#kairi the worldbuilder

[hollowwhisperings]

Kairi the Character: The Future of a Grounded Star

The creators of the KH series have emphasized that, going forward, the series will focus on Sora and Riku. They also repeated that KH3 was the story of "childhood friends who drift apart as they grow up" & that change can be sad but is necessary, that people can always re-conect in new ways.

Essentially, the KH team marks KH3 as the "end" of Kairi's Story with Sora & Riku: the end of an age of Childhood Promises, of resisting "Change"... and of growing up "together".

Going forth, the "Destiny Trio" hyped up in marketing & the fandom consciousness is firmly "retired": KH3 ends with Riku's connection to Sora is stronger than ever, Sora on the cusp of a Realization pertaining to Riku being Sora's "Light"... and, as of Melody of Memory, Kairi knows that "following" her two childhood friends is not conducive to helping them nor to herself.

This post will examine the many ways Kairi has "functioned" within the greater narrative of Kingdom Hearts & its themes. It dips into Kairi's Resistance to Change being her greatest inhibitor in taking an active role within the series, how and why her first attempts were met with failure (spoiler: copying your friend's homework can only ever get you so far), why Kairi's "Staying Behind" (Home) is where her own story begins & the importance of Kairi's Distancing herself from the main story of Kingdom Hearts. Kairi's Story has never been the one shared by Sora & Riku: Kairi's Story is found in the wide cast of characters, "crossed-over" and original, and interwoven with the setting's many Mysteries. Kairi, independently of either of KH's protagonists, but together with Others "Left Behind" is a crucial lynchpin to unravelling so many spools of thread: threads held separately by many hands... each confused, in their isolation. Kairi can play a Key Part in "sorting" these threads, in enabling Different Characters to Meet (& so see their Common Threads), and in doing so "consolidate" them all within a "Wider Picture". Mostly, however, I'll be contextualizing Kairi in Themes of "Home" and as "Light".

Kairi the "Starcrossed"

Kairi has spent the KH series thus far in a pattern of "staying behind" and "chasing after her friends". While the former is not actually a bad thing (indeed, it was a Key Element in games past & likely in future too), the latter has lead to immense "disappointment".

Disappointment in fans of Kairi, who believe Kairi is suffering from "Chickification" (demoting a female character to love interest & subsequently removing every aspect of her character to better enable "romance" that better resembles a female acting as an Emotional Support Human). Disappointment from fans of the mysteries in KH's worldbuilding & lore, who find Kairi an inherently Mysterious Character connected to most every Subplot on either side of "Reality".

Disappointment from Kairi herself, who initially mimicked her friend in footstels both literal & figurative only to find that what "strengthens" Sora (or Riku) does not strengthen her. Kairi's desperate efforts to cling to childhood has greatly hindered her personal growth, as most harshly evidenced by her almost-death in KH3 & Sora's disappeatance thereafter. In Melody of Memory, Kairi takes her self-growth more seriously: she wants to reunite with Sora, to renew the closeness they had so recently (for her) yet so seemingly long ago (for us, for Sora himself). By the end of Melody, Kairi "fails" again: this failure was not for naught. Kairi's Failure "demoted" her from the Assumed Role she has long held (in & out-of-universe) of "Designated Love Interest [to Sora]" & Sora's Hypothetical "Prince[ss] Charming".

At the end of Melody, Kairi makes her first true act of personal agency in the series: she requests to train under Master Aqua, a woman who rescued her once in childhood (though Kairi may not remember) & who acted as the "Lynchpin" to the safe returns of the "Wayfinder Trio".

With Master Aqua as Kairi's new mentor, let us return to the subject of "Home" & how "staying behind" (as Kairi consistently chooses to do) is not actually a bad thing.

Kairi's "Homes"

"Home" can be different things to different people. To Sora, homes can be made whenever he connects with new places & friends. Sora also considers the Destiny Islands, especially the "play island" where he spent so many years growing up with Riku & Kairi, to be a "home". To Riku, "home" is wherever Sora is. To Kairi? Home is a much more complicated creature to an amnesiac girl who became a Literal Shooting Star.

The first "home" (that we know of) Kairi had is one she claims to no longer remember: Radiant Garden. This is where Kairi lived prior to the Destiny Islands, the place where the errant Master Aqua met a 4th Princess of Heart and bestowed upon her a [protective blessing/charm] (likely enabling Kairi's safely ending up at the Destiny Islands rather than Traverse Town or even Quadratum). Radiant Garden is also where we met Kairi's Mysteriously Well-Informed "Grandmother", someone whose Stories Kairi remembers even when she (claims) to be otherwise amnesiac of her life prior to "The Meteor Shower".

Other characters from Radiant Garden include Cid, Squall Leonhart, Aerith, Yuffie & Merlin (whom Kairi first met in KH1, in Traverse Town, and who seem Mutually Oblivious as to their Shared Heritage). It was also the home of characters Foreshadowed to be Involved with the "Bloodlines" plotlines of Phase 2 of KH: Ansem, Ienzo (a character whose origins are possibly More Mysterious than Kairi's), Apprentice Xehanort ("Terra-Nort"), "Braig" (the latest Host of Master Luxu), Isa & Axel (friends of the Mysterious "Subject X".

In studying with Master Aqua, Kairi will take her first step in acknowledging her Past & seeking to recover it: that step was made easier, perhaps, by Kairi's befriending fellow keyblade wielder Axel. Axel, like Kairi, is originally from Radiant Garden but has found a "new" Home. Axel's Home is with Isa, Roxas & Xion in Twilight Town: Kairi's Home has long embraced the Destiny Islands as her Home.

Kairi's continued, sometimes stubborn attachment to the Destiny Islands makes Sense: whether she Remembered it or not, the memories immediately prior to her "debut" as a Literal Shooting Star would have been of her being the latest Test Subject of Xehanort. If her memories of Xehanort were not stolen safely away by her young age, Repression or the traumas of Crashlanding into an ocean (possibly featuring a bit of Drowning? between Aqua's Magic & Kairi's Own, hopefully this was one trauma young Kairi was Spared from)... Kairi has Good Reason to disassociate with Radiant Garden & its labs. That Kairi willingly submitted herself to be studied in sleep by Ansem & his reformed Apprentices for a year? That in itself was an act of Remarkable Bravery and True Desperation. "Survivor's Guilt" is one of many potential "Darknesses" that Kairi, a Princess of Light, may need to Accept into herself to "grow" beyond that role & into young adulthood (as all other Original Princesses of Heart did). It is a subject Familiar to Kairi's Peers, the Princesses & those "left behind".

Yet Kairi is not someone "left behind" by the narrative: Kairi is someone who Chooses to Stay Home. This "passive" choice of Kairi's, to be a person to Return To and a Representation of "Home" has been the most plot-relevant aspect of her character since KH1 & continued to be her Key Narrative Function... right until "the power of childhood promises" was brutally, thoroughly Proven Insufficent. Childhood Promises were Kairi's "theme": with each timeskip, each near-death experience, Kairi's friends had Grown Up & Apart from her. "Promises" could not be as carelessly, made as meaningfully fulfilled in the Stakes of young adulthood & War: KH3 forces Sora, Kairi & players to recognise that "promises are for children"¹.

That is not to say that Kairi's Choices to "Stay Home" are bad: Kairi is not weaker for seeking the security of a fixed "home". Kairi has lost every Home she has ever had. That she clung to the "idea" of the Destiny Islands, once the world was restored, is consistent with how Kairi has been shaped by her own Traumas (well before & then in opposition to Sora and Riku, who found "Home" in each other more than once).

Kairi & "Safe Return"

Recall now the Wayfinding Charm Kairi made for herself & her friends as her "contribution" to their Raft Project: thalassa shells set in a starfruit's shape, a Sailor's Promise of "finding their way home". Unlike Riku "the Reverse-Little Mermaid" or Sora "the Adventurer", Kairi only worked on the Raft so her friends wouldn't leave her behind. Kairi was genuinely worried of being lost at sea, something she was miraculously spared from when she crashed into the waters of Destiny Islands.

In KH2, Kairi sends a "message in a bottle": while how sizable its role really was in providing a "Door to Light" for the stranded Sora & Riku is ~vague~ due to its "Timing" (right after a Heart-to-Heart between two uniquely "bright" Keyblade wielders), Kairi's "wish" in bottle-form certainly helped in said Door's directly opening to the Destiny Islands specifically.

Kairi & "Geography"

Then there is KH3's "Tunnel of Light" sequence. While players may Expect that the Abrupt Deus Ex Machina as "GPS Princess Kairi Saves The Day Offscreen, Again"... the sequence is Deliberately Misleading.

Sora's initial recognition of his "Light" as Riku's Light is correct: Riku, now and always, is the "Light" Sora knows best. Riku is also Found At The Tunnel's End: Kairi, however, was with Sora the whole time. Kairi was Geographically Incapable of being Sora's "Light" because she was right next to him, following Sora as he was lead by Riku's Light.

The entire "Light Tunnel" scene in KH3 is referential to the Infamous Meteor Shower event recalled by Sora & Riku in CoM.

Sora and Riku both recall watching a Meteor Shower with Someone Very Important to Their Heart(s). During this Meteor Shower, the person Naminé replaces feared that a Meteor (a Shooting Star) would strike the Destiny Islands: Sora or Riku then promised to [always protect] the Person Naminé Replaces in this Shared Memory. It is Naminé's placing herself within This Memory that prompts the Drastic Increase in [Devotion] from both Sora AND Riku['s Replica]. Due to Naminé's previously inserting herself into either boy's memories in Kairi's place, players "expected" that the True Memory & the Promises of Protection must have "also" been With Kairi.

...except that Kairi could not have exchanged anything with anyone during That Meteor Shower: Kairi was the Meteor Shower, one of its meteors & its most Significant Shooting Star. The promises that both boys recall making were made to each other: they exchanged tokens by the light of a Shooting Star.

Ascertaining Kairi's "Relative Geography" is the Vital Clue to many of her Weirder Moments throughout the series: in Sora & Riku's Shared Memory of a Meteor Shower, Kairi was a Meteor; in the Tunnel of Light sequence, Kairi was inside the Tunnel & not at its End; when Sora & Riku find themselves stranded in Another Side of Reality, as they once were in the depths of the Realm of Darkness, Kairi will be their Connection Home.

Kairi the "Lighthouse Keeper"

Kairi, through imagery & Choices, has made herself into a "Guiding Star". She is no longer a "starcrossed meteor" of Sora's: Kairi is the Fixed Point of "Home", her Home.

Kairi has become not a Lighthouse but its Keeper: she "tends the hearth" that is her own Heart, one that shines its light from the Destiny Islands where she "stays behind". As a Princess of Light, Kairi can act as the "Keeper" of her own Light: she can determine where it shines brightest ("home" in the Destiny Islands), who it guides (those Lost in Darkness, friends)... amongst other things.

This role of "Hearthkeeper" or "Lighthouse" will not give Kairi any dramatic rise in martial prowess, magical or otherwise. Kairi is Not Sora & she's Not Riku either: their strengths are theirs and Kairi has yet to even consider that her own strengths could be entirely different (& helpful for entirely separate situations). Narratively, making Kairi a "magical powerhouse" is unproductive: other characters are Experienced Battle Mages, their skills & prowess Well Established as Terrifying Extremely Competent.

Rather tham becoming Yet Another War Mage, I would speculate that Kairi's role is something more "unique" to her person & something sorely needed on This Side of Reality: an "Illuminator" not only of pressing dangers and safer shores but of the setting's Mysteries, old and "new". Kairi is already capable of acting in this role: she just hasn't had the opportunity to realise it yet.

Kairi the "Illuminator"

As a Princess of Light, Kairi connects any & all Disney princess past or future: the Princesses are "Torchbearers", their Hearts host to the still-burning remnants of the Ancient X-Blade's Light. These seven individuals are essential to the stability of the Realm of Light, in the absence of Kingdom Hearts. Their endangerment in KH1 was apocalyptic for all Known Worlds: finding the successors of Kairi's Peers in KH3 was a subplot "dropped" upon the miraculous recovering of Master Aqua & her lost friends thereafter. By "staying behind", Kairi's story as a Princess is possible to explore without the risk of her being assumed to be Sora's Princess (or, heavens forbid, Riku's).

As her Grandmother's [lorekeeper] & as a keyblade wielder herself, Kairi is connected to the mythology of the Keyblade Wars of the Ancient Past: the Master of Masters, the Foretellers & how history has seemed Doomed to Repeat. Kairi's placement as "student of Aqua" puts her (& her grandmother's stories) in proximity to Ventus, an amnesiac whose history lies hidden within such stories. That Ven too is "pure of heart" (albeit artificially) is another means of consolidating story threads: how similar is Ven, post-Xehanort, to Kairi the Princess of Heart? How are their Hearts different from each other's & why was Riku's ability to meld his Darkness to his Light so seemingly unprecedented? Is "lack of darkness" holding Kairi back, as a keyblade wielder? Or will Kairi (& Ven) be used by the likes of the Foretellers as "precedent" for all to follow?

As a Wayward Daughter of Radiant Garden, any explorations into Kairi's Life prior to her stint as a Shooting Star opens the world's history to Other Interested Parties: Kairi's hypothetical birth family, for one, and the Concerned Friends of "Subject X". It also requires an Addressing of Xehanort's Time apprenticed to Ansem the Wise... and Questions on how, exactly, he & Ansem "acquired" their Test Subjects in the first place. The technology used to send Kairi from Radiant Garden bears Remarkable Resemblance (in function, if not "form") to that used by the Dandelions. Was there, perhaps, some "reverse-engineering" in play? From Whomst couldst Xehanort Possibly Findeth Such An Arc, one of So Very Few?

Oh, Hi There, Ventus the Secret Dandelion: have you seen the Other, Long-term Human Test Subject? No, not Kairi. One escaped from [our setting]'s Other Resident [Evil] Scientist? Ansem the Wise?

...I May or May Not Harbour Deep Mistrust & Plentiful Suspicions regarding the man formerly known as "DiZ" (for example: did Master Yen Sid ever hear about Ansem's misappropriating his name, just as Xehanort did with Ansem's own?).

That aside, let us continue exploring how Kairi's "staying behind" is much more interesting than putting her back into Sora's Coming Of Age Story for No Actual Narrative Purpose (except to continue in her past role of "Being Conveniently Female"?).

Kairi the "Supporting Character"

Kairi's "Potential" has been Unexplored for nearly the entire series: her resistance to Change, to "leaving Home" & her Seeking Security in Familiar Things has kept Kairi from involving herself in anything "unrelated" to Sora & Riku. Being the series' protagonists, Sora & Riku have been Out Of The Loop on the wider mysteries of their setting: mysteries that Kairi (willingly or otherwise) is intrinsically connected to.

By again Choosing to "Stay", Kairi is able to act as the Fixed Point of Reality's "worldbuilding": Kairi is the connecting character for keyblade wielders to Disney Princesses, the point of reference to clarify "past" from "present" (this is more speculative, contingent to Kairi or Any of the Seven Lights existing as "fixed points" in Reality), and the Meeting Ground of characters (& plot points) old & "new".

Kairi's adjacency to Every Worldbuilding Subplot on This Side of "Reality" makes her an extremely useful Supporting Character. By departing from the "main" story of KH (that of Sora & Riku's "Comimg Of Age"), Kairi is free to support characters in their "shared" stories. Many of these "shared stories" all end up featuring Kairi, as a reference point or otherwise "Key" figure.

As a Supporting Character to Literally Anyone Other than Sora or Riku, Kairi is in great demand (see Speculations Above).

To her Childhood Friends, as they enter Their Arc on Sora's Darkness & the Continued Explorations of the many ways Hearts "Combine"?

The best way that Kairi can help her friends is by doing what she always has (now with other characters supporting her): being a "Fixed Point" in their Reality.

Kairi is no longer Sora's "Starcrossed" Meteor: her role, in his story & Riku's, is to now be that Beacon that Guides Travelers in Dark Seas, the "Lighthouse Keeper" keeping ships mindful of the shoreline & directing sailors to Safe Harbour. When Sora & Riku, weary from whatever Quadratum demands of them, would seek passage through death & dream to Another Side of Reality? Kairi will be There for them, a friend whose life has continued in their absence, ready to welcome them "home".

Conclusion

Kairi was a Reluctant Protagonist and an Absent Love Interest: that was Intentional, as evidenced by the Thematic (& Literal) "Geography" of Key Points in Sora & Riku's Coming of Age story being impossible for Kairi to have actually been "there" to fulfil such roles. Kairi's biggest strength, thus far, was her Faith & Innocent Love enabling her Friends to Find Their Way Home.

Kairi is strong: Sora tells her as much, in the Actual Text of the Tunnel Sequence. Kairi has, however, been "stagnant" in her strength. She can only truly become "stronger" when she needs not constantly compare herself to Riku or Sora (whose strengths are their own, not Kairi's: she has ever been mimicking their footsteps, never able to fill their shoes nor willing to consider getting different shoes for herself to wear instead).

As Kairi grows up & apart from "Childhood", Kairi can make new friends & find new "purpose". Rather than finding herself a "poor subsitute" for Riku or Sora, Kairi can seek the training they never had an opportunity to have & do so in ways neither boy may have "preferred" but Kairi would. Limiting herself to "one-of-three" (a Destiny "Trio") has never made Kairi Stronger, not in the way it has for Other Trios in the series: the "Destiny Trio" was never of the same nature as subsequent trios, the recurring & contrastingly "equilateral" dynamics being KH's means of indicating that, often in life, the friend groups you start out with aren't meant to last. People change and so does the ways they can or would want to relate to each other: is KH to is the story's method of showing the different friendships we can or "used to" have, some friendships remaining unchanged for life & others changing along with its members. to truly grow up, Kairi had to let go the "forever friends" of her childhood. They have been growing up: now Kairi will too.

Footnotes

¹An existing exploration of KH3's distinctions between "childhood promises" & "Oaths" can be found here, on Youtube. It includes a line-by-line analysis of KH's "thesis" on this Theme, Utada Hikaru's "Chikai". My only addition to said video essay is on how its structure acts as a Callback to KH3's immediately preceding title, Dream Drop Distance.

"Chikai" exists distinctly & complementary to the song that shares its melody, "Don't Think Twice". The songs, like the entire premise of Dream Drop, are two perspectives of a shared experience: this is Foreshadowing, specifically pertaining to the concepts of Mirrored Realities & the different ways Hearts can be Combined.

That last theme is especially pertinent given the Various Ways that artificially "combining hearts" has already been used to form or summon the eponymous Kingdom Hearts. This will be the Bloodlines Arc, afterall: "blood" will be Explored, in ways both Literal (ancestry, familial inheritance, generational keyblade violence) & Figurative (keyblades as a concept, Darkness as the "bleeding" of a Heart, the "oldblood" versus the "new"). That any & all depictions of blood will be censored into Water or as "Darkness" is par for the course.

²Kairi, Sora & Riku were never "a family" [trauma-bonded] to each other in the ways of the "Wayfinder" or "Seasalt" Trios. Kairi & Sora are only one (1) year younger than Riku: that means a lot, as a kid, but matters less & less the older you become. Axel's success in his role as "life coach" & "cool older brother" to the [newborn] teens Roxas & Xion highlights the difference that Age & aging has in one's friendship dynamics: Axel was the age of his friends when he "joined" Organization XIII and can thusly prepare them for what they will experience. Upon Isa's "resurrection", Axel keeps his childhood best friend with him: the changes this would prompt in the "Seasalt Trio" have inspired many an "Axel the No Longer Single Dad" joke, if not with that specific wording.

My Elaboration on Relative Age in the Dynamics of KH's Iconic Trios got, uh, Longer Than intended: its elaborated form has been Squirrel'd Away for "Later, Maybe".

[alex-multiverse]

Kh Worldbuilding headcanons: Destiny Islands Edition

No one ever talks about the original worlds in kh and i find that a travesty because these places are a really, REALLY good mine to play around with. (u can also use them or expand on them if you really like)

So im gonna share some HCs i have about the original kh worlds, starting with Destiny islands..... but before that some basics: also this is kinda long so under the read more it goes

In general:

Kh "worlds" arent really floating in space. the stylized icons we see in game are more akin to dimensional rifts rather than actual planets (seriously who thinks this is how the world looks fr)

Following on with the dimensional rift: as the "worlds" arent really pieces of the original world, they are something more akin as parallel dimensions or something along the lines of something like ff14 (mostly because i would rather die first than live in a world with 5 different versions of britain existing at the same time)

As much as dark road is cool, the explanation for the empty worlds is dumb and for the purposes of this exercise, instead ofthe worlds filling the people gradually after it is created, i consider that the worlds as they exist are the result of the surviving children of the war making their stories real in the fractured reality of the original world (it also follows the weird theme of reality/unreality that kh4 seems to go for) and it turning into a different version of earth as we know it, with some exceptions, such as monstropolis (which exists independently as a parallel land to earth in its canon) and Deep space (which is straight up NOT earth and was more like, the rift of lilo and stitch's world pointing at the high counselor's fleet BEFORE the actual movie started) and also the OG worlds who dont have something to be based on for reasons to be explained later.

the only world that exists in the ocean between as it is, is the Keyblade graveyard. because it was so majorly fucked up by the war it both shattered in the physical and dimensional way after it happened.

Now that that rant is out of the way, LETS GO TO THE MOST UNDERRATED WORLD IN THE SERIES:

Destiny islands is in fact, more than 2 islands, being a big archipelago with a bigger "main island" where our three protagonists live at. this one we have seen before in kh2

Destiny islands, is, by far, not the only chain of islands in the world. in fact, theres way more islands beyond the horizon.

We know the islands have a mayor, thus we know that they must have cordial diplomatic ties with different islands near them.

Due to FF characters existing here, i am very tempted to assure that some of the races from ff8 and ffX exist in this world (you are now imagining kimahri playing with a tiny kairi after diplomacy stuff with her dad just ended)

Due to DI being an original world, it is actually a shard of the original world that didnt really changed much compared to the other original ones. its major difference is that it is an ocean world like Wind waker hyrule or the Grand line from One piece

Magic is a real thing in the original worlds populace, you just really need to get good at it, learn it, be magical by default, or cheat and get a keyblade somehow

Religion in the og worlds strike me as something akin to the way people prayed to the aeons of yevon in ffx or the astrals of FF15. with people praying to the ff summons on a case by case basis and depending on their preference for patron gods. Ie: Leviathan being a goddess of the ocean and water who is prayed to by sailors or fishermen, while scholars prefer ifrit using an interpretation of the fire of knowledge. (you know. like a furry prometheus that doesnt get eaten by an eagle daily)

I'll probably go on more detail later, but for now, the summons that get prayed to the most in DI is probably Leviathan for the aforementioned reasons, Ramuh for nature and agriculture reasons, shiva for tradition and combat reasons (related to riku in my particular headcanon) And Titan for economical reasons, wow alex making the rock man into the economy guy i wonder where you have heard it before

Speaking of economy, DI currency totally has tiny paopu fruit symbols in its coins and bills, and its a legal course currency in its neighboring islands because they too dig the paopu fruit symbolism

Munny looks like malleable diamonds because it probably just morphs into the appropate currency depending on the world we're in, moogles only use them as they are because they are both the people doing synthing and also shady as hell. do not trust the pompom people.

Going back to the Paopu fruit: its quite a common tree fruit in the islands and in fact is industrially harvested in some islands both as an export and in-island use.

The paopu folk story is actually mostly just a misconception for an older tale. originally involving sailors and a promise to return home safe. it eventually turned into "sharing one will entwine your fates forever"

Paopu pastries are a common dessert, and paopu wine is used often in weddings.

Monsters ARE real in the islands and roam the most inhabited places. These are often hunt for game and for safety reasons

THAT MEANS, chocobos are also a thing people use in the most rural parts of the islands for fieldwork, transportation and sometimes food.

Blitzball is MAD popular and they Often do tournaments involving several islands. DI itself was almost a perpetual champion up until jecht retired, then they win every so often instead of always

Boating licenses are a thing, but kids can still use their little boats because they have to row them. think like, the difference between a bicicle and a motorbike.

There are bridges for tram systems between islands that are close to each other, usually reinforced for sea and storm reasons.

Legally speaking, equal marriage is a thing and even polyamorous ones because why being an ass about it.

Healthcare is mostly public, but there are Specialty care stuff in the main islands that costs money because of course it is

Because sora and riku are japanese names, i prefer the island to be something like a tropical japan, so most of the people in DI have japanese names.

That would be all for now. tune in next time when i tackle on Twilight town, who may or not be in perpetual twilight (is not)

[the-weirdos-mind]

The Old Paladins

The former Paladins of the Lions. They were a strong group of people who fought against many enemies. Sadly many of them met their demise against Chernabog.

Black: Sora

Bayard Weapon: Keyblade

The former Paladin of the Black Lion was a leader with a strong and caring heart. He was a good friend to Donald and Goofy and continued being their friend after being chosen by Black. As a leader, he heard out everyone’s opinions and did what was best for the team. At times he could get impatient in battle. He was betrayed by the Red Paladin and fought him after Yellow was killed. Before dying he uttered that he forgives them.

Red: Dante Grimore

Bayard Weapon: Twin Daggers

The former Paladin of the Red Lion is a force to be reckoned with in battle. He showed little to no mercy against his foes, while his leader would. He was enthusiastic and genuinely cared about the universe as his role at first but it became dull. He got orders from his father, Chernabog to kill them or do what was best. He decided to betray them. He and Sora fought hard but eventually he killed him, and turned his Lion over to his father with his own.

Green: Max Goof

Bayard Weapon: Rifle

The former Paladin the Green Lion was the only son of Goofy. His father would gladly pronounce how proud he was of his son, making him incredibly embarrassed. He was taking risks in battle while keeping a calm head. His tactics had proven to safe his comrades lives time and time again. Unfortunately he was killed by Dante’s betrayal. He was stabbed in the chest by one of his daggers as he was running to his Lion to save everyone. Before he died, he told Green to flee, and that’s what they did.

Yellow: Kairi

Bayard Weapon: Bow and Arrow

The former Paladin of the Yellow Lion was the sweetest girl around. She was always telling her fellow Paladins to get rest when needed and befriending the locals on the planets they visited. Everyone could see there was something between her and Sora. When in battle, she would do anything she could do to protect her friends. Sadly she met a horrible end by Dante’s hand. She was shot by a Demon soldier in front of Sora. He held her as she died a slow and painful death.

Blue: Darling Crowley

Bayard Weapon: Swords

The former Paladin of the Blue Lion is a cunning and caring girl. She worked hard as her role of Paladin. Her father Dire, was extremely proud of his daughter. When it came to battle, she was good at it. When Dante betrayed the others, she was quick to escape in Blue after seeing her comrades die. She fled to Earth and hid Blue in a spot she deemed secure. She disguised herself as a human and left clues, puzzles and scrambles for the rest of the universe to find her location. She got a job as a pilot team at Black Pearl and taught the cadets how to fly spacecraft. Thirty years after her disappearance she was discovered by the new Paladins and teaches them.

Dante belongs to @writing-heiress

Darling belongs to @marrondrawsalot

@adrianasunderworld @mangacupcake @anxious-twisted-vampire @abyssthing198

[corderis]

( happy birthday to kairi: a little taste of home! | @otlaw )

he approaches the youth with a faint smile playing upon his lips, and gives a small nod when she looks to him. "kairi." he greets with a small bow, hand over his heart. "i overheard the other cursebreakers talking--- its your birthday today, is it?" with the mantle of cid weighing heavy over him, clive did his best to keep the hideaway feeling both valued and closely-knit. and what better way to do that than acknowledging birthdays and anniversaries? reaching into his pocket, he procures a strange fruit he'd never heard of prior; a paopu fruit. a peculiar star-shaped fruit that was meant to hold some sort of power when shared. offering it to her, he smiles. "here. if i heard right, they're something from back home on the island, no?"

she hadn't intended to tell anyone of her upcoming birthday, but it had come up during one of her talks with sora & riku. she had intended it as a throwaway piece of information, a highlight to the way the ache of homesickness had suddenly increased. she hadn't thought that either of them had taken note, but she had been terribly wrong. the entire hideaway had seemed prepared for the day, & she'd gotten more sincere & kind well wishes than she had ever received back in sanbreque. so many of them had been spoken with a secretive tone alongside gazes measuring her up as if for some plan that she wasn't in on. it had left her with chills, even when she was small. here, she had been pulled into hugs, taught of birthday traditions she had never even heard of, & had even received a few gifts! it had made training with the other cursebreakers a bit chaotic, but they had all been dismissed from training early, laughing so hard that kairi's stomach had hurt & her breath had been coming out in sharp wheezes for several minutes afterwards. it was shortly after that clive approached, & she took notice of him at the call of her name. ❛ cid! ❜ she responded with a bow of her own ( hands at her side, bent at the waist, some habits died far too hard for her to fight against ).

his acknowledgment of the day was a bit of a surprise. he was a personable leader, seemingly in tune with every member of the hideaway, but she still felt surprised at being acknowledged. as well as a childlike excitement that reminded her of the way her grandmother smiled at her as she told her happy birthday or an older memory, nearly forgotten, of her being lifted onto the shoulders of a man who's face she could no longer remember but who's laughter rang bright in her ears & left behind a mix of hope & melancholy in her heart.

❛ it is! ❜ she finally responded, shaking off the feelings that had crept up on her in the moment. kairi was trying to find the words to explain, politely, that she hadn't intended to cause such a fuss about the day ( as though a part of her was worried she would get scolded for causing celebration ) but she never got the chance. instead, she was presented with a gift that made stillness wash over her, her gaze lingering on it as if she wasn't sure that it was real

❛ a paopu fruit! ❜ immediately she was swarmed by memories of trips taken to the island with the secret intention of honing her magic under the tutelage of her grandmother. spending time in the villages with the other children who played with her & taught her their stories & welcomed her back for each visit. year after year after year they returned throughout her childhood. ❛ i haven't seen one of these since... ❜ since the last visit she'd taken there, when her grandmother declared her trained well enough to hide her secret in plain sight. she offered no conclusion to her explanation, simply took the fruit with delicate fingers.

already, she had in mind friends she wanted to share it with. though the thought of asking brought a bit of pink to her cheeks, she knew she may not get another opportunity. rare fruits were already scarce from the blight. even if she could make it to the island, there was no guarantee she'd find one. the realization erased any thought of hesitation from her mind. though it was a legend, a superstition, she hoped they would take to it just as she had. kairi bowed to clive again ( a little sharper, a bit more respectful than her first one ).

❛ thank you, cid. ❜ she held the fruit close, taking in the sweet, nostalgic scent. ❛ this is so much more than just a gift. i'll use it well. ❜ to intertwine the destinies of her & the closest friends she'd made in the hideaway. ❛ i promise. ❜

[yzafre]

So like.  Lore/theory question.  Regarding Kairi restoring Sora in KH1.

Here’s what we know about how that worked:

Kairi had access to Sora’s heart (his heartless) 

It involved light/her light (to bring him back to himself? To construct his body?) 

Memory might have had something to do with it? (”I didn’t want to forget about you, Sora.  I couldn’t.”  Which.  Has interesting implications about Namine’s powers but nOT THE POINT)

So.  Given all of that.

If Kairi had gotten to know and formed a deep connection with Namine and/or Roxas before they went to rest inside her/Sora, then, theoretically...

COULD she have restored them into a new body based on the way she remembered them?

Is this over-reaching?  Am I missing something completely obvious about why this wouldn’t work?  Probably!  But poorly defined powers are fun to poke at so here we are!

[goldensunset]

also related but like. is the twewy anime worth watching or like, should i just rewatch a playthrough of the game adfds. I've heard the anime misses out on some of the more batshit/funny dialogue so idk afdsa

i haven’t watched the anime either but from what i’ve heard it does a good job of explaining basic plot elements, but it doesn’t do a good job of making you actually care much about the characters, since it’s all very rushed. they cut out a bunch of side stuff (that all supports the narrative in important ways smh!) and moved some things around so. yeah you’re just gonna have to watch twewy itself to get a feel for anything. the characters are only their true selves in the game. twewyani is more like supplemental material for preexisting fans (and also it was hype marketing for the then-upcoming sequel)

[corishadowfang]

3 or 12?

(For this)

3. A character the fandom helped you appreciate.

Basically all of the Radiant Garden crew, haha. They were less interesting to me compared to everyone else (Braig and Xehanort aside), but the fandom's done a lot of cool stuff with them that's won me over, haha.

12. Compliment someone in your fandom.

I...will not be sticking to just one haha.

@starlightwayfinder You create such beautiful art and amazing fics, and are just a really sweet person overall.

@kicktwine Your art is absolutely amazing and I LOVE your worldbuilding. (My knowledge on FF14 is limited but I still get excited every time I see a spec bio post from you.)

@goldensunset I love seeing your thoughts on the games (they have a tendency to either make me emotional or go feral over how interesting they are, haha). Also, stairposting.

@rosie-kairi SO MANY of your shitposts/memes/etc. make me laugh, haha. Also, your art is fantastic.

@serenedash Good takes and fics and art!! I always get excited when I see something new from you.

@thetwilightroadtonightfall OVERMORROW IS MAKING ME CRY (positive). But also seeing you talk about Ephemer is so much fun because you're clearly having such a great time with it.

@psianabel Your FICS. Man, I love them so much; I have reread many of them several times, they're so good!

@hallowed-nebulae Also an amazing fic writer!! Seriously, I love your prose and how you handle the characters, and your worldbuilding is just so COOL.

@fungeiful Your art is fantastic; I've loved seeing all of the Brain and Player doodles. Also, bagelposting.

@cq-studios You're so enthusiastic about the mobile games and it makes me SO HAPPY. Your art style is also adorable.

@recusant-s-sigil I LOVE seeing/hearing your thoughts about the series; they're so well thought-out and interesting. Also, Scala Ask Caelum is very cool.

@scalacaelumx Amazing art and a very sweet person! I may not see you on my dash as much as some others, but I always get excited when I do.

@chibifightfu You have such amazing art and are just a super cool person in general! I always love talking with you, whether about KH stuff or random things.

@lightwithinthedarknessu You are one of the kindest people I've ever met. Also, I adore all of your writing.

@bookwormally ALSO A REALLY FANTASTIC WRITER and I will be continually impressed by your management abilities. (Also, thank you so much for organizing the World Guidebook Zine.)

@blazernot When I saw someone else was doing Skuld and Brain stuff, I got SO EXCITED, haha. Also, you're just a very cool person, and I love your OCs.

And...and there are definitely people I'm missing, so just know that all of you are awesome and I'm happy you're here!

[the-au-collector]

Welcome

I’m The AU Collector, call me Collector. You can find me under the same name on AO3. Here you’ll find my own AUs, my original world, and lots of reblogs. I’m mainly in the Linked Universe and Kingdom Hearts fandoms, but you’ll also see me stray into others like Tales of the Abyss, Lockwood & Co, Batfam, etc. I call pretty much all of my works AUs, so even if it’s a fic, I’ll call it AU for simplicity’s sake.

I have a lot of AUs so I thought I would break them down below for people wondering what they are. Also feel free to ask me about any of them. I’d love to ramble about them!

Linked Universe

Relinked AU: 23 years after Linked Universe, the Links’ kids are kidnapped, forcing the Links on another time-traveling adventure to save them. Meanwhile, the kids go on their own adventure to get home.

Reconnect the Chain AU: AU of Relinked. Taking place 10 years after Linked Universe, the Chain reconnects themselves. It’s my happy, slice-of-lifey version of Relinked. Most drawings or writing I do with the Relinked kids as kids will be tagged as both RtC and Relinked if it’s pre-reunion.

Radio AU: Modern College AU. The Chain are all somehow affiliated with the college radio station at Kakariko University. Hyrule’s a new student who gets dragged into their chaos, and learns a little bit about himself in the process.

Cupcakes for Harmony: Inspired by Their Melody. I looked at Their Melody and said “what if I made it sadder?”

Adventures of Uncle Alfon: Legend’s Uncle has some things to say. A non-linear, slice-of-life fic focusing on Uncle Alfon and his relationship with Legend.

Epic AU: Ongoing brainstorming. Epic: The Musical has inspired a plot in my head but idk what’s happening with it yet. All I really know is it’s another LU Links Reunite fic, plus some.

Second Chain/Ultimate Chain AU: Alternate versions of the same AU. I add some more heroes into the mix! Features The Hero of the Kingdom (TOTK), The Hero of Ages (Age of Calamity), The First Hero (Skyward Sword Manga), The Shadow of the Hero (Four Swords Adventures), The (younger) Hero of Legend (A Link To The Past), and The Hero of the Minish (Minish Cap). Potentially, I may even add the Ancient Hero (Tears of the Kingdom).

Kingdom Hearts

Those Who Have Been Wronged Series: A multi-book series currently in the works. It’s canon-compliant up until the secret ending of KH3. Follows the Foretellers’ arc with Kairi as the main protagonist as she searches for Sora and works to defeat the Master of Masters alongside Ven, Namine, Vanitas, and Lauriam. It does include all the KH characters, and almost everyone gets their own time to shine, but Kairi and co. (The Reflection Crew) is the main group.

Together AU: KH3 onwards AU where everything is wrapped up during KH3. The Union Leaders are here. Eraqus is back. Everyone is (mostly) happy. A soft, slice-of-life series I write when the Wronged Series is getting to overwhelming.

Miscellaneous AUs: Occassionally a KH AU will pop into my head. These aren’t very serious works, just fun ideas.

Tales of the Abyss:

Fire Rises: Mostly vibes at this point, Fire Rises will focus on a cast of 6-7 Unscored (people born outside of the Score) trying to make their lives in a world that still holds onto their hatred for them. Takes place 5-ish years after Tales of the Abyss.

OG-Verse:

The OG-verse is my original world called Auran which shares a good portion of worldbuilding as the Wronged Series and Together AU. It’s where all my KH OCs have gone to live. I have a lot of worldbuilding for this but not a lot of story at the moment.

[phoenix-downer]

do think theres tips on how to name kh ocs I know that kh is a blend of disney and final fantasy but I would like to know if there were tips to learn how to name one.

I think it all kind of depends on what you're going for, where the OCs are from, etc. What language do the characters speak, what culture does the world have--those are all things you could ask yourself when thinking of good names your characters.

For KH, I honestly think you could go with the Disney angle, the Final Fantasy angle, or use Japanese names like Sora, Kairi, and Riku have (and for Japanese names, I would avoid literally translating English words unless you know they're also real names in Japanese--there are a lot of good websites that list actual Japanese names, and you can have a lot of fun choosing which kanji the names would be written with as well).

A lot of the characters in Dark Road have names from Norse Mythology, so that would also be a source of possible names. And then Nomura also really loves Latin (Terra, Aqua, Ventus, etc.) so that could be another source of names. Just kinda depends on the vibe and worldbuilding you want to go for.

Best of luck with naming your characters!

[spacebeyonce]

💞💥💌

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

I already answered this one here! but the short answer is it's a three way tie between worldbuilding, technical stuff, and characters.

💥find your least kudos'd fic - say something wonderful about it.

aaaah, let me poke around, hold on - AH! fill my mouth with kisses and nectar. ode to a mango pt. 1. I really loved this! I enjoy writing making food and sharing food as a way to express love and nothing hits like sharing some good ass fruit with someone you love, be that family or friends or lovers. it slaps. also I just. really enjoy writing riku and kairi's relationship. it deserves more airtime.

💌share something with us about an up-and-coming work (WIP) that has you excited!

I have already answered this as well BUT I do have multiple WIPs in rotation so let's get it -

SO. I'm still working on completing the circle and writing the Soriku Woo Kairi fic. I want it to have like. children of the sea kind of vibes. and yes, I do mention events of kingdom hearts via kairi's arrival. no they aren't going to do shit about it. they aren't involved today.

I am ALSO thinking about repurposing a WIP I had that I thought was going to be part 4 of hyrule world tour but got scrapped for the work that is currently in its place. I'm delving into zelink and religious trauma again and it's gonna be a two-fer. hopefully. I don't wanna blab about it here 'cause this is already long enough lmao but if anyone wants to know I'm happy to talk about it....maybe that will excite me enough to actually get some words down.

[countjoelcula]

Started getting back into art. Did some rough sketches for my friend @megaderping​‘s Kingdom Hearts fanfic @khantipode​. Specifically Riku and Kairi’s designs. Its a really well-written series with nuanced characterization and intriguing worldbuilding. Be sure to check it out!

[hollowwhisperings]

KH Spec: Identifying The Seven Lights, TL;DR 1/3

an episode of brain fog is coming on so i'mma do a series of Info Dumps so i have these thoughts in order, for future reference, in case i've forgotten them by the time my brain can Brain again.

Princesses of Heart: Key Themes

Dreaming: nature of hearts, proximity to death, imagination & belief. Cursed sleep & living nightmare sequences of SW, Aurora & Kairi; Cinderella's "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes"; Alice dreamed herself to Wonderland; Jasmine's "A Whole Nrw World"; Belle's reading of fairytales

Wishes (stars & magic): "I'm Wishing"; Cinderella wanted a night off; Aurora's birthday; Wonderland; Genie; Kairi was a literal shooting star; Belle's wish to save her father.

To Love & Inspire Love in Others: loyal animal companions, Found Family & "Fairy Godmothers", Redemption, Sacrifice & True Love.

Miracles: Resurrection, Transformation, Dreams Bexoming Reality.

Hoping (freedom): to strongly believe in all the above, against all odds & to be in circumstances that test that 'hope' indefinitely.

Secondary Themes

coming of age (often literally trapped in childhood homes; end up married or crossing a horizon)

water & mirrors (kairi, royal blood, tears, reflections, KH uses water-as-darkness but also water-as-veil)

curiosity for the wider world(s): kindness & interest in others, exploration.

a "prince & pauper" dynamic

pawn-to-queen narrative

"beauty & beast" (light & darkness, magical transformations/redemptions)

"fairy godmothers" (dwarves, genies, grandmothers, actual fairies)

the Heroine's Journey

story parallels that of Sora &/or Riku's

below are Additional Lists that sort of lead to my concluding to the Above Themes, my 2 very confident guesses on New Lights & the beginnings of my disqualifying others.

Notable (& Informative) Non-Lights

Aerith, Radiant Garden & Traverse Town.

Queen Minnie, Disney Town/Castle.

Jane, Deep Jungle.

Ariel, Atlantica.

Sally, Halloween Town.

Wendy, Neverland & London.

Boo, Monstropolis.

Naminé (canonically impossible)

the Dandelions except maybe Ventus (as a substitute or an heir to Kairi)

Riku (heart seen From Space in BBS: Aqua confirms nature of his Light as different from Kairi's)

New Light #4: Tiana

Dreaming: "Almost There", ambition.

Wishes: literal wishing upon star scenes, the firefly & evangeline, plot offilm is a whole de- & re-construction of the entire Disney "Wish Upon A Star" ideology all KHA princesses have thus-far represented.

True Love: parents & Charlotte, inspires Naveen's character development, passion for her craft.

Miracles: magical transformation.

Hope: being ambitious in spite of implied historical accuracy of story setting.

additionally:

star imagery ahoy

new orleans bayou would be super fun to design gameplay with (both city & swamp) & is unlike any world thus far (PotC doesn't count)

enables integration of story & gameplay mechanics (cooking & foraging systems)

P&tF was the last trad. animated Disney film & Nomura is a Disney Nerd (see consistent usr & relevance of Disney's 'Pinnochio')

as above, her film is a love letter to Disney's Animated Canon, just as KH often is: "wish upon a star" is the uniting concept of the seven lights

regardless of where in her own story Tiana is, ir would resonate with where Sora &/or Riku are within their own

the MUSIC

bayou = water = emphasized relevance of kairi (worldbuilding & lore-wise)

New Light #5: Moana

Dreaming: "how far i'll go".

Wishes: heroic quest, sailing past the horizon, stars, her grandma's, stars are an actual plot device.

True Love: inspires Maui' character development & her literal returning of a heart.

Miracles: Resurrection.

Hope: set off on a heroic quest armed with 1 chicken (& a piglet? i forget).

additional reasonings:

exactly parallels the stories of each Destiny Islander, especially Riku & Sora (islanders who dream of sailing beyond their small world to explore beyond it)

enables post-tutorial/non-cutscene gameplay in a Destiny Islands-esque setting (PotC, again, Does Not Count)

easier method of achieving above, gameplay-wise, than attempting Lilo & Stitch's "Hawaii"

similarities in origin would highlight respective emotional journeys & the need to address emotional hurt over physical strength

Ineligible Heroines

animal heroines such as Lady, Maid Marian, Bianca, either princess from A Bug's Life, etc.

Eilonwyn from The Black Cauldron (too young, thematic mismatch),

Violet from The Incredibles (would join the Elsa Club of Riku Parallels)

anyone original to the Once Upon A Time, House of Mouse, Sofia The First, or Kilala manga series.

(that means Elena of Avalar is also, sadly, excluded)

Atlantis may be too alike to Atlantica & Triton's awareness of the Worlds is likely true of Kida, rendering her ineligible.

Kuzco is not pure of heart.

Nemo is a fish & a literal child.

Lilo has Darkness & is also a Literal Child (Alice, at least, has the Victoriana & Role Archetype things rendering her age irrelevant; Kairi was a tween).

Giselle from Enchanted: requires consent of IRL persons to use the likenesses thereof, her Worlds are not very interesting gameplay-wise, she does not resonate with the themes of the KH series at this point of its story.

Leia from Star Wars: IRL likenesses, has Darkness, Star Wars is its own form of multiverse (like the crossover series excluded above), sequel trilogy messed up its own Heroine's Journey by switching heroes & would lead KH audiences astray.

anyone from Marvel except (maybe) Kamala Khan.

Remaining 4?

Merida from Brave seems a toss-up: on the one hand, she fulfils many of these themes to varying degrees (freedom, wisp lights, magical transformation, true love); on the other, Merida rejects many of these same themes. I'm also skeptical on how well her setting would act as a playable World in KH (assuming that the New Lights will feature alongside said worlds: this is a flawed rationale). Merida's narrative arc does not easily align with where Sora or Riku are "at" in their journeys: if we meet her & her world, it won't be as "Sora" or "Riku" but as "Donald&Goofy" or the "Wayfinders&Kairi".

Riley, Inside Out? Cons: non-magical setting; game world of her Mind (playing with un/reality) is too useful for the development of Donald, Goofy & Kairi (wrt Sora) & the concept might evengo Christopher Robin (Sora taking Riley's role) though the latter seems unlikely; meeting Riley after playing around in her head would be Awkward.

Ventus? only as a Substitute due to his purity being artificially inflicted on him.

Naminé? only as someone for Kairi to "pass the torch" to, not possible within the KH3 timeline.

[daughter of Simba & Nala]? Nala was pregnant with her in KH & her story is about reuniting [light & darkness] (romeo & juliet, but lions). cons: timeline??? animal heroine.

[any number of Final Fantasy characters that have not yet featured in the KH series]

Pocahontas-the-character thematically fits almost perfectly... but her film's story is one of the cruelest decisions made by Disney as a company, one that continues to cause harm when allowed to stand uncontested.

the boy scout from Up?

Bruno or Alberto, if Disney/the film's creators are willing to make their film's Subtext into "Text".

i have not seen Encanto nor Coco nor Seeing Red: any of these films may harbour an additional Light for Nomura to borrow... but i doubt that he set up the concept of "New Lights" in KH3 without already having most (if not ALL) of its roster already accounted for.

(Disney DOES let Nomura know about upcoming films but, after Frozen's success changed how it was "allowed" to be used in KH3... i find it more likely that the new roster [of Kairi, Rapunzel, Anna, Tiana & Moana] will find its final 2 additions from Pixar &/or Final Fantasy instead).

i highly suspect that at least 1 of the new 7 lights will be male or non-specifically gendered (Wall-E, for exanple).

[tales-from-kirkland]

Ask Hints

Ask Hints will be added and removed in time Check back to see whenever they update! These are just here in case anyone needs help coming up with a ask! You can use these as a rough draft for your ask or just copy and paste them! Anything is fine and helpful! Hints on here will range from being important plot events, to worldbuilding, to just fun tidbits! If the Hint has a strikethrough then that means it is already in my inbox!

—

- M -

Can’t tell people her real name More about “Captain Father” or “Captain Mother” Seems to dislike her brother greatly Mentioned something called “The HellFish” Mentions she really wants to be a Captain Saved Annalise from being beaten and assaulted. Left Annalise’s headpiece on the beach instead of hiding it, why

- Kairi - Warning: You can talk to Kairi, but her answers may be hard to understand as a reader. As well as the fact that she speaks a “dead language” so your OC may not understand her that well.

One of the few OCs that I will accept “pet” asks for lol Seems protective of M Was she in jail with M? Feelings towards M Was named Kairi, how does she feel about it? Feelings towards M’s family

- Annalise -

Comes from a royal family called The Wildinghams, more about them? Hatred for Pirates Searching for “Elise”, M’s sibling Was just beaten and threatened by Elise, but saved by M

- General Asks -

About The Queen

More about the town they are in

[ao3usertaliax]

NaNoWriMo Wrap Up

Ignore that I'm posting about this like a week late I've been playing Pokemon Scarlet like constantly sdlkfjdsfl

I got really behind in the middle of the month and wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but I'm really happy I was able to finish! My other goal besides word count had been to get to a certain plot arc in Shadows Alight, but that ended up being unrealistic. I still have 1.5 arcs at least to get through before that. Still, I'm really happy with the progress I was able to make! It was definitely a kingdom hearts writing month for me which was really nice.

Total words written: 50,609

progress breakdowns under the cut!

(note that some fics have been archive locked due to the spam comment problem going on currently)

Multichapter fics completed: Contingency Plan (kh) Rematched, Matched (pokemon)

Multichapter fics updated: First Dance, Second Chance (ml) Shadows Alight (five chapters) (kh) The Luxu Building (kh)

Oneshots completed: Burritosplosion (kh) Dandelions and Dirt (kh) i'll be in the corner (bring me water and food) (undertale)

Docs worked on that haven't been completed/posted: Kairi zine fic Luxu Building ch 3 Shadows Alight ch 22 First Dance, Second Chance ch 8 Curiosity and the Cat ch 2 Xemnas and Dusks worldbuilding ficlet Aqua and Apprentinort canon divergent from kh2 ending (this might be my next Big Project, if I feel comfortable starting to post another multichapter lol)

[sanitizarium]

Okay so what exactly is kingdom hearts? I've only heard a little since my dad played some of it when i was younger. All I know is that there's Disney characters really and you play as this kid with a giant ass key for a weapon, but could you perhaps tell me more? I'm quite interested i'll be honest.

OKAY OKAY SO the basic gist is that you play as sora (big key boy) and he initially lives in a place called destiny islands with his friends riku (silver haired boy) and kairi (dark red haired girl)!! at the end of the tutorial of the first game, destiny islands is consumed by darkness and everybody is separated from each other! sora and riku end up in traverse town where they meet donald and goofy, and riku ends up leaving sora. the first game is pretty much just sora, donald and goofy travelling through different disney worlds to seal keyholes (kind of like...stabilizing the worlds?) and looking for riku and kairi ^^ in the later games they add a whole lotta stuff like organization xiii, the great keyblade war and a bunch of worldbuilding stuff in general :D its very fun i love it a lot.... also despite popular belief it's not too hard to understand as long as you have a basic understanding of every game! even though there are only like...three numbered titles...there is not a single spinoff in kh every single game is important to the plot in some way

[themelodicenigma]

Have you ever come across Eli Farmer's Kingdom Hearts Remake series on youtube? I recently discovered it and I think it's really neat. He's not rewriting the series out of annoyance or spite towards the originals. Rather he's rewriting it as a fun experiment to see what it would be like if they remade the games with an alternate canon. He compared it to something like the FF7 Remake.

Oh! I hadn't seen that before. I watched the first game video, and it's pretty interesting—the deviations remind me of something you'd expect from the manga series. Though, different from the KH manga or even the FF7 Remake, those don't usually go out of their way to redefine or change the worldbuilding, which Eli did. It was still very cool nonetheless, I particularly like the focus on Riku's character, as I absolutely feel like we really could've used more of his antagonistic journey as well.

I do somewhat disagree on Donald and Goofy leaving Sora, mostly just because of how it works in tandem with the "why" the three of them were traveling with each other in the first place—Sora's goal to find Riku/Kairi and Donald and Goofy for finding the Keyblade wielder and then Mickey was consistent throughout the game as two different goals. Having the big, important moment where their bond with Sora wins over their initial mission is a MUST—but the conclusion of their bond with Sora + his "I don't need the Keyblade, friends are my power" is more affective at that given moment of when he gets the Keyblade back, proving the strength of his own Heart, and Donald and Goofy proving the power of their friendship. All at once—otherwise it'd probably feel like he should've reached that conclusion even before confronting Riku again.

But either way, anything could be rewritten and still go well, but I rather like that setup for what it does for the characters at Hollow Bastion. Interesting that Eli didn't feel the urge that most people do, which is to change the story to have Kairi journey around with Sora in the first game. lol As much as I love Kairi, her character and effect on the plot is solid in my book. If I was to skip to KH2, the only thing I'd probably change is having a little moment where we fight alongside Kairi once she gets her Keyblade.