#fluffyk97

First of all, the beginning of KH3 is so fuckin’ misleading when it says someone that’s close to Aqua would have to be the one to take the dive and save her. Because that ends up not happening at all, and Sora just does it himself when the plot calls for it. You can argue that it was Ventus’ heart inside Sora that made that possible, but there was zero indication that Ventus had next to any impact on that whole sequence. If he did anything, he was the one that was initially pushing Sora to go to the Realm of Darkness in the first place. But that’s the extent of Ventus’ intervention in Aqua’s situation. 

I initially thought that Sora was going to take the Master’s Defender (Eraqus’ Keyblade) to Castle Oblivion and get Ventus out himself. At least, that’s what I believed when I started playing and remembered the scene from the first ever KH3 trailer where Sora found that old Keyblade on the beach. But that Keyblade was instead used to find Aqua (don’t know...how or why he needed that Keyblade to get to Aqua when all he was missing was a way to get to the Realm of Darkness, but whatever). 

I think towards the end of development, when the writers were done with the Disney worlds and were ready to finalize all the end-game stuff, they might’ve been rushing it. Because the amount of padding out there is in the Disney worlds compared to how little padding there is at the end of KH3 is an EXTREME difference. It’s a mistake that happens often in video game development, especially with big, hyped up titles like this one that have undergone delays and various system changes over the years. 

(In case anyone didn’t know, KH3 was more than likely being developed on Square Enix’s Crystal Tool engine back during 2010-2013, which was proved to be a poor choice when FFXIV crashed and burned using that engine. Which is more than likely why the game was switched to a new engine and development seemed to slog on. This is also the reason FFv13 got so heavily delayed and then switched to a new engine, as well.) 

But getting into the actual writing portion, I’ll put a disclaimer saying I don’t consider myself to be a better writer than KH’s team. I write for self-indulgence and entertainment purposes, and definitely not for continuity or even logical reasons. 

So while I disagree with the writing team’s decision to backend all of the story into the final quarter of KH3′s playtime, I’m not gonna change that in this situation. For instance, I feel the story would’ve flowed better if Aqua was saved sooner, between Disney worlds. And then Ventus was saved just a little sooner than canon, before the final Disney worlds. And then they all went to war after the completion of the final Disney worlds. 

BUT, I’m not changing that. Consider everything that’s happened up to the end of San Fransokyo to be the same in this scenario. 

So how would I have tackled it? Oh, so you’re approaching me?

Sora finds the Master’s Defender on the beach, where Aqua left it a year ago when she fell back into the Realm of Darkness. Something snaps in him and he recognizes it to be Master Eraqus’ Keyblade, despite never meeting the guy. 

He takes it back to Yen Sid’s tower and asks what that could all mean. Yen Sid informs Sora that it is indeed Eraqus’ Keyblade. Theorizing that if it didn’t disappear along with Eraqus, it may mean that it was in Aqua’s possession after he was struck down. And so it could very well be a means to save her and Ventus. 

Sora isn’t really sure what to do after that, but he has this Keyblade now. And he feels a very strong connection towards it and the possibility of saving Aqua and Ventus. It’s almost like his heart is tugging on his sleeve and telling him to go somewhere. Like there’s a voice, muffled and distant, screaming at him to get up and get moving. Aqua’s in danger without something to defend herself. We have to go save her now. 

He stands up after a moment of silent contemplation, on the steps outside Yen Sid’s tower. Just like the sleeping boy did over a decade ago, he raises the Keyblade and opens a gateway to another world. Donald and Goofy ask Sora what he’s doing and how he even managed that. But Sora doesn’t respond and bolts inside, leaving them to chase after him. 

He finds Castle Oblivion on the other side, but doesn’t recognize it. He laments that this place doesn’t look like it used to, before Donald and Goofy drag him out of his daze and ask what this place is. Sora says he doesn’t really know, but he feels something important dragged him here. That muffled voice in the back of his head starts to get a little more clear. But he still can’t tell who it is.

As he walks in the castle doors, the voice gets louder and he starts to see things that never happened to him. Much like Roxas had experienced when he first stepped into Castle Oblivion, one of the hearts inside Sora is starting to react. He sees memories of Terra and Aqua. Of Vanitas and Xehanort. People he’s seen before but long before he ever met them. At first, Donald and Goofy try to get him out of the castle. But Sora stubbornly refuses to leave and starts plowing towards the doors at the end of the hall. He’s about to shove the doors open when that voice is finally clear enough to hear. And it’s asking him to use the Keyblade. 

The memories start to subside and he realizes that they’re Ventus’ memories. He raises the Master’s Defender to the doors in front of him, unlocking the castle’s hidden door and revealing what Axel had been searching for: the Chamber of Waking.

(Side note, this was another minor disappointment I had, with the Chamber of Repose and Chamber of Waking hardly mattering in the final stretch of KH3 and post-game story. I really wished it have been more relevant rather than just a storage room for a body and some broken armor+Keyblade).

He paces around the throne, staring at Ventus’ sleeping body and the strange design of the room. He comments that Ventus looks exactly like Roxas, maybe Donald and Goofy can ask about that, too. But before he can openly query about it all any longer, the Keyhole on the back of the throne begins to light up. And Sora raises the Master’s Defender to the lock. 

The white walls of Castle Oblivion have vanished and now the Land of Departure stands where it once stood, broken windows and crumbling pillars, dilapidated walls and rusted chains strewn across the environment. But it’s a castle that Sora feels he can recognize. That Ventus must be able to recognize. 

Sora stares at Ventus’ sleeping body and wonders what he could even do to help, not yet realizing that he never lost his Power of Waking. But taking him back to Yen Sid would be better than leaving him in the castle, now exposed for other people to find him. Sora starts to pick up Ventus’ body, pulling him over his shoulder with Donald and Goofy’s help to get him to safety. 

They don’t even get past the stairs of the thrones before someone waltzes in the front door and openly remarks that this is where Ventus had been hiding the whole time. Vanitas takes advantage of the unfavorable predicament and immediately starts attacking. Sora, carrying Ven’s limp body, is completely unable to defend himself and the two are sent sprawling across the throne room. Before Vanitas can go in for another strike, Donald and Goofy jump to Sora’s defense and start yelling at him to get up. 

Sora, as he was in Monstropolis, is crippled by Vanitas’ presence and how Ventus’ heart is reacting to him. He still tries to get up and fight, but is significantly weaker than expected. He rushes past Donald and Goofy, Keyblade dragging across the floor in his hands, and haphazardly swings it out at Vanitas. But Vanitas easily backsteps and strikes Sora again, putting him on defense and leaving him helpless. 

He’s still desperately trying to attack Vanitas, feeling some anguish and anger towards the boy, despite these feelings not originating from Sora himself. But he’s still too weak, too encapsulated by this utter rage, to put forth a real fight and gets knocked back again. He’s struck hard enough to send his body hurtling across the room and crashing back down into the floors, sliding to a stop in front of the thrones. 

Sora can’t get back up. He’s too weak, but he’s desperately trying to grab his Keyblade again. All he can see through blurry eyes is Donald and Goofy trying to fend off Vanitas. He reaches out for them, telling them to run. But the image of Vanitas hurting them, hurting his friends, is too much. Combined with the severe pain from Ventus’ heart, Sora passes out with a loud thump from his heart.

He can hear a voice talking to him, saying that they have to wake up. Sora asks what he can do, to which the voice responds to use the Power of Waking. Sora laments that he never got it back, but the voice, Ventus, reassures him that he never lost it. He remarks that Sora never lost his power, it just needed some time to find its way back to him. Bolstered by this vote of confidence, Sora appears above his own Station of Awakening, finding Ventus’ heart hidden beneath it. And he uses his Keyblade to awaken Ventus’ heart. 

Vanitas has easily beaten Donald and Goofy, and he’s standing over Sora’s exhausted body. Ventus’ heart resting inside, ready for Vanitas to take back. Vanitas, all too eager to reclaim what he knows is his, prepares to stab Sora with the Keyblade. 

But something feels different. He looks down at Sora, realizing he can’t feel that light inside him. There’s traces of it, but Ventus isn’t there anymore. He’s staring at Sora, confused. Ventus was just there, what could’ve-

There’s hardly a second to react before someone is screeching Sora’s name. Vanitas whips his head around to catch sight of Keyblade hurtling towards him, barely managing to guard the hit from Ventus’ weapon, the child holding it staring at him drenched in rage. The powerful burst of energy from both halves of Ventus’ heart clashing sends shock-waves across the throne room. Donald and Goofy, both tossed to the side by Vanitas, marvel at the sight. 

Ventus skids back across the floor, still on his feet, standing in front of Sora’s body. Vanitas is still standing as well, the two staring at each other. It’s a long, uncomfortable moment, neither daring to move lest the other react and punish for it. But then Vanitas breaks away and starts running towards the entrance to the castle. 

Ventus yells at him to get back here, ready to chase after, before he’s pulled away by the sounds of Sora stirring on the ground behind him. The anger melts away completely and Ventus turns back to Sora, watching him slowly sit up. Donald and Goofy rush past Ventus to help their friend and heal him. Ventus stares at Sora, recognizing his face.

Sora looks up at makes eye contact with Ventus. They’re caught staring at each other, each wondering why the other looks the way they do. But Ventus breaks the silence and asks if Sora is okay. Sora says yes. Ventus feels relieved and holds out a hand to pull Sora back up, and the two greet each other for the first time. 

They can hear the doors to the castle opening, remembering who they’re letting get away. The four run after Vanitas out into the broken courtyard, finding the world mauled from the dark storm and a dark corridor that Vanitas must’ve escaped through. Ventus is distraught to find that his home was destroyed, only fueling his anger more towards Vanitas and Xehanort. In further blind anger, he rushes through the dark portal to follow Vanitas. Sora panics and runs after him, but the corridor closes before Donald and Goofy can follow. 

The portal leads them to the Dark Margin, where Vanitas finds himself unprepared to find another Guardian of Light, Riku, fighting a mass of Heartless. Sora and Ventus follow just after, both single-track targeting Vanitas.

Riku is still fending off the Heartless and Aqua’s dark form, but finds himself staring at Ventus, recognizing “Roxas” and wondering how Sora managed to get him back.

Sora manages to get one good swing against Vanitas, cracking the helmet’s glass and threatening to reveal his face. But they’re caught unawares when Vanitas baits the Heartless swarm to attack them, too. 

Vanitas takes the moment of panic to slip away through another dark corridor, leaving Ventus, Sora and Riku to fight off the swarm of Heartless. Ventus is only strong enough to provide support, still weak from his decade of sleep. After enough fighting, Riku and Sora use their Keyblades’ strength that they discovered in the Sleeping Realm to destroy the Demon Tower.

Riku is left exhausted from the fight. Ventus goes to his aid, asking if he’s alright, which leaves Riku confused why “Roxas” of all people would care about his well-being. They’re both caught off guard when Aqua, tainted in darkness, appears and starts charging at them both. Ventus is stunted by the image of Aqua alone, completely unable to react aside from muttering her name. 

Sora dashes between them both, holding back Aqua’s Keyblade from striking. Ventus is paralyzed by the image of his friend having fallen to darkness, and the sound of her voice in such pain and despair. Sora fends her off, putting her on guard and buying Riku some time to go save Mickey. Ventus tries reaching out to Aqua, but she only says Ventus shouldn’t get involved. 

Sora and Ventus start to fight her, Ventus mostly providing minimal support, not wanting to hurt Aqua. He’s calling out to her the whole time, slowly drawing Aqua out and urging her to remember himself and Terra. Mickey and Master Eraqus. She’s slowly letting her guard down more and more, muttering things when Ventus keeps telling her about their past. Reminding her of their training sessions, of the Mark of Mastery, how she protected Ventus from Braig and freed him from Vanitas, kept him safe in the castle for over a decade. And she’s finally knocked out of it. 

The darkness lets go of her and she starts sinking into the waters. Without thinking for his own safety, Ventus dives after her, yelling her name and reaching for her hand. She recognizes Ventus and reaches up to meet him, both falling farther into the darkness. But before they can fall any farther, Sora has followed them down as well, and is pulling them both back up to the surface. 

Aqua wakes up on the shores of Destiny Islands, recognizing Sora and Riku. They’re both thankful that she’s okay, and Sora turns around and calls Ventus over. Aqua follows his gaze and sees Ventus running towards her at break-neck speed, practically tackling Aqua in a hug. He’s crying and smiling, clinging to her body and sputtering out how happy he is to see her safe. Aqua’s hugging him back, but she asks how and why the islands are in the Realm of Darkness. Everyone tells her that she’s in the Realm of Light, and she’s free from the darkness. Aqua starts to tear up as well, hugging Ventus tighter and saying thank you to everyone that saved her.