Alongside with Roxas and Xion) ('Mm') I dunno, you guys. (Takes One Bite of his Ice Cream Before Putting on a Satisfied Smile) But the Seasalt Ice Cream from your store doesn't taste half bad to me

Xion: ('Sigh') Yeah, but the taste in quality doesn't nearly stack up in comparison to Smash Town's version....

Roxas: Though, we have yet to taste the worst of the worst. So our day haven't been completely ruined yet.

Pit: You guys are really taking this tasting test that seriously, huh‽

Xion: (Smiles Sheepishly) Sorry. We've been eating these things with Axel for so long that we might have a habit of judging each of them sometimes...... (Points at Her Best Friend Right Beside her) Roxas being the worst of the three of us here.

Roxas: (Places his Hand on his Chest in a Pompous Manner) Hey, don't hate me just cause I have well balanced taste!~

Xion: (Whispers to a Snickering Pit) Definite "Well Balanced".

?????: PIT!!!

The trio turn their heads to see Sora and Kairi quickly making their way to Pit to hug him.

Sora: You're okay!

Pit: (Chuckles Lightly) Aww~ (Hugs The Duo) Good morning, you guys.

Riku: (Walk Towards Roxas and Xion) Isa filled us in on what happened last night?

Kairi: (Pulls Away From the Hug to Get a Quick Look at her Angel Companion) Are you okay? That Xigbar guy didn't try to hurt you or anything, did he?

Pit: Nope. Though, he was kinda of a creepy jerk.

Roxas: (Puts on a Deadpinned Look on his Face) That's putting it lightly.

Xion: (Crosses her Arms While Pouting) I didn't even got the chance to slice him up to ribbons. .

Roxas: All of our chances were diminished that day. Motherfucker came into our house, ate our ice cream, and gave us some cryptic warning about the foretellers being mad at us about something.

Sora: Seriously?

Xion: (Nodded) Yeah. He calls himself Luxu now.

Riku: (Grabs his Chin While Thinking) Luxu.....Luxu......

Kairi: (Turns to her Silver Haired Boyfriend) Something's on your mind, Riku?

Riku: I'm trying to remember where I heard that name from.... (Turns Back to the Seasalt Duo) You said he knows who the foretellers were?

Roxas: Yeah, apparently he's working alongside them now.

Xion: And that only one of them is missing.

Riku: Working alongside each other.....(Suddenly Starts to Snap his Fingers as He Figured Put Something) That's it!

Pit: (Raises an Eyebrow in Confusion) What's it?

Riku: Okay, do you remember the lesson Aqua and Terra gave us about the Master of Masters? How he worked alongside the Foretellers on numerous occasions, especially during the Keyblade War?

Sora: Yeah, remember.....Wasn't he like a mentor to all of them or something?

Riku: For the most. But I know for certain that he also used to had an apprentice by his side too. And... well....Let's just that "Luxu" person might be the one.

Roxas: (Eyes Suddenly Begins to Widened Along With Everyone Else (With the Exception of Pit)) Oh fuck-

Meanwhile at the Certified Moms' Tea Table

Lea: (Groans Loudly While Covering his Head Down on the Table) MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (Gets his Head Back Up From the Table) You're telling me that One Eyed Snake was that guy's apprentice this whole time!?

Aqua: (Grabs her Chin While Thinking and Sitting Next to Lea on One Side) Well, given his name and the history him and the master shared, the possibility isn't too far fetched I'm afraid.

Lea: (Facepalms Himself While Groaning Once More) Great.....The Foretellers are gonna be after our asses and now THIS!? We are so fucking screwed....

Samus: (Gently Place her Hand onto Lea's Arm on, Sitting Beside Him on the Other Side) Hey, don't stress yourself out over this, alright?

Daisy: Yeah, man. (Flexes her Arm Muscle With a Confident Smirk) Just say the word and we'll be there to help you take those jerks down ever step of the way!

Moms: Yeah!/Uh-huh!/Absolutely!

Aqua: (Frowns Worryingly) You ladies are too kind, but are you sure all of you want to get involved in this?

Lea: Yeah, I heard those guys are no joke.

Peach: (Smiles Reassuringlyat the Two Keyblade Warriors) We know it'll be a challenge, but we have faced through crazier stuff before. ('Sigh') Especially that whole Dharkon and Galeem nonsense......

Lea: (Raises an Eyebrow in Confusion) Who and what now?

Rosalina: Dharkon and Galeem. Two powerful entities of light and darkness, hellbent on taking over the entire universe.

Samus: (Rolls her Eyes) For whatever bullshit reason they had at the time. I don't remember.

Isabelle: (Places her Paw on her Chin) Neither do I now that I think about it.

Palutena: I think both sides wanted to create a cult of some kind?.....Yeah, that has to be it, right?

Bayonetta: (Crosses her Arns at the Past Memory of the Event) Now that you mentioned it, I do remember seeing the look in Dharkon's eyes when I was one of his mindless slave. Brainwashing me and the others to serving his cause.....

Daisy: ('Groans in Digust') Don't remind me. The video De showed of that one eyed bastard torturing Weegie with his mind games still makes me wanna punch him to oblivion...

Aqua: It was that bad, wasn't it?

Peach: It was, in more ways than not. (Smiles Softly Again) But we were still able to pull through in the end and we won't let this Luxu person get the better of us that easily. Right, ladies?

Moms: Right!

Lea: (Turns to Aqua With a Shrug) The more the merrier.

Aqua: (Gave it Some Thought Before Nodding in Agreement) Very well. We'll let you all know if Him and/or one of the Foretellers lurks by in our universe. In the meantime, try to prepare yourselves by then.

Peach: (Simply Nodded) Okay. We'll do our best.

Lea: Hey, Palutena, can I ask you something?

Palutena: (Turns to Lea) Hm?

Lea: So uh.....(Starts Rubbing The Back of his Head Back and Forth While Looking Away) I know this isn't my business and all but....is it true that Pit was....thrown into a....active volcano onc-

An instant, Palutena eyes suddenly begins to widens and tense up as she easily breaks her teacup with the grip of her hand

'GLASS BREAK'

Peach: ('Gasps') PAULIE!

Samus: The hell!?

Tifa: Your hand!!

Rosalina: Not again....

Lea: (Immediately Hides his Face Behind Aqua in Complete Fear) Nevermind! Forget I said anything!!!

Palutena: (Immediately Change her Mood From Anger to Mortified by her Actions) Oh no! I-I'm so sorry, Lea! I didn't mean to scare you like that! I-

Bayonetta: (Gently Places her Hands Onto her Girlfriend's Shoulders and Slowly Rubs Them) Breathe in and out now, darling. You can do this.

Palutena quickly nodded as she breathes in and out to calm herself down.

Bayonetta: That's it. There you go, my dear goddess. Just like that. One more.....

Palutena let out one more exhale.

Bayonetta: And that's that's. ('Sigh') You know we've talked about this multiple times, right?

Palutena: (Places her Hand on her Forehead as the Other Hand She Breaks her Cup With, Heals on it's Own) ('Sigh') I know, it just......REALLY hard not get upset every time it's brought up.....

Lea: (Puts his Finger Up) I take full responsibility for the nerve I struck today!

Palutena: (Frowns Sadly) No, Lea, you don't have to do any of that, okay? If anyone in this table needs to apologize, is me for scaring you.

Lea: (Gets Away From Aqua's Back as He Gives the Goddess a Sheepish Smile) Hey, there's no need for apologies. I totally get where you're coming from in all of this. I'd be pissed too if that were to happen to my kids.

Samus: Ain't that the truth. ('Sigh') But yeah, it's true.... Pit, Kirby, and Ganondorf were all thrown in that volcano two years ago. Not an active one thankfully, but it was still hot enough to be considered lethal.

Aqua: (Eyes Widened in Horror) Who in their right mind would do such a thing?

Palutena: (Angrily Uses her Finger to Directs the Keyblade Duo to the Culprit in the Far Distance) Him. Kazuya Mishima.

Lea: That half naked demon guy with daddy issues?

Tifa: The very same. The boys noticed Ganon was missing that night and started searching for him. Eventually, after they found and saw Kazuya throwing him off the cliff into the volcano, they began to fight. It....wasn't long before that monster did the same to the two one by one.

Palutena: ('Sighs in Deep Relief') But thankfully, they were all able to come back home safe. Didn't stop neither one of us from being absolutely livid that day, but it was still a blessing nonetheless.

Daisy: (Smiles Brightly) Buuuuuut on a brighter note, Peach made the guy scared shitless by breaking a table in half, with her bare hand!

Aqua: ('Gasps') Your majesty, you didn't!~

Lea: (Grins Proudly) Sick!

Peach: ('Sigh') It's true. I never wanted to break that poor table like that. But he WAS testing my patience at the time......

Samus: Honey, he was testing ALL of our patience that day. He'll, if it were me, I'd plasma blast his ass where he stands.

Isabelle: (Smiles Brightly) I would've throw a clipboard at his face.

Tifa: (Puts on a Bit if a Smug Look on her Face) I'd punch him straight into orbit.

Daisy: (Turns to Tifa) Girl, same!~ (High Fives Tifa)

Rosalina: I would simply silence him in an unpoppable bubble.

Bayonetta: I'd let Labolas sick him.

Palutena: I would more than gladly scorch his body from head to toe under the light and do whatever it takes to erase him and his entire bloodline from the face of the Earth!!

Everyone in the table stares at the green Haired goddess in dead silence.

Palutena: ('Sighs Heavily') That incident emotionally drained me.

Bayonetta: And it shows. PIIIIIT! YOUR MOMMY GODDESS NEEDS A HUG!!~

Pit: (Quickly Rushes Over to the Moms' Tea Table) ON MY WAYYYYYYYYY! (Hugs Palutena From Behinf) Mommy!~

Palutena: (Giggles Softly) Hi, sweetie!~ How was your night with and the others went?

Pit: It went great. Still missed you guys like crazy though. (Kiss the Top of Palutena's Head)

Palutena: Aww~ (Happily Held his Embrace Close to Her) We missed you like crazy too, Pit~ (Gives the Top of Pit's Hand a Big Kiss)

Lea: (Watches the Cute Display I'm the Short Distance) Huh. I think I might be need a hug right now. KIDS! YOUR FIRE MOM NEEDS A HUG RIGHT NOW!

Roxas: (From the Other Room) ASK SORA & KAIRI TO HUG YOU!!

Lea: Wha- WHY COULDN'T YOU GUYS DO IT!?

Xion: (From the Other Room as Well) WE'RE EATING MORE ICE CREAM AND DON'T WANT ANY OF IT TO MELT!!

Lea: HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU- ('Groans in Defeat') Forget it. SORA, KAIRI, I WANNA HUG FROM YOU GUYS!

Sora/Kairi: COMING! (Quick Made Their Way to the Moms' Tea Tae to Give Lea a Group Hug)

Sora: There you go, buddy.

Kairi: Is everything okay?

Lea: ('Sigh') Yeah, just.....worried about the rest of the year.....with the Foretellers.....and Xigbar.....Braig....Luxu, whoever the hell his name is....

Aqua: (Smirks Playfully) Think you need yourself a bigger group hug there, Lea?~

Lea: ('Tch') I dunno. Maybe-

Peach: (Smiles Brightly) Sounds good to me!~ GROUP HUGS EVERYONE!!~

Lea: WaiwaiwaiWAIT- (Immediately Gets Surrounded by Everyone's Loving Embrace Before Letting Out Another Sigh) Okay.

Aqua: I know this is a scary situation we're involved in right now, but as long as we have each other's support and use the prep time to prepare ourselves for whenever that time come, then I'm sure we'll be able to pull through in the end. We just need to have more faith in ourselves, okay?

Lea: (Takes a Deep Breath) Yeah. You're right.(Smiles a Little) We got this. (I hope.)

To Be Continued.......

@keyenuta

@cyber-wildcat

@caleb13frede

@albion-93

@26shann

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