Chapter 1: Game menu
Chapter Text
"Thinking of you, wherever you are.
We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend.
Now I will step forward to realize this wish."
—
KINGDOM HEARTS:
CONNECTED LIGHTS
—
GAME MENU
Kairi stands alone in the water with her paopu fruit, next to where Sora should be.
The music you hear is “A piece of Dearly Beloved” by Yoko Shimomura.
Chapter 2: Opening scenes
Notes:
I’d edit my own video if I had more time u_u
Right-click to open music links in new windows manually.
Chapter Text
OPENING CINEMATIC
Set to an orchestral version of “Face my fears”, a cinematic based on the imagery of the “Symphony No. 5” segment from Fantasia 2000, interspersed with CGI images from KH3 and Re:Mind, recaps the story and separation of Sora and Kairi as the orange and pink butterflies from the Disney movie. The recap gives Kairi’s perspective on the events, rather than Sora’s, including her “glassing” and visions of the other guardians fighting. It emphasizes all the times Kairi and Sora saved each other, were separated, reunited and separated again—showing Xehanort’s hand in their fate. In the final image, Kairi is standing alone in the Final World watching the orange and pink butterflies flutter up to the clouds until the orange butterfly disappears into the light.
—
To get a sense of what it would look like, watch the Fantasia 2000 segment, muted, playing your favorite “Face my Fear” track instead (it doesn’t work well with the Kaleidoscope remix). I like to play the World of Tres Orchestral version from 13th Vessel’s channel until the Fantasia video runs out, then jump back to 13thVessel’s video for the end of the track.
—
KINGDOM HEARTS
CONNECTED LIGHTS
—
DESTINY ISLANDS — “REAL WORLD” — PLAY ISLAND, SEA SHORE
Riku stands frozen as Axel and Aqua run to Kairi. Axel picks her up from the paopu tree and she breaks down crying in his arms while Aqua strokes her back. The others start to move around Riku. Riku finally steps forward, staring between Kairi crying and the spot from which Sora has disappeared.
SOMEONE
What happened?
Mickey looks up to Riku.
RIKU (weakly)
I thought he’d make it.
MICKEY
He went too far.
Axel lets Kairi stand and she hops off the platform onto the beach. She walks a few angry steps, brushing at her eyes with her arms, then falls on all fours and starts sobbing again. Axel and Aqua are at her side again. Riku just watches, too shocked to do anything else.
Kairi looks up and meets his eyes. Her grief turns to fierce determination.
RADIANT GARDEN LAB — “REAL WORLD”
ANSEM THE WISE
We can keep you asleep for as long as you need to trace your connection to Sora to its end.
Kairi sits on a medical chair, listening to Ansem the Wise who is flanked by Even and Ienzo. Riku, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Axel are behind them, near the door to Radiant Garden. They all look worried. Axel, with his arms crossed, looks like he doesn’t trust the scientists. Dilan and Aeleus stand next to the opposite door.
ANSEM THE WISE (cont’d)
We will be able to follow your trail on the computer, and the data we collect might help us find a path to reach him. However, if you arrive in a world that’s neither of light nor darkness, but somewhere on the other side, your task will be far from easy.
KAIRI
I understand. I want to do this.
IENZO
Should anything go awry, your distress signals will show on the monitor, and it might be best to wake you while we can.
KAIRI
Don’t.
RIKU & AXEL
Kairi!
Kairi shakes her head and smiles reassuringly.
KAIRI
I’m sorry. Yes, I trust that you will make the best decision. But don’t worry. I’ll be fine.
(to Riku)
We’ll find him.
Riku nods.
AXEL
I’m standing watch. No offence, but I’m not letting you two do all the work.
KAIRI
Thank you, Axel.
They share a look.
Kairi lies down on the chair. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then opens them again.
1st person camera: looking up, all there is to see is a metal ceiling with harsh white neon lights; then, lowering her gaze, Kairi has a wide view of the server room through the lab window. Ienzo steps into view with his clipboard and looks at her.
IENZO
Ready?
Kairi blinks.
Black screen.
KAIRI
Yes.
KAIRI (voice over)
I’m not worried. I can’t vanish from a place with no sky.
DIVE TO THE HEART
The sound of a body falling through water. Kairi sinks willingly backwards into quickly darkening emptiness. The distant white lights above make frail threads that her fingers brush, until there’s nothing but black.
The fall slows and Kairi flips back up and lands on her feet on a pink and red stained-glass floor.
The Station shows her to one side, the curve of her back to the curve of the edge, her wielding arm in front of her, empty-handed, and the other arm folded across her chest, with her fist to her shoulder. The rest of the Station feels empty. Five empty circles stand out on an ocean background reminiscent of the Islands’ main shore.
KAIRI
What is this?
She takes a step forward and stops to look some more.
[L: Take a step forward.]
There is a stretch of sky meeting the waves at the horizon, but it’s barely there. The lines in the blank circles look like the glass was fractured.
Kairi looks up and around.
[R: move the camera]
Nothing but darkness around the pillar, but then Kairi sees a glimmer in the distance. The soft white light of another Station cutting through black mist. It’s there but it's very far away.
[Take a look around.]
As Kairi steps nearer to her own form on the floor, a keyhole design appears in the lead lines on her chest, where the crook of her elbow is folded protectively across her heart.
[∆: Touch/Open]
A small flash makes her step back as a bubble of golden light and white haze forms over the keyhole. Kairi can’t get any closer.
She clenches her fist, and unclenches it.
Turning around, she holds her fist to her pendant.
[Hold R2 or L2 to search your memories.]
Kairi takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.
Visions rise around her:
[Her keyblade clashing against a fiery one in training]
[Symmetrical wings unfolding as she and Sora hold hands and conjure light]
[Her arm and Sora’s holding paopu fruit to each other against the sunset]
The first one will give you an Attack ability path; the second a Magic boost; the third a Defense path.
[Is that who you are?]
Yes.
Kairi opens her eyes and stands up.
[Explore the Station of Awakening.]
Walking to the very edge, on the side of the distant light, allows you to peer into the darkness straight ahead. But there is nothing else to see. Standing at some point on the other side has Kairi look down into the darkness. The dark is so thick it doesn’t seem like you would end up anywhere. The keyhole pattern is hazy and difficult to make out under the seal. The empty circles stand out.
[Hold L1 to ask for guidance.]
Kairi stops, summons her keyblade and raises it in front of her.
KAIRI
May my heart be my guiding key.
She twirls the keyblade in front of her. Growing, blinding golden to white light shoots from the tip in a beam that pierces through the darkness ahead.
FADE TO WHITE.
Chapter 3: The Secret Forest
Summary:
“The leaves in the trees here seem to whisper unspoken words, unspoken feelings…Sora, it’s my turn to fight for you.”
—Kairi, KH3 loading screen
Notes:
The chapters so far are unbetaed and this is my first attempt at interactive story-telling. Please bear with me while I figure out how best to use what limited HTML I can! It is still a game script and not a full-on CYOA game, but you will be able to jump around a bit as you read. Do let me know if you experience any issues. Thank you for giving this a try!
And thank you so much for leaving kudos on the opening chapter! It meant the world to me!
Alright. First playable world. Here we go.
My writing soundtrack:
“Black Magic” – Digital Daggers
Suggested field theme:
“The Black Shroud” – FFXIV OST (cause a little piece of Kairi’s theme snuck into it)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
SECRET FOREST – “THE RING” – DAY
Kairi comes to in the middle of a fight against Axel, in a very small clearing, in the Secret Forest seen in KH3. She is in her KH2 outfit and her hair is pulled up in a bun.
AXEL
Bring it on, Princess!
This friendly fight is the battle tutorial of the game. Learn the basic battle commands: attack, dodge, block, lock. You don’t have aerial recovery yet, but you can counterattack.
You can also hide behind trees and rocks, but it’s pretty useless here.
If you successfully block and counterattack, Axel exclaims, “Wow, not getting used to this thing…” while awkwardly twirling his keyblade.
After you learn the basic commands, Axel and Kairi circle around each other and a free fight starts:
[Practice with Axel].
AXEL
With all you’ve got!
A water magic command is available [L1 + ∆] but not pointed out. If you use it, Axel says “Hey! No cheating!” and counter attacks hard.
Axel is practicing close range physical attacks, but sometimes he’ll throw his Keyblade like a chakram and you’ll hear, “Woops…”
Axel walks to Kairi and extends a friendly hand to help her up.
AXEL
You okay?
Kairi accepts his help.
KAIRI
Yes. Thank you.
She wipes her brow with the back of her hand.
AXEL
You should stop charging like that. You know that’s not your strongest suit.
KAIRI
I know... It’s not that easy.
They give each other a lopsided smile. Kairi nods and dismisses her Keyblade.
Axel stands back up and dismisses his Keyblade.
AXEL
Maybe I shouldn’t hold back.
Kairi wipes her brow with the back of her hand.
KAIRI (smiles)
Told you so.
Axel leans forward and grins, tapping his temple.
AXEL
I’ll get it memorized.
Kairi nods and dismisses her Keyblade.
[Go back to the beginning of the chapter.]
Axel sighs loudly and stretches his arms. You can explore the small clearing. If you go too far from Axel or go talk to him, he asks, “Do you want to head back?”
[Yes / Not yet.]
Axel takes a path and walks away.
[Follow Axel.]
You can look around and follow at your own pace, but you cannot stray too far off the scripted path for now. If you lag behind or go too far, Axel waits for you and grows impatient.
AXEL
Speed is going to be a problem. We need to find you a way to make up for that.
KAIRI
Merlin says to be “patient.”
AXEL
Yeah, right.
KAIRI
It’s easier when I can use magic.
AXEL
For sure. But you know what grandpa says…?
KAIRI
Don’t call me old?
AXEL (laughing)
Haha, that too.
KAIRI
Magic doesn’t solve everything.
AXEL
Magic doesn’t solve everything… But it sure helps a lot.
KAIRI
I’ll find a way to sneak behind you someday. You’ll see.
AXEL
Oh, I’m sure you will. And that’s…
KAIRI
What?
AXEL
Nothing. That’s good! It’ll keep me on my toes.
KAIRI
Axel…
Past a small side-path to an old well, you reach a small cottage with a thatch roof. There is a SAVE POINT nearby. Merlin comes out of the cottage and takes a look at his pocket watch.
MERLIN
So, you did make it for tea, after all!
KAIRI (smiling)
We’re back!
As Axel and Kairi close the remaining distance, they walk past a phantom present-day Kairi in her KH3 design, who watches them and then looks up and away. The camera pans and zooms out, over a sea of trees, to TITLE ART:
~ THE SECRET FOREST ~
KAIRI (voice over)
The forest is beautiful, just like I remember. Training here with Merlin and Axel, I remember feeling like I was finally done waiting. Why is my heart guiding me here?
There are two Kairis on screen. Memory-Kairi (in KH2 outfit) is chatting with Axel and Merlin. You now control the present-day Kairi, whom none of the others notice, though they will shift absent-mindedly if you bump into them. This main version of Kairi will now be called Heart-Diving!Kairi or HD!Kairi for disambiguation, when necessary. The field theme changes depending on which Kairi you control.
You are explained how the SHIFT command works:
[SHIFT 1: Hold L2 or R2] Throughout the game, you will be able to Shift from Heart-Diving!Kairi to younger versions of herself from her memories; switching from one controllable form to another will grant you access to some areas that either HD!Kairi or Memory!Kairi can’t reach. Thanks to the light connecting hearts, there will be even more possibilities to unlock.
Situational prompts will let you know when to Shift to reveal hidden scenes, switch characters, and follow new paths. You can try and activate the Shift command at any point during the game, except during random fights. Successfully Shifting after running away from enemies will make them disappear.
As Heart-Diving!Kairi, you cannot enter the cottage.
[Shift to Memory!Kairi.]
Heart-diving Kairi vanishes from the screen; the camera angle changes slightly to center and zoom in a little on Memory!Kairi, whom you now control. A combat portal appears in the area, which allows you to replay Memory fights like the opening Axel fight with various constraints. Use these fights to practice, level up, win accessories and earn Dream Drops—the currency for this game. Axel, Memory!Kairi and Merlin debrief the training session.
AXEL
…no problems with the Keyblade.
MERLIN
Splendid!
Talk to Merlin, or try the cottage door:
MERLIN
Are you ready to learn more spells?
KAIRI
Yes!
[Obtained Blizzard, Aero and Stop]
AXEL
I am not gonna like those…
Talking to Merlin:
MERLIN
Use the portal if you want to practice some more.
When you approach the cottage door, Merlin asks if you are ready to call it a day.
[Obtained SECRET LETTER 1]
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – DAY
The inside of Merlin’s cottage is packed with piles of books. If you touch the SUGAR BOWL, it will hit your fingers with its teaspoon. There is a CABINET surrounded with ominously bubbling multicolored concoctions, in which you can trade Dream Drops for curatives. A grumpy ARCHIMEDES is the one supervising the transaction. There is also a BOOKSTAND, which prompts Kairi to remark, “There used to be a book here.” If you try to Shift, Kairi will think to herself, “I’m not tired yet.”
The MENU gives you access to KAIRI’S JOURNAL—an on-going collection of letters to Sora that track your progress, like Jiminy’s journal or Mickey’s letter to Sora in Re:Coded. The SECRET LETTERS are letters like the one featured in KH3, which Kairi wrote during past games. Other sections are standard KH features.
Dear Sora,
I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Did Master Yen Sid tell you? I’m training to be a Keyblade wielder, like you. Can you believe it? No more waiting around for you to come home from your adventures. Now I can do my part to help. I’ll still have to wait a little to see you though.
I hope you get back safely. Whatever Xehanort did to you, I need you to believe it wasn’t your fault. You are stronger than you think, Sora. Strong enough to be a Master. Even more than that. I hope… No. I know you’ll be okay. We’ll all be okay.
Things have started to move faster, and there’s so much to cover. Merlin came to get me at Disney Castle. I met Donald’s fiancée—Daisy—, Chip and Dale, and Queen Minnie, and now here I am, in a magical forest where I can take all the time I need to train. It’s pretty amazing.
And I’ll be training here with Axel—I mean… Lea.
I admit, I’m a little worried about training with him. Mickey said he helped save you—for that, I should be grateful—but it’s hard for me to unsee the person who tried to kidnap me to get to you. He does feel a little different. He certainly doesn't act the same around me as before. I can tell he’s trying to apologize. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see for myself if I can trust him.
I know I’m safe. I trust Merlin, and Riku said he trusts Axel to be on our side, now. I mean, Lea. Queen Minnie also said he saved her. She said… She said I could reach out to her if I was feeling uneasy. She said Merlin would understand and they’d find another way.
I want to figure things out for myself. I am scared. But I’ll hear him out and see for myself. I’ll be strong.
—Kairi
Throughout the game, just like the Puzzle side-quest in KH2FM, you'll find cards representing matching pairs of male and female animals inspired by the Pomp and Circumstance segment in Fantasia 2000. There are fifty pairs to collect. The corresponding journal page has designs and check marks like Donald's illustrated list in the original Fantasia 2000 movie.
[Woops! I want to go back to Kairi's Journal]
Back outside, Merlin has an additional recurring line:
MERLIN
Now don’t get any idea that magic will solve your problems!
AXEL
Yeah, yeah, we’ve got it memorized…
[Shift back to Heart-Diving!Kairi to explore the woods.]
This is a sort of “Lost Woods” world. You won’t feel a lot of spatial limitations until you reach points that very obviously loop back to previously visited areas. A hand-drawn map—kind of like the KH3 Caribbean map or Pooh’s Storybook in KH1—is available in the menu; you can lock a target area on it and party member hints will help navigate the world. The Secret Forest is designed to feel like a safe, visually boundless space, for now, but new areas will appear throughout the game, gradually revealing its “real,” original outline.
[ACCESSIBLE AREAS]
Read in the order of your choice.
After at least two memories have been watched or played through, including one combat segment, the forest expands to the North with a new area.
A tiny clearing to your right when you leave the cottage. The old stone well at the center of it attacks you with its chain if you get too close. Block three attacks in a row without counterattacking and it will throw Ethers in return. Trying to Shift only prompts the well to echo and gurgle back grumbling lines like, “fiendish chain”, “one big medieval mess”, “age of inconvenience,” in a distorted Merlin voice. No random encounters.
The Path leads to the clearing where Axel and Kairi dueled. It’s not possible to Shift. A few Nightmares start spawning on the way. A Tama Sheep pops up.
[Dream Eaters] As this game takes place in dreams, a benevolent Dream Eater will be your companion throughout the Dive. Unlike in Dream Drop Distance, only one Spirit can appear on the field at a time, as other characters will sometimes join the party. You can however find and create new Dream Eaters along the way and switch between them, in and out of combat. Holding L1 will prompt your Dream Eater to point out elements to interact with on the field or help you find your way, all the more so if you have locked targets on the map.
If you climb up the side of the path, you have a 60% chance to just reappear on the other side of the path instead of progressing deeper into the woods.
You can hear OFF-SCREEN VOICES as you draw near.
AXEL
A letter?
KAIRI
Yup.
AXEL
To Sora?
KAIRI
Mmm, technically yes. But I won’t send it. It’s more for me.
A gorgeous view of the world as you step out of the line of trees. The forest sprawls in every direction. There seems to be hills with fields in the distance, lost in odd sunset colors. Kairi will automatically stop before you step off the cliff, but if you insist, you can jump down.
An ICE CREAM STICK lies on the ground. You can Shift next to it. This will trigger the first KH3 Lea & Kairi scene [Watch here], starting with their voices alone as a transition to the flashback.
KAIRI
Ice cream? Really?
AXEL
Yeah. I asked Merlin to pick these up.
Ya know, we did both summon Keyblades. Gotta celebrate.
KAIRI
You’re sweet, Lea.
AXEL
Naw…
Kairi takes a bite while Axel stares.
KAIRI
What?
AXEL
N-nothing. I just…
KAIRI
You’re trying to remember what you forgot?
AXEL
Well, I, uh… Yeah… Yeah.
KAIRI
So tomorrow—you and me in the ring. You ready?
AXEL
‘Course.
KAIRI
Don’t hold back, Lea. Promise?
A vision of Xion. Lea drops his ice cream, starts crying.
KAIRI
Huh? Are you okay? Lea!
AXEL
Yeah… Sorry…
KAIRI
You’re crying. What’s wrong?
AXEL
Something in my eyes.
KAIRI
Lea…
AXEL
I’m… gonna go. Sorry.
KAIRI
‘Kay, but stop apologizing.
AXEL
Fine… on one condition.
KAIRI
What?
AXEL
Call me Axel from now on. Got it memorized?
KAIRI
Yeah. Okay, Axel.
Axel leaves. Kairi watches him go, then looks down at the untouched ice cream in the grass.
End flashback and back to Heart-Diving!Kairi.
Croaking of frogs. Your Dream Eater hops around a particular rock. Shift to a playable training segment: Lea and Memory!Kairi battle Merlin’s water walls, without weapons, while constantly being turned into frogs. Merlin turns into a frog himself and leaves his hat floating in a magical bubble that moves very quickly around the area, which you need to hit. Frog status greatly decreases all stats, blocks magic, but you can still attack, guard and dodge, and use Remedies to turn back to human. Although moving about seems slow and jumps are awkward, it is easier to get close to the target unnoticed as a frog as you are smaller and can hide behind rocks. If your HP drops to zero, Merlin will heal you and tell you to try again.
Halfway through the battle:
KAIRI (thinks aloud)
We need to team up.
LEA
Kairi, watch out!
Kairi dodges a crashing wave and lands closer to Lea; Lea grabs her arm to steady her and Kairi jumps at the touch. Lea lets go immediately. Both look unsettled and try to cover it up quickly. You still have to play and dodge as the dialogue runs.
KAIRI
It’s no use, is it?
LEA
Do you trust me?
KAIRI
What?
LEA
I’ve got an idea, but…
Wave crash.
KAIRI
Okay…
LEA
Okay. Wait for my signal.
Press ∆ to activate the Team Attack that appears as a Situation Command while you are under Frog status but Lea isn’t: Lea grabs Frog!Kairi and throws her across the field like she's a Chakram; Kairi curls into a ball. Hit X as she hits the water bubble to successfully complete the Team Attack.
If you miss the mark:
Kairi bursts through the bubble, awkwardly grabs the hat with her front frog legs, and splashes into the water with it. The battle ends. Merlin steps into view.
MERLIN
Haha! Well done!
He picks up the hat, to which Kairi is clinging, and deposits her on the rock.
MERLIN
Snick snack snorum!
In a puff of pink smoke, Kairi turns human again.
If you hit X at the right moment:
Kairi bursts the bubble and grabs the hat and keeps dropping down with the hat held over her head like a parachute, which only slows the fall so much. She lands in a puddle of water on a flat rock, with ease, and promptly half disappears into the hat.
MERLIN (off screen)
Haha! Well done!
His wand appears into view and hits the hat as Kairi was lifting it up from her face.
KAIRI (surprise, not pain)
Ow!
MERLIN
Snick snack snorum!
In a puff of pink smoke, Kairi turns human again.
Lea is a pathetic sight with wet red hair hanging over his face. He picks himself up, slips and falls back down, this time staying there. Merlin is beaming.
MERLIN
Now that was a brilliant idea, Lea!
Combine your strengths and you’ll make up for any weapon you can’t use anymore.
LEA
Water’s the worst. Ugh…
Kairi is still processing what just happened. Lea catches her eye and looks away, uneasy.
LEA
Don’t laugh.
Kairi gets up and stumbles, too. Lea instinctively holds out his arm to catch her, but he’s too far and hasn’t gotten up from his sitting position, so it’s useless; Kairi regains her balance without falling anyway. Lea drops his arm and focuses on his hair.
MERLIN
Do you need a break, lads?
LEA (mumbles)
Always.
[Try again.][Shift out of the memory]
[Obtained Toad spell. Cast it successfully on a staggered or stunned Nightmare and it will be instantly defeated. Cast it on yourself to turn into a frog for a limited amount of time.]
Cross the river and climb up the hill. When you reach the top of the hill, you hear Merlin’s voice.
MERLIN
Now, by the by, in what direction is this castle of yours?
BOY
I think it’s north. The other way.
MERLIN
Oh, oh.
Shifting makes the voices clearer as Kairi turns around; it allows you to hear the lines again if you insist, but shows nothing. Kairi turns back. If you keep going South, you slip and fall to Merlin’s cottage.
A clearing, larger than the Ring, around a very big tree with thick branches twisting smoothly up and out into the sky. You can hear squirrels in the branches overhead. The sound makes your Dream Eater hop around happily.
[Shift] As Heart-Diving!Kairi turns into Memory!Kairi, she’s suddenly back to back with Axel. A playable defense exercise starts, where you have to dodge/deflect physical and magical attacks; locate the invisible enemy and wait for an opening to attack using “Heart of a Princess.” This is the Shotlock tutorial. You can also earn XP by hitting flying pinecones at the right time to send them back to the attacker. Axel keeps reflexively throwing his Keyblade like a Chakram and gets increasingly frustrated.
After your first successful attempt at Heart of a Princess:
AXEL
That’s great! Next time try not to burn the whole forest down?
KAIRI
You’re one to talk!
AXEL
Touché…
Failed attempt:
AXEL
Keep it up! It’s just a matter of focus!
KAIRI
Yes!
Other successful attempts:
AXEL
Want to reign it in a little?
KAIRI
Sorry!
AXEL
Looks like you can aim!
You can now use “Heart of a Princess” in combat.
If you search the area thoroughly, you can find a TORN PAGE described as “a cracked piece of parchment with the words LAWS OF NATURE… probably.”
The area is slightly gloomier than the rest of the forest.
[Skip the scene if this is your second visit.]
[Shift]
Kairi and Lea are walking further north. Depending on how far you’ve gone in the area before Shifting, Heart-Diving!Kairi will merge into Memory-Kairi quickly or turn into a glowing orb of light floating back to the edge of the area which Kairi and Lea have just entered. The light transitions back to the usual copper hues, though still a shade darker with the foliage blocking the sun.
LEA
Ever wonder how far we can go until we reach the edge?
KAIRI
Uhm. Maybe a little. But Merlin said it was no use anyway.
I guess I just wonder where this world comes from, mostly.
LEA
Huh. Yeah, I guess that’s a good question, too.
KAIRI
I can't help but feel like the woods are hiding something.
Like we're not seeing all there is to it. Not in a bad way, but...
It's not what's beyond that matters, but what's already there.
I don’t know if it’s just me.
LEA
No. I feel the same. I’ve been having dreams that don’t feel entirely my own...
KAIRI
Really?
LEA
Yeah, like wanting to fly, or… turning into a squirrel.
KAIRI
No way!
The flashback is cut short by a startled doe rushing right past Heart-Diving Kairi, pulling her back from the memory. When Kairi spins around, the doe has already vanished into the woods. There is distant shouting to the North:
MAN
Why, you clumsy little fool!
BOY
Oh, Kay, please, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. Please.
KAY
If I ever… (grunts as he falls) If I ever get my hands on you, I’ll, I’ll ring…
your scrawny little neck, so help me, I will.
Kairi runs two steps towards the voices, then it’s up to you.
BOY (voice getting closer)
I’ll get the arrow, Kay. I’m sure I can find it.
KAY
Don’t tell me you’re going in there. Why, it’s swarming with wolves.
BOY
I’m not afraid.
KAY
Well, go ahead. It’s your skin, not mine. Go on, go on.
WART from The Sword in the Stone barges through the thicket, trips on a root, and crashes to the ground near Kairi.
KAIRI
Are you alright?
WART (getting up)
Ye… Yes. I’m sorry, I have to… Who are you?
KAIRI
I’m Kairi.
Nightmares spawn around them. Arthur jumps. Kairi summons her Keyblade.
KAIRI
Move back.
[Defeat the enemies.]
Wart runs around and picks rocks and a stick up to defend himself.
Once you’ve cleared the area, Wart is on his bum. Kairi helps him up.
WART
Thank you, miss. What're those?
KAIRI
Nightmares. I think.
WART
Are you a fairy?
KAIRI
No. What about you?
WART
Oh, my name’s Arthur, but everyone calls me Wart.
KAIRI
Nice to meet you.
WART
My foster brother’s lost an arrow. I’ve got to get it back.
He’s more hesitant than he sounded earlier.
KAIRI
I can go with you if you’d like.
WART
Would you? That’d be awfully kind of you, miss.
KAIRI
Kairi’s fine.
WART
I’m sorry, miss… Kairi.
Kairi smiles kindly. Wart smiles sheepishly.
KAIRI
So, where do you think it is?
WART
I think it went that way.
KAIRI
Alright. Let’s look around.
You can’t Shift anywhere while Wart is in the party. Help him find the arrow in the slightly bluer forest. He will fight with a stick, using it like a sword with comically awkward moves. He’s most efficient with stones, but Kairi will have to do all the hard work against the Nightmares and make sure his HP doesn’t drop to zero, or you’ll have to start over. You can sometimes direct Wart to climb in trees and shower apples that will stun the enemies below… but also hit you if you don’t move away or block. He’ll drop hidden items from trees, too.
Once you reach the path to Merlin’s cottage, Wart spots the arrow.
WART
Oh, there it is!
He runs ahead and climbs up the trees to retrieve it.
KAIRI
Be careful!
More enemies spawn at ground level—a pack of wolfish Nightmares. Among them, an invisible one.
[Shift-during-boss-fights tutorial: Use the Shift to reveal weaknesses or hidden layers to the enemy.] Here the Shift briefly shows the true appearance of the invisible wolf: the famished wolf from the Sword in the Stone, much smaller in size than the invisible Nightmare. You won’t be able to hit the original wolf because we do not condone animal cruelty :) Instead the wolf will dodge and hide in bushes and sprint to another side of the battle field. Use Aero while Shifting to make branches fall and scare the original wolf away; unshift and you can hit the branches to one-hit the Nightmares or use Aero again to create a tornado of sticks that will clear the area. Shift again and hit the wolf with Water magic to end the fight.
WART
Whoaaaaa!
Crack!
KAIRI
Wart!
Kairi sees the hole in the cottage roof and runs to the door.
You can now enter the cottage without Shifting to Memory!Kairi first. In fact, you have to, in order to get the next scene, otherwise you'll end up in the usual room.
The cottage is completely empty. Not a single piece of furniture in sight. There is a hole in the thatch roof and an old book lying on the floor next to the patch of sun.
[Pick it up.]
The book has a deep red cover and a bright golden lock. It is a heavy volume, but the first pages are missing. Kairi carefully turns a page, covering a drawing of the sword Excalibur stuck in an anvil. The first intact page is filled with illuminated text.
KAIRI (reads)
“A legend is sung of when England was young…”
The book is ripped away from her by Merlin.
MERLIN
“And knights were brave and bold,” yes, yes… rubbish.
A pack of mindless brutes, like they all were in the Dark Age.
The cottage is back to normal, except Archimedes isn’t here and Kairi is still in her present-day outfit, looking around in a daze. Merlin steps over a chest to go put the book back on top of a pile of other books and items.
KAIRI
What is this book?
Merlin pauses. He shakes his head and sighs.
MERLIN
These are the memories I used to create the forest.
KAIRI
Memories?
MERLIN
Yes. Do you remember what I told you about these woods?
KAIRI
You said you’d dreamed it up. That you took the idea from a book you found.
Merlin scratches his head.
MERLIN
It was indeed a book. I created this place using my memoirs.
You and Axel weren’t the first I trained. Young Wart was the first. Back in Old England.
KAIRI
The boy I saw in the woods.
MERLIN
Indeed. There used to be a forest, and I used to have a house there, until the time had come to meet my pupil. I kept what happened in these woods hidden from you, however—to the best of my ability. Yet it would seem that those memories found a path into your heart anyway. Probably the time you spent within these lines… Nothing’s ever truly lost, it would seem. See, I met Wart right… here.
He moves the chair to the right spot, measuring out the exact position with his wand, glancing at the ceiling. There is a hole in the roof.
KAIRI
There wasn't a hole in the roof before.
MERLIN
Well there is one now. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain.
He grabs a pot and places it on the chair.
KAIRI
I don’t understand... Are you a memory, too?
Merlin stops to look at her.
MERLIN
In a way, I am.
This is your dream, Kairi.
Dreams hold memories, and I am part of the dream.
We may not have had this conversation before, but you have perceived its truth while you were training.
Even though I tried to keep parts of the story away from you, it is tied to every line of this world.
A world to which you’ve opened your heart and soul.
Truths and secrets can be shared without words. Sometimes without us meaning to.
This is what it must mean.
Kairi doesn’t respond.
MERLIN
Your heart is connected to many others. Use this connection to find your answers.
KAIRI
Will you always be here?
MERLIN
As long as you’ll need me, child.
Kairi nods.
Nothing else happens. Get out of the cottage.
Going back inside the cottage, you can retrieve the Sword in the Stone book from the pile.
If you do so as Heart-Diving!Kairi—Merlin isn’t in the room anymore—you can then put the book on the BOOKSTAND and it will work like the Winnie the Pooh book in KH2, when Sora realizes the pages are missing and the book world is quite empty. The open double page features paragraphs of incomprehensible KH writing with blank space for missing illustrations.
If you retrieve the book as Memory!Kairi, Archimedes says, “Oh, best not let him see you take this one…” and you have to Shift back to Heart-Diving!Kairi to place the book on the bookstand.
There are FIVE MISSING PAGES to recover. Find out what Merlin kept hidden.
[But wait... I found a TORN PAGE earlier... Can I try it?]
Memory-Kairi and Axel’s positions near the cottage change—Axel leaves the area, Kairi sits down in a corner, pulls out her notepad and a pencil, and thinks. Merlin is nowhere to be seen; the portal is still there.
- When you take control of Memory!Kairi, you’ll now hear “Ow”s and “By George” and “Oh confound it!” coming from the general area of the Path and Grumpy Well. You can take the Path as Memory!Kairi, which wasn’t possible before, or Shift to her along the way to the new playable flashback.
- Your Dream Eater really wants to return to the Oldest Tree area.
- A new area can pop up to the North. It seems you'll be able to step out of the woods a little.
You can also go back and explore other areas you’ve skipped earlier. The Northern area Skip link will bring you back here.
Unless you’ve marked another target on the area map, or you’ve already found the TORN PAGE after your first visit, your Dream Eater will always stray towards the Oldest Tree area until you find MISSING PAGE #2.
[Found MISSING PAGE #2]
[Return it to the Sword in the Stone book.]
SIDE-QUEST: MISSING PAGE #2, “Laws of nature”
An illuminated drawing of the Oldest Tree has appeared in the book.
[Enter the page]
SECRET FOREST – TREE TOPS
Kairi falls through the branches, transformed into a pinkish-burgundy squirrel. She screeches in surprise and half lands on Archimedes who was napping on a branch.
ARCHIMEDES
Who? Who? What—what?
Oh, get a tree of your own! Now, go on. Shoo! Skedaddle!
KAIRI
Sorry!
ARCHIMEDES
Oh, you squirrely squirrels!
Kairi hops to another tree and barely catches herself as the thin branch breaks and she drops lower.
MERLIN (up above)
Now, what did I tell you? Always look before you leap.
WART
Well, I made it, didn’t I?
MERLIN
Yes, yes, you made it. You made it, but you can’t always trust luck, boy.
Merlin is a bluish squirrel with a mustache and spectacles. Wart is a young brown squirrel.
There are three short platforming mini-games you can play:
1) Climb up and catch up with Merlin and Arthur as they leap from tree to tree overhead.
2) Arthur suggests a race. Kairi says, “okay,” but warns him that she’s not good at this. Arthur says he’s sure she can do it and it’ll be fun anyway.
3) Arthur trips over a bird’s nest, upsetting its occupant; fleeing the red bird, he lands badly on a branch and is about to fall off the tree as he desperately clings to it. Rush to his help; be mindful of the angry bird and falling acorns on the way.
Rewards:
1) Gravity magic, Lvl1.
2) Air dodge.
3) Form change #1: Squirrel. Turn into a squirrel to dodge attacks, climb up trees, and more. Like Form Changes and Link Summons, the transformation only lasts a certain amount of time, and you can cancel it before the time is up.
Try out the new form in the forest. Find cards in the branches and make items (AP/Magic/Defense bonus) drop to the ground. Reaching a high point in the trees will trigger a FLASHBACK:
SECRET FOREST – GROUND LEVEL
Under the canopy of foliage, Kairi is sitting, taking notes on her notepad. Axel, sitting a couple feet away, is not taking notes; he looks supremely bored. They glance at each other while Merlin draws diagrams on his blackboard.
MERLIN
…Gravity is what causes you to fall.
AXEL
Oh, like a stumble, or a trip?
Kairi giggles behind her hand.
MERLIN
Yes, it’s like a stumble or a… No, no, no, no, no. It is the force that pulls you downward. The phenomenon that any two material particles or bodies, if free to move, will be accelerated toward each other…
He looks at them both chidingly, brandishing his piece of chalk at them.
MERLIN
Don’t take gravity too lightly or it’ll catch up with you!
END FLASHBACK
This is a small, quiet and empty area: a moat snakes along the edge of the forest area you’ve just left. On the other side of the water stand the walls of a medieval castle. The bridge is up; you cannot cross.
[Shift] Nothing seems to happen—the screen ripples briefly and Kairi doesn’t change. But then your Dream Eater spots reflections of Arthur and Merlin in the water, as if the two were walking along the moat. You can hear their conversation clearly. Arthur hops from rock to rock, swinging a stick as if it were a sword. Merlin walks ahead of him, turning around when he speaks to him.
ARTHUR
I’d give anything to go riding about on a great white charger… slaying dragons and griffins and man-eating giants.
MERLIN
Well, won’t you?
ARTHUR
Oh. No. You see, I’m an orphan, and a knight must be of proper birth. I only hope I’m worthy to be Kay’s squire. That’s a big job too, you know.
MERLIN
Oh, indeed, yes, yes. I would say almost impossible. Yes.
A dragonfly buzzes over the waterlilies—a fish jumps out of the water, breaking the vision and swallowing the bug. When the ripple smooths out, the reflection is gone.
Merlin hops on one leg as his other leg is tangled in the well’s chain. Lea tries to help, but Merlin is flailing and cursing.
MERLIN
Oh, confound it! Haven’t you had enough?
THE GRUMPY WELL (echo)
ENOUGH!
With a loud boom the well bursts into a cloud of multicolored smoke and stars. When the smoke dissipates, the well has mutated into a Nightmare reminiscent of Lord Ochu in FFX, with tentacular chains and vines.
[Boss fight] Use all the skills you’ve learned to defeat the Nightmare. Example: The well occasionally blows out smoke which inflict Sleep, Confusion or Poison status effects; turning into a frog beforehand makes you immune to the toxic fumes. Kairi can’t summon her Keyblade yet, so during the first phase of the fight, you can only use magic. Lea uses his Chakrams, but the well catches them and sends them back, dealing significant damage, so he gives up quite quickly.
KAIRI
We need our Keyblades!
LEA
Yeah, I figured that out!
KAIRI
Then summon it!
Lea tries several times, and gets hit when he pauses to do it. Heal him when he gets knocked out or you will fail the fight. Merlin is outside of the battle field, still grumbling and struggling to free his foot.
MERLIN
No, no, lads, you can handle this on your own!
The Shift prompt appears telling you to summon your Keyblade.
KAIRI
Please work!
A chain whips down and Kairi automatically dodges the blow with a zip and spin, Keyblade in hand.
KAIRI
Yah!
You can now block physical attacks and hit the core of the well. At some point, Kairi gets hit and blown back by a vicious counter-attack. She picks herself up and staggers. Lea appears in front of her super fast to block another chain attack with his Keyblade.
KAIRI
Lea!
LEA
You okay?
KAIRI
You did it!
LEA
No time to celebrate!
[Finish the fight.]
LEA
Hey, Kairi!
You can activate a Team Attack. Lea jumps into the air, spins his Keyblade and shoots fireballs at the well; meanwhile Kairi uses the distraction to charge, lifting her Keyblade forward as she runs. Steam clouds form as the fire magic clashes with the well’s magic. Kairi jumps out of the haze and slashes down at the well, creating a bright gash of light. Then Lea lands, grabs her arm, and pulls her out of the way. They nod at each other and return to the fight.
[You win the fight.]
The well shakes and spouts old-fashioned expletives. It slowly turns back to normal, withdrawing its chains, freeing Merlin in the process.
Kairi and Lea catch their breath. They see Merlin. Kairi dismisses her Keyblade and runs to him. Lea follows.
KAIRI
Merlin! Are you alright?
Merlin straightens his robe.
MERLIN
Yes! Why, yes. I’m quite alright.
Did you two just summon your Keyblades? Hm?
KAIRI
Oh!
She holds out her hand to try it again, and it works. She looks amazed. Lea tries, too, looking doubtful; it works and he looks surprised.
LEA
Huh.
Kairi grins.
KAIRI
I guess, we did.
(to Lea)
Good job, Lea!
Lea smiles then stares a little too long and frowns. Kairi’s smile fades to a concerned expression. Lea looks away.
LEA
Yeah, you did great!
Kairi looks like she wants to ask more, but she doesn’t.
MERLIN
Well, I had no doubt you’d succeed in due course.
That blasted old well does have its use, it seems.
The well whips at him again with its chain; Merlin yelps. He shakes in annoyance, then grabs his wand, pushes his sleeves up—uselessly as they are too large and flop back down—and steps to the well menacingly.
MERLIN
Why, you…
LEA AND KAIRI
Merlin, no!
They run to him to stop him. Doing so, they pass Heart-Diving Kairi and fade away. Kairi chuckles at the scene and smiles fondly.
She walks to the well, now alone in the area. Stopping next to it, she holds out her hand to lay it on the stone brink gently. The well gurgles. Kairi chuckles and pets it.
KAIRI
I’m sorry it took Merlin so long to be nice to you. He is one grouchy old man.
THE GRUMPY WELL
(echoing a distorted Merlin voice)
Ugly, horrible, grouchy old man!
Kairi chuckles again.
She steps away and looks around, losing herself in her own thoughts. Her smile gradually fades away, and she looks more and more determined. She takes a breath and nods.
KAIRI
Alright. I know where to go now.
The SAVE POINT can now take you [BACK TO THE STATION OF AWAKENING]. You may stay or come back later to collect the rest of the Training Memories.
Notes:
A lot of lines in this chapter are from the original The Sword in the Stone movie.
You might notice some elements from the original squirrel segment have been swept under the rug. That scene made me extremely uncomfortable as a child and furious as an adult; so I did something about it in this story. I'm calling this the KH Peter Pan treatment :)
I hope you enjoyed it! See you next time!
Chapter 4: Station of Awakening (2)
Notes:
Pretend you see a Radiant Garden Lab cut scene where they discuss technical stuff about the memory exploration procedure. I'm holding onto that scene until Melody of Memory comes out, so canon writes it for me. EDIT 2021: lol.
Back to Destati in your headphones and our story's "world map".
Chapter Text
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING
Kairi steps away from a floating keyhole, back to the center of the stained-glass platform.
You can now make out Axel’s face in one of the five circles. The glass pieces are more or less jumbled depending on how many memories you’ve played through. Even if you’ve played through all there was to find so far, the current state of the puzzle hints that there’s more.
Kairi glances down to another circle.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Sora, I know you’re here.
The other circles are still empty and the sealed keyhole on the floor still glows. The distant light hasn’t changed.
There are now two more floating keyholes around the platform. When you walk close to one or the other, you can hear a line that gives a clue to what’s beyond. Once you select a destination, you can catch a glimpse of the world through the opening.
- The Secret Forest — [“No more waiting for you to come back from your adventures.”]
- ??? — [“I want to be a part of your life no matter what. That’s all.”]
- ??? — [“This time, I’ll protect you.”]
You can come and go between worlds as you please as long as the worlds are unlocked. The game and story progression will encourage you to go back and forth between worlds to unlock all possible scenes.
[Choose a destination.]
Chapter 5: The Destiny Islands: Play Island
Notes:
Right-click to open official music links in new windows.
Flashback lines taken from the Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Script by DJ Firewolf.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
PLAY ISLAND – SEASHORE – SUNSET
Kairi stands on the small island, her back to the paopu tree, facing the sunset. Profile shot of the lower half of her face—she brushes away a tear with the back of her hand, then she walks away.
Field theme: "Kairi" by Yuki Kishida
You can explore the island.
There is a bottle on the beach, with a letter inside.
[Pick it up.]
Kairi takes the letter out, glances at it, and pockets it.
The title art appears:
~ DESTINY ISLANDS ~
[Obtained Secret Letter 2]
Thinking of you, wherever you are.
We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend.
Now I will step forward to realize this wish. And who knows:
starting a new journey may not be so hard, or maybe it has already begun.
There are many worlds, but they share the same sky — one sky, one destiny.
—Kairi
Dear Sora,
There was a time when you disappeared. From within me, from within everybody. Back then I vowed I would never go back to the Play Island until I could remember you. I thought, "This letter is where it starts." But my journey had already had many beginnings. How many beginnings and how many ends will we meet?
We saw you vanish from the paopu tree. I understand the choice you made to save me, and I cherish the moments we could share together. But I will not accept it.
You haven’t vanished from our hearts this time. We all remember you. I remember you with all my heart. So there is hope.
I will never forgive myself for not protecting you. For having been unable to protect myself and putting you through this, again. But I will try again. Please, don’t give up, Sora. I will find you. I will save you.
It’s a promise.
—Kairi
SHIFTING will make ghost figures of Sora and Kairi appear sitting on the paopu tree (KH3 paopu scene, KH3 designs) and at the end of the dock (KH1 scene, KH1 designs). The memories are short-lived and quickly fade away as you approach:
- KH3 memory: You’ll see Sora and Kairi share the fruit on the paopu tree before they fade away.
- KH1 memory: Sora is sitting at the end of the dock; next to him, Kairi stands up and takes a look over at the ocean. Sora stares up at her:
KAIRI
I just can’t wait. Once we set sail, it’ll be great.
You’ll find cards from the Pomp & Circumstance side-quest in all the places where the supplies that Sora needed to find in KH1 (logs, cloth, rope) used to be.
The save point is in the shed. No transitions to enter or exit.
- You can enter the SECRET PLACE
- You can take the door to the COVE
PLAY ISLAND – SECRET PLACE
No Shift available. You may interact with the drawing of the star-crossed paopu puppy lovers. Kairi will touch it.
You will notice Kairi automatically take a step away from the wooden door at the back, if you get close to it and try to interact with it.
When you exit the cave, the field theme changes to a new "Destiny Islands" theme, calm like the Birth by Sleep version.
PLAY ISLAND – COVE – MORNING
SHIFT: Two memories appear—you can still move and get closer to the ghost-like figures if you want to; these will eventually fade away:
- Next to the door: KH1 Kairi joins Riku and Sora.
KAIRI
You guys at it again? All right, I'll be the judge.
The usual rules apply. Take any route you want...
First one to tag that tree and make it back here wins.
- Second part of the area, by the water: KH1 Kairi is leaning against the mast of a raft, fiddling with something in her hands. Sora runs up to her:
SORA
What’s this?
KAIRI
This? I’m making a necklace of thalassa shells. In the old days, sailors always wore thalassa shells. They were supposed to ensure a safe voyage. See?
She holds the unfinished star-shaped charm out to him.
KAIRI (cont'd)
It’s a charm to help us find each other if we ever get separated. The three of us will always be together.
She places the Wayfinder in her pocket and straightens up while Sora hands her something.
The memory fades away.
You can use the zipline and jump on top of the palm trees. Touch the tree with the star-shaped crown at the back of the area and it will glow.
You can hit the trees to make coconuts fall. The colored ones are Hi-Potions. You’ll find cards where the other KH1 provisions of the area used to be.
Once you’ve interacted with the secret place drawing AND interacted with at least one element in the Cove, returning to the SEASHORE will trigger an automatic Shift to another memory plane.
PLAY ISLAND – SEASHORE – DAY
New field theme: "Destiny Islands" by Project Destati - until 3:00
Kairi enters the area as a loud splash sounds, then a 7-year-old boy shouts.
SORA
Riku!
In the water, next to Sora, Riku laughs.
SORA (cont’d)
That’s cheating!
RIKU
No, it’s not!
Sora launches himself at him and the pair splash into the water. Tidus emerges from the water near them with a loud gasp.
TIDUS
I win!
Wakka throws his blitz ball at them, hitting Tidus in the back of the head.
TIDUS
Hey!
When we next see Kairi, she is 7 years old and in a swim suit under a white and purple T-shirt, standing in the shade of either the tree house or the door to the south-east beach, depending on where you come from. Selphie runs up to her.
SELPHIE
I told Wakka to make them stop their dumb game so you can play with us.
Sora runs up to them, shaking the water out of his hair.
SORA
Hey, Kairi! You should ask my mom to teach you how to swim!
Kairi shakes her head. Sora’s smile falters.
SORA
Why not?
Kairi shakes her head again.
KAIRI (barely audible)
I don’t want to.
Selphie puts her fists on her waist and glares at Sora.
SELPHIE
Are you done?
Sora looks upset. But just then, Tidus jumps on his back and they both crash in the sand.
SORA
Waaaa!
Tidus doesn’t miss a beat. He picks himself up.
TIDUS
Hey, I’ve got an idea! Let’s play hide and seek! What do you say?
You can now play as 7YO-Kairi.
Talk to SELPHIE
Hide-and-seek sounds fun! What do you say?
Talk to SORA
I’m sorry, Kairi. I didn’t mean to upset you.
Riku is close to the water with Wakka. Talk to Riku:
RIKU (smug)
I didn’t cheat. We just started a staring contest and he laughed!
Kairi giggles.
Talk to Wakka:
WAKKA
I wish you’d learn how to swim soon. We’d have two Blitzball teams! You’d make a real good goalie!
KAIRI
Sorry…
[Talk to TIDUS to start the mini-game.]
HIDE-AND-SEEK
TIDUS
So the rules are simple. Two teams…
SELPHIE & SORA
I’m captain!
TIDUS
Ugh! Fine! But only for this round! So… two teams, two captains. The first captain to find the missing two of the other team wins. Then we switch it up. You can change hiding spots, as long as no one catches you!
[You can choose the teams and set the captain’s countdown to 10, 15, 20 or 25 seconds. You’ll be able to make Kairi the captain after this first try. When Kairi is the captain of her team, it’s a race against the other captain to find the others. When Kairi hides, it’s a stealth game. Note that Kairi is a slow runner compared to the others.]
Mini-game theme: [Take your pick! See end notes for suggestions.]
During the first game, you’ll suddenly hear a sharp whistle and one of the boys who isn’t on Tidus’s team will yell, “HEY! That’s not in the rules!”
The game stops and the kids gather round. Join the group to see what’s going on.
TIDUS
It’s not against the rules… We should totally make it part of the game!
SELPHIE
Hmm…
Riku or Wakka folds his arms and thinks.
KAIRI
What happened?
WAKKA or RIKU
Tidus whistled to give away [ONE OF THE BOYS]’ hiding spot. It’s actually not a bad idea!
SELPHIE
It does sound fun. What do you think?
Sora and Kairi nod.
SORA
But wait! I don’t know how to whistle!
TIDUS
No problem! It’s easy! Watch. Put your… fingers… in your mouth like… this.
The others try to mimic him.
TIDUS
Uh-uh, not like that. Like this. (Nods.) Then, you just blow!
He whistles. The others give it a try, more or less successfully. Tidus cackles.
TIDUS
Come on! It’s not that hard!
He whistles again. This could go on a while. They all get better at it. Even Kairi manages a whistle or two. She’s really not as bad as Sora.
RIKU
I say anything counts. As long as you don’t get caught.
SELPHIE
Just no pushing, guys! Or my jump rope’s allowed and then you’ll be sorry!
Sora shakes his head and nods seriously along with the exchange.
WAKKA
Alright, let’s start over.
[Pick the team. You can be captain. You can now press X at any time during the game (keep it pressed down for 1 second) to whistle and draw the attention of the captains.]
Tidus keeps score:
TIDUS
That’s 1 point for [X], 0 for [Y], -1 for [Z]…
After the first game, though, he adds:
TIDUS
Kairi, you should write that down. Do you have your notebook?
KAIRI (nods)
Uh-uh.
TIDUS
Awesome!
TIDUS
Want to play again? Or do you want to play something else? I've got another idea.
[Let’s play hide-and-seek!] / [What is it?]
Talk to SELPHIE, WAKKA, or RIKU, to play different games, or talk to Sora, who is standing a little way apart from everyone else.
TALK TO SORA
Sora is standing a little way apart, practicing his whistles and failing miserably: Kairi giggles.
SORA
Hey! I’m trying!
KAIRI
Not like that. Look.
She helps reposition his fingers. It’s better. Not perfect, but better.
SORA
Right. Thanks. I’ll practice.
Talk to SORA again:
SORA
It’s still hard!
KAIRI
Hmm… maybe try with both hands?
SORA
How do you mean?
KAIRI
Like this.
She shows him how to whistle with two fingers of each hand in her mouth. She fails her demo and giggles, but Sora tries and succeeds.
SORA
Yeah! Thanks, Kairi!
You can leave the world through the SAVE POINT and/or Shift back to Heart-Diving!Kairi at any time.
[SHIFT] Kid!Kairi stays on the beach while the others disappear. She walks to the edge of the water and stays there, taking off her shoes and cautiously taking a few steps forward, testing the waters and looking for shells. She fades away after a while, and reappears when you hold the Shift to go back to the childhood memories.
You can try to swim. HD!Kairi can swim. If you go far enough, the water gets deep enough to dive below the surface. There is a Sword in the Stone PAGE at the bottom of the stretch of water between the Seashore beach and the Main Island. You can’t cross the middle line to the other shore. Instead, reaching that point will trigger a FLASHBACK. Kairi turns towards the small island with the paopu tree.
FLASHBACK
Sora’s mother is sitting on the rocks underneath the paopu tree, with a good view of both the water and the beach where the kids are playing. You can never see the upper half of her face.
Kairi walks up to her.
KAIRI
[ ]
Sora’s mother turns around.
SORA’S MOM
Is something wrong?
Kairi shakes her head.
KAIRI
Uh-uh. It’s just… Can you teach me how to swim?
Sora’s mom smiles.
SORA’S MOM
See? I told you you’d know when you’re ready. You’re not scared anymore?
Kairi nods timidly.
KAIRI
I’m still a little scared. But I want to try.
She holds her head down a little, but she looks determined.
Sora’s mom looks ready to get up.
SORA’S MOM
Right now, then?
KAIRI
Um…
END FLASHBACK
Back to Kairi in the sea, looking at the small island. Sora’s mom gets up from her spot and fades away. You can now Shift in the water and swim as a 7-year-old.
[Back to the kids for more games.]
THE OTHER MINI-GAMES
TALK TO RIKU
RIKU
I don’t think Sora likes hide-and-seek. We should play something else.
KAIRI
Oh?
RIKU
Got any ideas?
KAIRI
Maybe a race?
RIKU (doubtful)
You think?
|
Hmm, I'm not sure. |
Yeah! Why not? |
Maybe later, then. |
Hey, Sora! Wanna race? |
|
'kay. |
Sure! |
RACE
Kairi is so slow that you will inevitably lose the first round. The group wonders if she should be the judge instead. She says it’s okay and that she wants to get better.
SORA
But it's no fun if we can't all play!
THE "IMPROVED" RACE
They turn the game into a Blindman’s bluff style race, in relay teams. It's stupid complicated:
- The first player wears a blindfold. Their movement controls are reversed like with the Confuse status effect. The fewer steps you make, the higher your score. Since Kairi is slower than the others, your chance of making unnecessary steps with her is reduced. The command menu has the names of all the non-blindfolded characters and is scrambled. Hit your teammate's name to make them whistle, which will draw the first character's attention to the right direction. Be careful not to hit an opponent's whistle command. When you get to the second character, hit ∆ to give them a high-five.
- Dash to the third teammate as the second character; hit the relay mark at the right time so the third teammate can then run back to the start-line, avoiding the other kids on the way.
The kids flop down in the sand.
SORA
I'm dizzy!
TIDUS
This is stupid. Let's just play sword fight!
WAKKA
Not now. I'm gonna throw up...
[Back to the kids to play a different game]
TALK TO SELPHIE
SELPHIE
This hide-and-seek is fun! I think I’m getting the hang of it!
KAIRI
Yes!
SELPHIE
Wanna play something else?
KAIRI
What if we played a jump rope game?
SELPHIE
Like wha—oh yes!! Hey guys!
The boys gather round. Selphie whips out her rope.
SELPHIE
Wanna find out who’s the best at jump rope?
KAIRI
I think I saw a longer rope on the platform!
SELPHIE
Alright, go get it while I tell them the rules!
SORA
I’ll go with you!
KAIRI
Thanks, Sora!
SORA
No problem!
Go grab the rope on the platform on the left side of the island. Sora tags along.
KAIRI
I think this’ll do.
Bring it back to Selphie. The following lines are said while you move across the island.
SORA
Hey let’s team up, you, me and Riku. I’m sure we can beat Selphie!
KAIRI
You think?
SORA
Yeah!
KAIRI
Who’s jumping then?
SORA
Let’s take turns?
KAIRI
Alright. But let’s practice first!
And if you suck, I’m changing partners!
SORA
We won’t!
Give the rope to Selphie.
SELPHIE
Ready to play?
KAIRI
[Just a minute.] / [Let’s do it!]
JUMP ROPE MINI-GAME: This works like the FF7 Remake work-out mini-games. The point is to coordinate the team of two kids turning the rope while the third kid jumps.
Riku won’t jump on the first try.
RIKU
No, you go first.
Pick either Kairi or Sora to jump for the practice round.
Make the most jumps within 45 seconds. Unlike the FF7R games, it’s not a battle—unless you are playing the MULTIPLAYER MODE :D… There is only one team on screen at a time, trying to get as many jumps as possible. Kairi keeps track of everyone’s and every team combination’s scores in her notebook. You can mix and match the teams. SRK and TWS are the default/easy mode, but you can switch up who jumps. Other character combinations increase difficulty.
SORA
Yeah!
We make a good team!
Riku and Kairi tentatively smile and nod at each other.
If you underperform, Sora is disappointed, Riku crosses his arms and pretends he doesn’t care, Kairi frowns.
SORA
Aw man…
If SORA was jumping:
RIKU
Come on Sora, you’re not giving up, are you?
KAIRI
We can do better!
If KAIRI was jumping:
RIKU
It’s okay. We can do better.
KAIRI
I can definitely do better!
If RIKU was jumping:
RIKU
You did it wrong.
SORA
What?
KAIRI
Hey!
You can do tricks to increase your score; if you don’t stick your landing you’ll be called a show off. Each kid has their own trick.
[Back to the kids to play a different game]
TALK TO WAKKA
WAKKA
Hey, Kairi! I know you don’t like to play in the water, but you should really try Blitzball! We stay where it’s not too deep, so it’s safe. But we can play it on the beach if you’d like! It just hurts less when you fall in the water.
KAIRI
Um… What are the rules?
BLITZBALL: Haphazard handball in shallow waters. Three against three. You play all three kids in your chosen team. This mini-game’s mechanic toys with the Shotlock mechanic and Reaction Commands to shoot, pass and catch the ball. There are also special moves you can make that work like Tidus, Wakka and Lulu’s FFX overdrive commands.
As promised, the tutorial round happens on the beach. Then, you can choose to play in the water. If you do, there are more moves you can do. You can also hit the water with the attack button to splash water in the face of the other kids.
Tidus whistles to cheer you on when you make a perfect hit.
[Back to the kids to play a different game]
TIDUS’S NEW IDEA
TIDUS
I've got the best idea.
Water Struggle. In pairs, piggyback, you have to make the other two pairs stagger and fall. The toy swords are Struggle bats and not the KH1 wooden swords. One button is the attack button for the kid on top, another button controls the other. You can parry by attacking at the right time. Selphie and Kairi can team up, Tidus can climb on Selphie’s back and Sora on Kairi’s—it just increases the balance difficulty—but Kairi can’t carry Riku. The highest difficulty is Kairi+Tidus VS. Sora+Riku & Selphie+Wakka. Easy victory is Kairi+Riku.
Noticeable changes:
- Sora+Riku (win): Riku smirks and looks happily up at Sora, who is cheering on his back.
- Sora+Riku (lose): Sora (Aw…). Riku makes sure Sora is okay, but he's fine.
- Sora+Kairi (win): Sora and Kairi whoop and cheer, then fall and laugh. Riku huffs.
- Sora+Kairi (lose): Sora (Aw…). Kairi looks a little shaken by the fall. Riku looks at them and says nothing.
- Kairi+Riku (win): Kairi whoops and cheers (We did it!) or (We did it!) and whistles. Riku grins. Sora grins (Way to go, guys!)
- Kairi+Riku (lose): Kairi (Ouch!). Riku (Are you okay?). Kairi (Y-yes… Sorry.) Riku (It’s my fault. Let’s do better next time.) Kairi (Yes.)
- Kairi+Any (win): whoops and cheers
- Kairi+Any (lose): Either “Aw…” or “Ouch!”
[Back to the kids to play a different game]
PLAY ISLAND – SEASHORE – RESOLUTION SCENE
When you’ve tried all mini-games at least once, there is a new figure sitting in front of the paopu tree when you play default HD!Kairi on the Seashore. Get closer and Shift to her heart:
CUT SCENE
Long-haired Kairi (KH2 design) is sitting at the foot of the paopu tree, hugging her knees, face buried in her arms.
The sound of footsteps behind her make her look up and around. She unfolds in surprise.
KAIRI
Riku!
Riku (DDD-ending design) stops as she gets up.
RIKU
Selphie said you’d be here.
Kairi looks embarrassed by that.
KAIRI
Oh…
She quickly recovers.
KAIRI
How are you? Where’s Sora?
Riku pauses to scratch his head.
RIKU
Well…
KAIRI
Riku…
RIKU
It’s kind of a long story.
She glares.
RIKU (cont’d)
He’s fine! I mean…
KAIRI
What aren’t you telling me?
RIKU
He’s fine. He left just before I did—but I don’t know where he is. He said there was something he wanted to do on his own.
Kairi thinks this piece of information over silently. Riku looks uneasy.
RIKU (cont’d)
And I was sent to get you.
A beat, then Kairi realizes what he’s just said.
KAIRI
Me?
Riku smiles softly.
RIKU
Yeah.
KAIRI
What can I do?
RIKU
Master Yen Sid didn’t say… I guess… you can ask him yourself.
Knowing glint in Riku’s eye; knowing smile. Kairi beams.
KAIRI
Alright.
Back to looking serious.
KAIRI (cont’d)
You’ll have to bring me up to speed, though.
And don’t think I can’t handle the whole truth.
RIKU
No, I know you can. I’ll tell you on the way.
Kairi nods.
KAIRI
Alright. Let me say goodbye, and we can go.
They share a look of understanding and nod.
They make their way to the dock, hopping off the bridge one after the other.
KAIRI (voice over)
Dear Sora, I hope I get to see you soon. Something about this tells me our journey is far from over. Riku and I are worried about you. This isn’t like you, leaving alone. For now, we have to trust you. We do. We both know how strong you are. But please, please remember, you don’t have to ever be alone.
—
[Back to the Station of Awakening]
PLAY ISLAND – SEASHORE
[Back to the kids for more games.]
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING – UPDATED
No new face has appeared on Kairi’s Station. The pieces on one of the blank circles have shifted a little.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Where are you, Sora?
There still are three keyholes around the Station:
- [Secret Forest – Updated with Missing Page side-quest]
- [Destiny Islands – Returning]
- [Radiant Garden – First Visit] / [Radiant Garden – Returning]
Notes:
Suggested mini-game themes:
- "Destiny Islands" by Project Destati, after the change of pace at 3:00
- KH1 "Destiny Islands" theme (not the Final Mix version)
- "Besaid Island" theme from FFX (not remastered)
- "Luca" theme from FFX (not remastered)
- "Visions of Johanna" by Bob Dylan (don't ask)If some of Tidus's lines sound familiar, it's because they're lifted from FFX :)
Chapter 6: Hollow Bastion
Notes:
I am hugely indebted to the wonderful people who have provided and/or imagined maps of this world that still has so many hidden layers to unfold. Here are my main references for Hollow Bastion and Radiant Garden. Other sources include KHWiki, 13th Vessel’s Out of Bounds videos, a number of BBS and KH2FM playthrough videos, and, of course, my own experience of the games.
When there are flashbacks, I transcribed the canon game lines while watching and studying the original scenes. In subsequent chapters, I've used game scripts that I will credit.
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
HOLLOW BASTION – ENTRANCE HALL – DAY
Kairi walks to the center of the Entrance Hall and looks around. The camera pans around Kairi, then around the area, from the ground floor to the balconies overhead. The KH1 field theme plays while we take in the scene.
Kairi stares at the archway to the Heartless Door up the stairs, reminiscing.
KAIRI (whispers to herself)
I can’t leave them behind.
She turns around to face the main doors.
KAIRI
Sora… This is where I saved you.
If you hold the Shift in the Hall, a ghost image of Kairi protecting Heartless!Sora appears.
The main doors can’t be opened. The way through to the Heartless Door is blocked by shadow. The small platforms to the balconies aren’t moving. If you have completed all the Missing Page #2 mini-games, you have the necessary abilities to reach the upper area: use Gravity magic to activate the small moving platforms, Squirrel form to climb up walls and pillars, and Air Slide to cover a little more distance when you jump.
You can ENTER THE LIBRARY from upstairs or downstairs.
HOLLOW BASTION – LIBRARY – DAY
The light from the tall windows falls in warm stripes across the far corner behind the stairs.
As Heart-Diving!Kairi, you can explore the room, move a couple of bookshelves around by rearranging books. The secret passage upstairs is just a blank stone wall. Nothing much happens.
[Shift]
You now play as 4-year-old!Kairi. She is too short and small to push the doors back out of the room on her own. Her grandmother’s story starts right away, off screen or on screen depending on where you are situated in the room. You can join her where she is sitting under the stairs.
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people’s hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived… in the hearts of children. With these fragments of lights, children rebuilt the lost world. It’s the world we live in ow. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That’s why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away. Do you understand, Kairi?
On cue, a brief flash turns Kairi’s attention to something invisible floating between two bookshelves near the windows. Then it's over.
As 4-year-old!Kairi, you can play with the spinning column on the ground floor to get a chest. You cannot move the bookshelves around. The secret passage upstairs is hidden behind library shelves.
[Grab Grandma’s hand to get out of the Library.]
HOLLOW BASTION – ENTRANCE HALL – DAY
Kairi lets go of her grandmother's hand and trots to the fountain.
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
They are busy, Kairi.
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
Do you want to go outside?
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
Alright.
She takes Kairi’s hand and they leave the Castle.
RADIANT GARDEN – CENTRAL SQUARE – DAY
HD-Kairi climbs up the stairs from the Radiant Garden Entryway onto the CENTRAL SQUARE. She spots the Castle straight ahead and frowns in confusion. She looks behind her and then again towards the castle. As the camera pans from the castle gate, up the stairs, to the towers in the sky, the title art appears:
~ RADIANT GARDEN ~
4-year-old Kairi and her grandmother are nowhere to be seen. Shifting creates a distortion as if the process were halted midway; it won’t hold.
KAIRI (thinking as you move around)
This feeling I got when I first set foot in this town…
A chest gives you a map of the world for your journal and makes the mini-map appear. The map in the journal will draw itself as you progress. For now it just looks like a faded sketch of one of Axel’s chakrams.
There are four directions that you can take:
- Back down the steps to the ENTRYWAY
- A street to the right to CASTLE TOWN
- A street to the left to the GARDENS
- The gate straight ahead, behind which a stone stairway leads to the CASTLE
RADIANT GARDEN – ENTRYWAY
There is a save point, like in BBS. However, the camera blocks the way to the OUTER GARDENS.
CASTLE GATE ON CENTRAL SQUARE
The gate is locked. The flash of a vision makes Kairi jump: her own, tiny kid’s arms grabbing the bars and pulling, but the gate won’t budge.
Nightmares spawn. Clear the area before you can go anywhere else.
STREET TO THE GARDENS
The street is flooded in white mist. Shifting gives you a first-person camera view and you can painstakingly try to make your way forward, hack at it, until the mist inevitably pushes you back out.
STREET TO CASTLE TOWN
The street is hazy. Shifting gives you a first-person camera view and you can see 4-year-old Kairi dragging her grandmother by the hand excitedly. You have to manually hold the Shift command and walk on to break through the haze.
[Hold the Shift to reach Castle Town.]
RADIANT GARDEN – CASTLE TOWN – DAY
4-year-old-Kairi trots to the Moogle shop. Grandmother slowly makes her way to the shop and waits in line. There are two other NPCs in line before her.
[Talk to 4YO-Kairi] She either crosses her fingers behind her back and smiles at her older self, or stares at her in confusion.
[Talk to Kairi’s grandmother] She doesn’t react or see HD!Kairi.
[Try to enter MERLIN’S HOUSE.]
[Take the Northern street to ???]
RADIANT GARDEN – CENTRAL SQUARE
There are three directions that you can take:
- Down the steps to the ENTRYWAY
- Back to CASTLE TOWN. The streets are now cleared.
- A street to the left to the GARDENS
Touching the Castle Gate triggers a sound effect with a short flash. Nightmares spawn.
RADIANT GARDEN – ENTRYWAY
There is a save point, like in BBS. However, the camera blocks the way to the OUTER GARDENS.
STREET TO THE GARDENS
The street is flooded in white mist. Shifting gives you a first-person camera view and you can painstakingly try to make your way forward, hack at it, until the mist inevitably pushes you back out.
MERLIN’S HOUSE
The room is in its Limitcut design. No one’s home.
As Kairi looks around, someone enters.
MERLIN
Don’t mind this huge machine, over there.
It completely ruins the atmosphere, I know…
KAIRI
Merlin!
MERLIN
Hello there, Kairi.
KAIRI
What memory is this? This can’t be from when I was little.
MERLIN
It doesn’t seem like it, does it?
KAIRI
Have we met before? When I lived here?
MERLIN
If we did, I don’t remember, child. But I have had a house in this world for a very long time.
KAIRI
I wish I could remember more.
MERLIN
All in due time. You can’t teach history in reverse, is what Archimedes used to say.
KAIRI
Where is Archimedes?
Merlin pauses.
MERLIN
Where is he indeed…
Kairi seems about to press the issue, then decides against it.
KAIRI (thoughts)
He never did leave the house…
MERLIN
If you need anything, help yourself. Think of this as your second home.
KAIRI
Thank you, Merlin.
The usual supplies are available near the fireplace behind the big chair.
There is a DESK behind the black board. It is empty.
MERLIN (if you talk to him)
If it’s the book you’re here for, I placed it over on the desk.
[SHIFT]
Nothing happens.
There is no book on the desk.
RADIANT GARDEN – CASTLE TOWN – MEMORY PLANE
Shifting makes HD!Kairi and her Dream Eater disappear and you can control 4-year-old!Kairi. As a child, you may:
- [Try to enter MERLIN’S HOUSE]
- [Try to take the Northern street to ???]
- [Try to go back to CENTRAL SQUARE.]
- [SHIFT back to Heart-Diving!Kairi.]
[Try to enter MERLIN’S HOUSE]
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Kairi! Stay with me.
[Try to take the northern street to ???]
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Kairi!
Kairi stops and trots back obediently. As she does so, teenagers Lea and Isa enter the area from that street. Lea looks at the waiting line in front of the shop.
LEA
Aw, man…
The boys get in line. They fade away from the scene if you Shift back to HD!Kairi but reappear where they were when you are the child.
[SHIFT back to Heart-Diving!Kairi]
[Talk to Isa]
Isa stares down at you, then ignores you, fiddling with the stud on his right ear, his other arm crossed over his chest. Kairi trots a couple steps away, intimidated.
[Talk to Lea]
Something catches his attention before he sees you and he runs to it, away from you. If you keep on trying, eventually, he’ll notice you and laugh, pick you up and put you back down, just a foot away, to send you on your way.
LEA
Stop following me around, little Moogle! I’m busy!
If you try talking to him again:
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Kairi, leave the boy alone.
KAIRI
Yes, grandma…
[Try to enter MERLIN’S HOUSE]
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Kairi! Stay with me.
CENTRAL SQUARE – MEMORY PLANE
Shadow Heartless spawn and attack 4YO!Kairi. You can run and dodge—Kairi makes a small jump to the side—, but you are otherwise powerless. The Shadow Heartless block your way back to Castle Town; the gate is still locked, and there are too many near the Entryway to go that way.
[Escape through the Eastern street!]
4YO!Kairi’s HP drops fast. You can Shift back to HD!Kairi to fight the enemies off: the Shadows turn into Nightmares and you have to clear the area before you are able to go back to Castle Town or out to the Entryway to save and restore your health. To Shift to 4YO!Kairi and try again, you need to be near one of the other three doors to the square with the area cleared of enemies, or in Castle Town, which is a safe zone.
If you successfully dodge the Heartless and manage to get to the misty street as 4YO!Kairi, you’ll be able to run through the mist into the Eastern Streets. The small residential area, quiet and empty, leads to a fortification wall, with a door to the GARDENS.
Game over screen: 4YO!Kairi screams and crouches into a ball, hiding her head in her arms, as the surroundings turn pitch black. There is no heart floating over her body.
You cannot Shift back to HD!Kairi. You can explore the lower area peacefully and pick flowers (5 flowers max on Normal mode, 2 max on Hard mode), but UNVERSED spawn as you climb to the upper area. There are too many to consider going to the door to the REACTOR, which is closed anyway. You can run, dodge, and hide behind trees and bushes for a short respite. If the Unversed hit you while you are holding flowers, you get dealt only half the damage and Kairi drops the flowers. You can pick your bouquet up where it fell as long as there are flowers left in it—you lose one flower after each hit. The gate to the castle FRONT DOORS is open.
Game over scene: Kairi wakes up in the lab with a gasp and a violent start, holding her hand over heart. Fade back to black with the options: [Retry] [Load]
RADIANT GARDEN CASTLE – FRONT DOORS – DAY
There is one more flower you can pick at the bottom of the stairs.
There is a blue flowerbed at the top of the stairs, to the left of the FRONT DOORS. As you run closer to it, you forcibly Shift out to Heart-Diving Kairi for a CUTSCENE. Kairi stops and watches her 4-year-old self crouch to pick the flower.
Unversed spawn to the sides of the platform. 4YO-Kairi screams, making HD-Kairi flinch and hold her head in pain. 4YO-Kairi sprints across the platform. Heart-Diving Kairi spins around in her direction.
AQUA (off screen)
No! Run!
Heart-Diving Kairi turns in the direction of the voice, but there’s nothing to see. More night-blue Unversed spawn between the right wall and 4YO-Kairi.
AQUA (off screen, matching Kairi’s expression)
There’s no way I can fight like this!
[Clear the area and protect 4YO-Kairi.]
Your companion Dream Eater stays close to 4YO-Kairi and takes the damage in her place. [Link Block tutorial: Press [Square] just before your Spirit gets hit to warp in front of it, block the attack, and charge the Spirit's Link Gauge.]
MICKEY (off screen)
Hurry! Ya gotta get that girl to someplace that’s safe!
KAIRI
King Mickey?
A Ghost Aqua runs across the screen, picking 4YO-Kairi up and taking her down the stairs.
KAIRI
Aqua!
Kairi grabs her head in sudden pain and falls to her knees. The scene distorts briefly.
Aqua kneels next to her with a hand on her shoulder.
AQUA
Is everything all right?
Kairi looks up.
KAIRI
I... I remember you now.
Aqua nods and stands. Kairi stands too.
Unversed and Nightmares spawn. Mickey appears and joins the team.
MICKEY
Let’s get ‘em!
AQUA & KAIRI
Right!
[Fight the enemies alongside Aqua.]
MICKEY (opening battle quote)
Let’s join forces!
Shift-in-Battle here allows you to play as Aqua or Kairi. Aqua deals greater damage to the Unversed and Kairi deals greater damage to the Nightmares. Mickey is pretty inefficient—he parries a couple of attacks and quickly turns into a small blue light…
MICKEY
Oh no, not now!
… that zips around the area dealing damage to whatever it hits before disappearing.
MICKEY
See ya real sooooon!
During the fight you’ll sometimes hear voices from memory, drifting over the battle music and sounds:
MEMORY VOICE: AQUA
I sense light within this girl. You think that’s why they attacked her?
MEMORY VOICE: AQUA
Yes. I’m quite certain she’s someone we’re supposed to protect.
Aqua and Kairi have a Team Attack: Aqua and Kairi get back to back in their respective fighting stances. Kairi straightens up and her free hand touches the handle of Aqua’s Keyblade behind her. Then they both perform a horizontal slash—Aqua one-handed in her own style, Kairi holding her own Keyblade with both hands—which creates a powerful circle of light that bursts outwards across the area. Then they turn to face each other, press their free hands together, and a powerful light flashes and stuns the remaining enemies.
AQUA (Team Attack line)
I can feel the light.
KAIRI (Team Attack line – 2nd time)
I can feel the light.
AQUA (Team Attack line – 3rd time)
I guess it must’ve worked—
When you win the fight, you see the usual KH slow motion, blurring animation:
MEMORY VOICE: KAIRI
I’m sorry. Those days are hazy for me…
Fade to black. Kairi’s line continues while the screen is black:
MEMORY VOICE: KAIRI (cont’d)
…But it sounds like I’d have been in trouble without you. So, thank you.
MEMORY VOICE: AQUA
Please.
Kairi blinks and it’s broad daylight again.
MEMORY VOICE: AQUA (cont’d)
You were really, very little. Anyone would forget, hazy memory or not.
A few steps away from Kairi, her 4-year-old self approaches Aqua, holding a bunch of flowers.
[You get a trophy if you got through the Memory Plane segment with 4 flowers.]
4YO-KAIRI
Here!
AQUA
Are these for me?
4YO-KAIRI
I picked you some flowers. Thank you for saving me.
AQUA
Oh, they’re lovely. You’re so sweet.
4YO-KAIRI
My name’s Kairi. Nice to meet you!
AQUA
Nice to meet you too. I’m Aqua.
Kairi, about that light—
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
Kairi!
KAIRI
Oh! Grandma!
AQUA
Wait, Kairi, just a minute…
Aqua touches 4YO-Kairi’s pendant. HD-Kairi reflexively touches her own.
AQUA
I just cast a magic spell on you. One day when you’re in trouble, the light within you will lead you to the light of another. Someone to keep you safe.
KAIRI
Thanks!
4YO-Kairi trots back to her grandmother.
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
There you are. It’s time to go.
KAIRI
‘Kay!
Oh…
She turns around to wave at Aqua.
KAIRI
Bye!
Aqua waves back, smiling.
MEMORY VOICE: AQUA
I guess it must’ve worked—the spell that I cast on you.
Kairi looks down at her Keyblade. There is a FLASH of 4YO-Kairi touching Aqua’s Keyblade in Birth By Sleep. The child and the grandmother walk away. Aqua stands.
[Obtained Rainfell Keychain.]
KAIRI (thoughts)
Master Aqua, I owe you so much…
The child and the grandmother are gone. Aqua stands there, holding the flowers. If you get close to her, she fades away. She fades back in as you move away.
The FRONT DOORS are closed. There’s nothing else to see. You can pick a blue flower in the flower bed and get a BLUE FLOWER. It’ll work like a KH3 Kupo Coin.
There are THREE GATES at the bottom of the stairs:
- the one to the right leads back to the GARDENS, which you can explore normally with only Nightmares spawning;
- the front gate leads down to CENTRAL SQUARE, but it’s locked;
- the one to the left can be UNLOCKED, but not pushed open.
RETRACE YOUR STEPS
In the GARDENS, the door to the REACTOR gets hazy the closer you get to it, and a ridiculous amount of Nightmares spawn until you give up and go away.
The Eastern Street between the GARDENS and CENTRAL SQUARE is now cleared of any mist for both Heart-Diving!Kairi and 4YO!Kairi.
Crossing CENTRAL SQUARE as 4YO!Kairi will not have you dodge Heartless in the same way as before: only one or two will spawn if you touch the CASTLE GATE, but a lot more will creep up from the stairs to the ENTRYWAY if you get near it, forcing you to Shift back to HD!Kairi to clear the way.
RADIANT GARDEN – ENTRYWAY AND OUTER GARDENS
As Heart-Diving!Kairi, you can now go through the ENTRYWAY to the OUTER GARDENS. Nightmares spawn in the area and there are two chests, but it is otherwise just vast and empty.
You can step off the cobblestone path and run in the flower beds—your steps will make a patch of dandelions rustle, and the seeds will fly away in the wind.
The door to the purification facility is sealed and unremarkable.
BACK TO CASTLE TOWN
The area is deserted. You can buy items at the Moogle shop or enter Merlin’s house. You can also try taking the Northern street.
Shifting to 4YO!Kairi is uneventful. It’s just a switch in models and abilities.
[Take the Northern street to ???]
MERLIN’S HOUSE
The room is in its Limitcut design. No one’s home.
As Kairi looks around, someone enters.
MERLIN
Don’t mind this huge machine, over there.
It completely ruins the atmosphere, I know…
KAIRI
Merlin!
MERLIN
Hello there, Kairi.
KAIRI
What memory is this? This can’t be from when I was little.
MERLIN
It doesn’t seem like it, does it?
KAIRI
Have we met before? When I lived here?
MERLIN
If we did, I don’t remember, child. But I have had a house in this world for a very long time.
KAIRI
I wish I could remember more.
MERLIN
All in due time. You can’t teach history in reverse, is what Archimedes used to say.
KAIRI
Where is Archimedes?
Merlin pauses.
MERLIN
Where is he indeed…
Kairi seems about to press the issue, then decides against it.
KAIRI (thoughts)
He never did leave the house…
MERLIN
If you need anything, help yourself. Think of this as your second home.
KAIRI
Thank you. Merlin.
The usual supplies are available near the fireplace behind the big chair.
There is a DESK behind the black board. It is empty.
MERLIN (if you talk to him)
If it’s the book you’re here for, I placed it over on the desk.
[SHIFT]
Nothing happens.
No book on the desk.
MERLIN’S HOUSE
Nothing's changed in the room. Merlin has the same two lines when you talk to him.
MERLIN
If you need anything, help yourself. Think of this as your second home.
MERLIN
If it’s the book you’re here for, I placed it over on the desk.
The DESK is still empty.
Kairi enters the northern street, prompting an old-gen FADE TO BLACK.
RADIANT GARDEN – MARKETPLACE – DAY
Kairi looks back in confusion as her steps take her much higher up than she should be, like an area was skipped. She has reached the top of a long flight of stairs and now has a broad view of the town below. It is present-day Radiant Garden, as designed in KH2FM. The MARKETPLACE is a nicer version of the KH2 layout, showing how much work the Restoration Committee has been doing. The KH2 Item Shop and the giant refrigerator are now a Scrooge ice-cream parlor.
Axel, wearing his KH3 civilian clothes, joins Kairi and looks at the view with her.
AXEL
We both lived here more than a decade ago… I knew everyone in town. If you were there, even as a child, I should remember you. You’re hard to miss.
KAIRI
Am I?
AXEL
Fabulous red hair to rival my own? Oh, I would remember.
Kairi grins back at him.
After a beat, Axel sobers up again.
AXEL
I know a lot went on since then. More than I was able to tell you during training. But I don’t forget people. I just don’t. Not unless something stronger than me prevents it. Like what happened with Xion.
Both remain silent to think about this for a second, then Kairi turns her gaze to the city again. The world is hazier than it should normally be, and it gets worse the further away you look.
KAIRI
My memory’s always been… hazy. I didn’t think much of it before, but it did bother me. I knew I came from someplace different. I remembered my grandmother in the library, telling me a story. It was even clearer after Sora restored the worlds, but everything else was still... missing. And…
FLASHES of Shadow Heartless in Central Square. A capsule door closing with APPRENTICE XEHANORT turning away. Kairi clutches her pendant, presses her lips together and tries again.
KAIRI (cont’d)
I don’t think it’s normal.
Axel looks at her thoughtfully.
KAIRI
What was this world like?
SECRET FOREST – SUNSET VIEW - FLASHBACK
KAIRI
Tell me, what was it like?
BACK TO RADIANT GARDEN - MARKETPLACE
Axel is wearing his black coat. He grins.
AXEL
Oh, that I remember perfectly.
He bends down a little, pointing at his heart, and winks.
AXEL (cont’d)
Just follow my heart.
[Explore the present-day area.]
RADIANT GARDEN – PRESENT-DAY MARKETPLACE
The MARKETPLACE is a nicer version of the KH2 layout. The KH2 Item Shop and the giant refrigerator are now a Scrooge ice-cream parlor, held by a woman named Eleanor. Around the Marketplace are Wedge’s Armor shop, Biggs’s Weapon shop and Jessie’s Accessories.
YOUNG LEA (off screen voice)
Come on!
Hurry up!
You changed your mind or what?
RADIANT GARDEN – BBS-ERA MARKETPLACE
Shifting here makes Kairi stagger to the side but she doesn't transform into her younger self; instead young Lea and Isa appear. The area changes a little bit. The Ice-cream Parlor is replaced by Migelo’s Armor shop, boarded up, for sale; around the Marketplace are Elmyra’s Flowershop, Marle’s Item Shop and Cid’s Accessories.
With Lea skipping excitedly next to him, Isa buys silver ear studs from Cid, then takes a few steps away from the shop and stops to put them on.
LEA
Nice!
The boys climb the steps to the area where Sora, Donald and Goofy land in KH2; they scale the wall and disappear on the other side. Kairi can't jump high enough to reach the top of the wall yet.
RADIANT GARDEN – CASTLE TOWN – LEA’S MEMORIES
The area has NPCs in it again, but neither 4YO-Kairi nor her grandmother.
Lea buys something from the Moogle shop, pockets it, then he and Isa leave the area through the northern street. Follow them as HD!Kairi or as a child.
RADIANT GARDEN – BOROUGH
Following Lea and Isa leads not to the Marketplace like the first time, but further into the streets with no fade-to-black cut. The path through the Borough branches off to the right, up stairs to the Marketplace, and to the left at ground level through residential streets, to an alley which leads to the Fountain Court area from BBS.
When Nightmares spawn, the boys run to cover as if they're trying not to get caught. If you follow them as a child, there are no random Nightmare encounters, but sometimes walls of white mist will block your way until you Shift back to HD!Kairi and hack through it or use Wind magic to clear the way. After these hostile encounters, Lea and Isa reappear; Lea looks at you like he sees you, and keeps going.
LEA
Liking the new look?
ISA
You tell me…
LEA
… Shut up.
RADIANT GARDEN – FOUNTAIN COURT
LEA
First one up to the Secret Spot!
ISA
It’s not a race.
LEA
‘Cause you’re scared you can't keep up?
Isa scoffs. He doesn’t bother to pick up the pace and Lea waits for him.
LEA
You’re no fun…
They help each other climb—Isa gives Lea a leg up, then jumps, and Lea helps pull him up.
Scale the fountains to a high platform that doesn’t exist in BBS. The boys claim a dry ledge right above it as their spot, with a nice view of the Castle backyard. They sit with their feet dangling off the ledge. The door leading to the Aqueduct is at the other end of the area, like in BBS. At ground level, there is a large opening with a grating for water evacuation.
The field music stops and all you can hear is the water running.
SCENE
Isa stares down at the water evacuation vent while Lea pulls out plain black toy chakrams and a pair of stickers depicting grinning Bombs. Laying everything in his lap, he then starts peeling the first sticker off its paper to decorate one of the toy chakrams.
ISA (softly)
This is definitely not my favorite option. Captain Braig keeps patrolling the underground. We’ll never get close enough to the entrance. I wonder what he’s doing down there.
Lea looks up, then back to his decorating.
LEA
I’m tellin’ ya, Plan A is going to be fine. We’re fast. They won’t expect it in broad daylight. And if anybody sees us, they’ll think we’re just some kids foolin’ around.
He spins the newly decorated chakram on his finger to illustrate his point.
ISA
They can’t see us. It’s already bad enough that you make sure everyone remembers you.
LEA
Will you relax? Look… I’m getting good at this!
Lea gets up, takes aim for a second, then throws the toy chakram towards a bird sitting on a wall. The chakram flies past the bird, a few feet away from it, but then curves back and scares the bird off as it hits it in the legs from behind. The toy falls to the ground, narrowly missing the water, which would have washed it away through the grating. Isa looks at Lea, unimpressed. Lea focuses, arm outstretched, and after a second of intense concentration, the chakram flies back to him. He catches it with a smirk, and looks at Isa. Isa is silent for a moment longer.
LEA
A little praise here?
ISA
I don’t know why I trust you.
LEA (sighs)
Better than nothing…
He sits back down.
LEA (cont’d)
You’d be bored without me, admit it.
ISA (glares back)
It’s serious this time, though.
LEA (looking glum)
Yeah.
The wind carries the faint echo of a child crying. The boys tense up.
The sound is gone as suddenly as it came. The fountains carry on.
LEA (quietly)
No one’s doing anything about it. They’ll say we’re making it up.
ISA
I know. I want to know, too.
LEA
Tomorrow.
ISA
Okay.
END SCENE
The door to the Aqueduct is locked and Nightmares spawn to fend you off. Shifting to 4YO!Kairi does not work on top of the fountains. White mist will sweep in from the water evacuation zones if you get too close as a child; Lea jumps in to help and drag you away.
The boys eventually leave the area. It’s close to sundown.
Once they’ve left, the light changes to earlier in the day. The fountains turn off and you cannot get back up without High Jump.
RADIANT GARDEN – BOROUGH
Isa and Lea appear as allies when you explore the streets as 4YO!Kairi and get attacked by mist. Lea cuts through the fog with his chakrams, Isa pulls you by your arm to a safer area.
If you play as HD!Kairi, they run to cover instead, like before.
RADIANT GARDEN – MARKETPLACE
The area is safe to explore as HD!Kairi; random mist attacks if you play as 4YO!Kairi. You can trade and purchase items from the Moogle shop in Castle Town and Merlin’s cabinet, but not from shops in the Marketplace. The NPCs only respond with one line.
RADIANT GARDEN – CASTLE TOWN
A Ghost Aqua walks through the area from the northern street, but stops and turns to Merlin’s house. Then she walks to the door and goes inside.
[Return visit to Merlin's House]
MERLIN’S HOUSE
The room is in its Limitcut design. No one’s home.
As Kairi looks around, someone enters.
MERLIN
I must be more popular than I thought.
So many guests, and all on the same day!
KAIRI
Merlin!
MERLIN
Hello there, Kairi.
KAIRI
What memory is this? This can’t be from when I was little.
MERLIN
It doesn’t seem like it, does it?
KAIRI
Have we met before? When I lived here?
MERLIN
If we did, I don’t remember, child. But I have had a house in this world for a very long time.
KAIRI
I wish I could remember more.
MERLIN
All in due time. You can’t teach history in reverse, is what Archimedes used to say.
KAIRI
Where is Archimedes?
Merlin pauses.
MERLIN
Where is he indeed…
Kairi seems about to press the issue, then decides against it.
KAIRI (thoughts)
He never did leave the house…
MERLIN
If you need anything, help yourself. Think of this as your second home.
KAIRI
Thank you. Merlin.
The usual supplies are available near the fireplace behind the big chair.
There is a DESK behind the black board. It is empty.
MERLIN (if you talk to him)
If it’s the book you’re here for, I placed it over on the desk.
MERLIN’S HOUSE
Nothing seems to have changed in the room. Merlin has the same two lines when you talk to him.
MERLIN
If it’s the book you’re here for, I placed it over on the desk.
MERLIN
If you need anything, help yourself. Think of this as your second home.
The DESK is still empty, but the Shift prompt appears in its vicinity.
MERLIN'S HOUSE
[SHIFT]
The BBS design shimmers over the Limitcut design—Cid’s giant computer disappears, the piles of books move to fill the space instead, and the blackboard and globe are pushed back against the wall. POOH’S STORYBOOK appears on the desk, and the room shifts back to its Limitcut design.
MERLIN
Read to your heart’s content, my dear.
You can now interact with the book.
KAIRI
Pooh’s storybook!
The book’s cover is based on the restored KH3 cover—the cover illustration is that of a log on the grass underneath a blue sky with white clouds. However, neither Sora nor Pooh sits on the log.
MERLIN
There's no need to fret, lass.
Remember how Sora repaired his connection to Pooh?
KAIRI (smiles and nods)
Yes.
MERLIN
Whatever's lost can be found again.
There are always new paths between hearts for us to discover and traverse.
You know what to do.
...or exit Merlin's House to finish the Radiant Garden plot first!
POOH’S STORYBOOK
~Author’s note~
I am currently trying to figure out a way to code this story-path without you missing any key plot scenes, which… will take some time, as it involves world jumps and not just area jumps.
If you really want to visit the 100 Acre Wood now, at this particular point in your experience of the Radiant Garden story, open this link in a new window, prepare for an 8,000 word read, then close the window and go back to this exact point in Radiant Garden to finish the local plot (less than 2,000 words).
Otherwise, you’ll be able to enter the storybook at the end of this chapter :)
Thank you for your patience!
CENTRAL SQUARE – DAY
VEN
Let me go with you, Aqua.
Ven and Aqua are standing in the middle of the square as Kairi enters the area.
AQUA
No, Ven. Do as I say and go home.
VEN
Why won’t you let me?
AQUA
I don’t want to put you in harm’s way.
She turns to him and puts her hand on his shoulder.
AQUA (cont’d)
You understand?
She steps back and activates her armor. Then she leaves on her glider and Ven fades away.
Isa and Lea cross the Square from Castle Town to the opposite street. Ven is sitting against a wall, spinning a wooden Keyblade. As Isa and Lea walk past Ven, the Keyblade drops at their feet. Lea stops.
During all these scenes, Kairi can walk—not run—in the area. There are no enemies, only these bits of memories fading in and out. The dialogue runs on if you stay close to listen, but the flashback moves on more quickly, the closer you get to the Gardens.
LEA
This yours?
ISA
Lea, we don’t have time for this.
LEA
Lighten up, Isa. It’ll only take a sec.
(to Ven)
You still play with toy swords? That’s cute. Now this right here…
(Produces his decorated toy chakrams)
Tada! Whaddaya think?
VEN
Not a whole lot.
LEA
You’re just jealous. I’m Lea. Got it memorized? What’s your name?
VEN
Ventus.
LEA
Okay, Ventus. Let’s fight!
VEN
Fight? Why would I wanna do that?
LEA
You scared of losing? C’mon. Hope you’re ready.
Ven gets up, chuckling.
LEA
Yeah! Now we’re talking!
VEN
You’re gonna be sorry!
Isa chuckles.
You've crossed to the other half of the Square.
ISA
Lea, we have to go.
LEA (lying on the ground, gets up)
‘Kay.
VEN
Already?
LEA
I’ll see ya when I see ya. After all, we’re friends now. Get it memorized.
VEN
Okay, Lea.
Close to the street that leads to the Gardens.
ISA
What is it with you and picking up stray puppies?
LEA
I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people’s memories, I can live forever.
ISA
I know I won’t forget you. Believe me, I try all the time.
LEA
See, I’m immortal!
ISA
You’re obnoxious.
You can run again in the Eastern Streets.
Lea and Isa's banter stops as you reach the entrance to the Gardens.
GARDENS – ENTRANCE – DAY
The boys peer into the area. The DOOR TO THE REACTOR has been broken open by some kind of explosion. Dilan vanishes through the opening.
LEA
Isn’t that one of the guards?
ISA
Yeah.
LEA
Wanna switch to plan D?
ISA
Let’s take a look.
GARDENS AND PALACE DOORS
If you get close to the fractured door, the game will draw your attention to Isa and Lea rushing instead to the gate which leads to the front doors.
LEA (loud whisper)
Hurry up!
They slow down on the first set of steps, drop to the ground next to the flight of stairs, and sneak between trees around the left side of the elevated platform. They start using the ivy to scale the wall. You can follow and climb as HD!Kairi or turn into a Squirrel to do so. Aeleus steps away from the door and to the edge of the platform as the boys manage to drop to the other side of the wall. Aeleus hears the drop and frowns, but doesn’t leave the front doors area.
PALACE BACKYARD
Explore the area with Lea and Isa to find a door into the castle. Shifting makes HD!Kairi disappear and you can PLAY AS LEA INSTEAD.
As you reach a door in the outer wall of the area:
ISA
Told you there was a way here through the dockyard.
LEA
Yeah, well, it’s too long.
ISA
No, I mean we can get back out that way.
LEA
And this is why we make a good team.
Other pieces of dialogue while you explore:
ISA
Get the place memorized.
LEA
I’m working on it.
-
ISA
Why aren’t any of these doors guarded?
LEA
They must be looking into the Reactor intrusion.
ISA
Even you can’t believe that.
LEA
Just trying to stay positive.
Above the doors along the palace wall, there are security cameras whose area of surveillance you have to avoid.
ISA
Watch out!
LEA
Yeah, I saw that.
Eventually you find a door with a broken camera. Isa sets about picking the lock while Lea stands watch.
SCENE
Note that Kairi is nowhere to be seen during that scene. This is purely from Lea’s memories.
ISA
I've got it!
He stands up and takes a step back, smiling, to open the door. But the smile vanishes when he finds BRAIG on the other side, arms crossed, bandage covering a fresh wound on his right eye and a scratch on his cheek. Braig is grinning threateningly.
BRAIG
I like your style. It takes guts to think you can just waltz in here unnoticed. As if!
The boys instinctively turn around to flee, but Dilan is already behind them.
BRAIG
You found an opening, I’ll give you that. I guess you deserve a little tour, what d’you think? As a reward.
RADIANT GARDEN PALACE – INDOORS
The boys are escorted up narrow service stairs, past a number of service doors, to the library and then the entrance hall. Braig gives a sharp knock on the front door and Aeleus opens it.
BRAIG
I’ll leave you to it, then. Stay out of trouble, kiddos.
He leaves right away. Dilan grabs both boys by the collar and carries them out. Lea struggles, Isa crosses his arms and waits.
RADIANT GARDEN PALACE – FRONT DOORS
Dilan throws Lea and Isa out. The boys pick themselves up from the ground.
LEA
We can walk you know!
Dilan dusts his hands off and returns to his post.
LEA
And talk!
ISA
Let’s go, come on.
LEA
Rude!
END CUTSCENE
You can keep playing as Lea or Shift back to Heart-Diving!Kairi.
As Kairi, you can access the Reactor area and the Aqueduct. As Lea, Isa will call you back:
ISA
Lea! Let’s just go…
The boys leave the Gardens.
RADIANT GARDEN – REACTOR
Shift in the empty area for a scene: Kairi can still move and explore the area while it plays out, or stop and listen.
Aqua, Terra and Ven are gathered at the center of the glass floor.
AQUA
You shouldn’t put yourself so close to the darkness…
VEN
Listen to yourself, Aqua. Terra would never—
TERRA
You mean you’ve been spying on me?
Is that what he said to do? The Master’s orders?
AQUA
He was only—
VEN
Aqua…
TERRA
I get it.
VEN
Terra!
TERRA
Just stay put! I’m on my own now, all right?
AQUA
Terra, please! Listen!
The Master has no reason to distrust you, really!
He was just worried.
VEN
You’re awful, Aqua.
Aqua clutches her Wayfinder in her right hand.
From this point on, and for a short while, you can Shift to play as Aqua or keep playing as Heart-Diving!Kairi.
[Take the stairs to the Aqueduct.]
RADIANT GARDEN – AQUEDUCT – DAY
Trace back Aqua’s steps to the FOUNTAIN COURT. Along the outer section of the Aqueduct, the haze distorts the view on either side and you can’t get too close to the battlements. Unversed and Nightmares spawn along the way. Only Kairi can hit and defeat the Nightmares; only Aqua can hit and defeat the Unversed; so you’ll have to Shift from one character to the other if you want to clear the area. You can also just block, dodge and run.
You’ll hear more memory lines from BBS when the path is clear—reproaches haunting Aqua as if Kairi were walking through one of her nightmares.
There is a SAVE POINT in the indoors area with the circular floor, next to the door to the FOUNTAIN COURT.
RADIANT GARDEN – FOUNTAIN COURT
Aqua passes Kairi, jumps to ground level and fades as she reaches the exit on the other side of the area.
[Boss fight] Water Nightmare. Choose your party members for this fight:
- Kairi solo + Dream Eater: Occasional situation commands will trigger team attacks with teenage!Lea, adult!Axel, or Aqua.
- Kairi + teenage!Lea + Dream Eater: If Lea dies, your own HP drops to 1. Link Block as much as you can to charge his toy chakrams with more fire power.
- Kairi + Axel + Dream Eater: Occasional situation commands will trigger team attacks with Axel or Aqua, or (rare) a Kairi+Axel+teenage!Lea+teenage!Isa finisher move.
- Kairi + Aqua + Dream Eater: Same as the earlier Aqua fight. However, if your HP drops to zero, you get a second chance: 4YO-Kairi appears and throws flowers in the air; two thirds of your HP is restored and the enemy is stunned for a few seconds.
Use the area’s platforms to reach weak points as the enemy moves around. Link Block allows you to warp to a party member and move more quickly around the area.
[Obtained Link Summons]
Use your connection to Aqua’s light to summon her in battle.
RADIANT GARDEN – CASTLE TOWN
Non-playable scene. No music.
SCROOGE
Sea-salt ice cream!
The flavor of the ocean breeze twists your favorite sweetness!
Have a taste of the best holiday memory for only 15 munnies!
Sea-salt ice cream!
Heart-Diving Kairi enters the area and stops to look. Lea and Isa are leaning against the wall of the Moogle shop, looking upset. Lea digs up some cash from his pockets and buys two ice-creams from Scrooge. He hands one to Isa. Scrooge steps to another corner of the area. After a pause, Lea speaks.
LEA (low)
We’re trying again, aren’t we?
Isa frowns.
RADIANT GARDEN – LIBRARY – FLASHBACK
A brief flash—Ansem the Wise steps through the secret passage on the upper floor of the library. Isa keeps walking.
BACK TO CASTLE TOWN SCENE
ISA (determined)
Yes, we are.
—
There are no more story scenes to unlock in this world for now. You may keep exploring the cleared areas or find a save point to return to the Station of Awakening.
[Return to the Station of Awakening]
CHAPTER COMPLETED
All previously visited areas are free to explore now as HD!Kairi, including the PALACE BACKYARD. However, if you try to open the door through which Lea and Isa were escorted, a flash of light and mist will burst from it to block Kairi’s way. She will pick herself up unsteadily, holding her head. You can get out of the Backyard through a SAVE POINT or the DOCKYARD, which is surprisingly open and empty; from the Dockyard, scale up the fortification wall onto the AQUEDUCT and return to town through the REACTOR area or the FOUNTAIN COURT.
At the palace’s main entrance, Dilan and Aeleus man the door and have no reaction to Kairi getting close. The Front Doors won’t open.
Roam around Radiant Garden as Lea or 4YO!Kairi for minimal random encounters; your Dream Eater companion sticks around for extra protection and guidance to treasure. Play as HD!Kairi for normal encounters. Only she can access the Palace Backyard and Dockyard. Aqua only appears as a Link Summon with HD!Kairi. The Aqueduct teems with Unversed and Nightmares, whichever character you're playing when you enter the area. The Aqua summon finisher clears the way.
On Central Square, interact with the Castle Gate to make more enemies spawn if you need to level up. Heart of a Princess is the most effective technique to clear the area.
In the OUTER GARDEN, the door to the purification facility is open. You can go inside. There’s a chest. Nothing else.
[BACK TO THE STATION OF AWAKENING]
[Skip scene to updated Station of Awakening]
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD”
Even is going over Kairi's dream data on the monitor when Ienzo steps up next to him and spots something on the screen.
IENZO
Hm?
He leans closer. Even looks at him then back to the lines of code on the screen.
EVEN
What is it?
ANSEM THE WISE (approaching)
Did you find something?
Ienzo has a moment of hesitation, then he points at one particular line. Even types on the keyboard and a window containing the icon of a book opens above the line. The book bears a heart shaped symbol on its simplified cover.
IENZO
This has appeared within data related to Merlin, hasn’t it?
ANSEM THE WISE
It seems that way. Do you think this particular book might be of interest?
EVEN
It does seem to be more complex than other elements of the dream.
Ienzo thinks for a beat before answering.
IENZO
Perhaps we could ask Merlin about it.
ANSEM THE WISE
I will let you look into it. Let me know if you find anything.
Ienzo nods.
The camera lingers on his profile, half hidden under his fringe, as Ansem the Wise returns to Kairi’s side.
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING – UPDATED
Aqua’s face now appears on Kairi’s Station, half-jumbled but clearly visible. Axel’s portrait is a little less jumbled than earlier.
There still are three keyholes around the Station:
- [Secret Forest] / [Secret Forest after Destiny Islands visit]
- [Destiny Islands – First Visit] / [Destiny Islands – Returning]
- [Radiant Garden – Merlin's House Updated – Pooh's Storybook]
Notes:
Thank you for reading this first Radiant Garden chapter!It was quite challenging to write and post, but I had a lot of fun figuring it out, so I hope it’s enjoyable on your end, too!
I’d like to write a different sequence of events at some point, to see how that works, but I didn't have time to code all the branching paths needed to make it work here. I wanted to post this first version sooner rather than later—choices had to be made. You may have noticed an absurd loop between Castle Town and the Entryway? That's a place-holder :) I’ll let you guys know when the alternate path is up.
Until next time,
C.
Chapter 7: Missing Page #1: "Brain over Brawn"
Summary:
“Don’t just wait
then trust to fate
And say that’s how
it’s meant to be
It’s up to you
how far you go
If you don’t try
you’ll never know”— Merlin, “That’s what makes the world go round,” The Sword in the Stone, 1963
Notes:
The page is found underwater in the Destiny Islands. Return it to the Sword in the Stone book in the Secret Forest.
References to Melody of Memory gameplay.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE
Archimedes is not on his perch, but he’ll fly out of nowhere and come perch on it if you interact with the cabinet for supplies.
The Sword in the Stone book is on the BOOKSTAND at the back of the room.
[Enter the Sword in the Stone book.]
SIDE-QUEST: MISSING PAGE #1, “Brain over Brawn”
An illuminated drawing of a moat outside a castle’s walls has appeared in the book, the grass and trees around it painted in yellowish autumn hues.
[Enter the page.]
BLACK SCREEN
???
Heaeaeaeads up!
Crashing, thundering sounds.
MERLIN
Ar-Ar-Archimedes. Archimedes, wh-where, where, where are we?
The dark surroundings ripple like water.
ARCHIMEDES
In a tumble-down old tower… in the most miserable old castle in all Christendom, that’s where.
The gaze shifts and the vision of a tumble-down old tower appears, distant and hazy, in a sort of cartoon bubble of pipe smoke. As the dialogue runs on, the POV camera moves closer and the vision of the tower gradually takes up the whole screen.
MERLIN
C-Castle? Castle?
ARCHIMEDES
Don’t you even remember the boy?
MERLIN
Uh, the boy?
???
Can’t you remember one blasted thing?
MERLIN
Oh, now, just a moment. I…
SIR ECTOR’S CASTLE – MERLIN’S ROOM – MORNING
Merlin sits in bed, having just woken up.
??? (off screen)
Tight grip on the lance.
MERLIN
Oh.
Merlin and Archimedes go to the window and look out.
??? (cont’d)
Loosen the saddle, knees in tight.
SIR ECTOR’S CASTLE – COURTYARD AS SEEN FROM THE TOWER
SIR ECTOR (cont’d)
Weight forward and stay on target.
Sir Ector pushes Kay back on his horse.
SIR ECTOR (cont’d)
You keep losing your grip.
SIR PELLINORE
It’s not a mere matter of muscle, son. Jousting is, uh, uh, a fine skill. It… It’s a highly developed science.
SIR ECTOR’S CASTLE – TOWER WINDOW
MERLIN (snickers)
Science, indeed. One dummy trying to knock off another dummy with a bit of a stick.
ARCHIMEDES
And the Wart’s just as hot for it as the rest of them.
SIR ECTOR’S CASTLE – COURTYARD
Wart runs around collecting bits of armor and weapons to fix the dummy.
MERLIN
He certainly is. That boy’s got real spark. Lots of spirit. Throws himself heart and soul into everything he does. That’s really worth something if it can only be turned in the right direction.
SIR ECTOR’S CASTLE – TOWER WINDOW
ARCHIMEDES
Ha-ha. Fat chance of that.
MERLIN
Oh, I plan to cheat, of course.
(he winks at Archimedes)
Use magic. Every last trick in the trade if I have to.
SECRET FOREST – OLD MOAT – DAY
Kairi enters the area, near the drawbridge, as the scene plays out a few feet away.
MERLIN
Well, now then. When I said that I could swim like a fish… I really meant as a fish.
ARTHUR
You mean you can turn yourself into a fish?
MERLIN
After all, I happen to be a wizard.
ARTHUR
Could you turn me into a fish?
MERLIN
Well, do you have any imagination? Can you imagine yourself as a fish?
ARTHUR
Oh, that’s easy. I’ve done that lots of times.
MERLIN
Oh. Well, good. Then I think that my magic can do the rest. Uh…
(stammers)
He pokes at Archimedes—who is sleeping, perched on his hat—with his stick.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Archimedes, what, what is that fish formula?
ARCHIMEDES
Who? Who? What? What? What?
MERLIN
You know, that, that, that Latin business.
ARCHIMEDES
Hmm? Fish? Latin? Oh, uh.
Aquarius aquaticus aqualitus.
And-And now if you don’t mind…
He flies off to a tree branch. Kairi’s gaze follows him.
ARCHIMEDES (cont’d)
I say good day to the both of you, if you please.
Kairi has a thoughtful smile. She looks to Merlin again.
MERLIN (stage-whispers to Arthur)
When he stays out all night… he’s always tired and grumpy the next morning.
ARTHUR
Then he must stay out every night.
MERLIN
Yes.
Kairi chuckles.
MERLIN (belated realization)
Oh. Oh, yes. Oh, I say, that’s very good, boy. Very.
ARCHIMEDES
Who? What, what?
Kairi smiles.
MERLIN
All right, boy. All set. Here we go. Aquarius aquaticus aqualitus quum.
He hits Wart on the head with his stick.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Aquadigitarium.
Kairi gets hit on the head out of nowhere.
KAIRI
Ow!
She is engulfed in a swirl of glittering colors, then disappears in a cloud of pink smoke puffing out stars.
WART (off screen)
Merlin, am I a fish? Am I a fish?
Fish!Kairi flops on the grass as a cute pink fish you could hold in the palm of your hand.
[Get to the water!]
Your health bar is depleting. You have as long as Merlin’s next line to hop and flop to the edge of the moat and into the water.
MERLIN (off screen)
Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, you are a fish… but if you don’t stop that flippity-flopping around… and get in the water, you won’t last long. Now, now, stay right here in the tules and I’ll… I’ll be with you in a minute.
If you fail, present-day!Kairi gasps in her sleep in the lab, holding her hand over heart, which then fades to a black Game Over screen; when you retry, you start over from the pages of the book.
OLD MOAT – UNDERWATER – DAY
[Underwater swimming commands explained, like in the Destiny Island scene.]
Kairi spins around awkwardly.
MERLIN (off screen)
Oh. (chuckles) So you thought you could take right off like a shot, did you?
ARTHUR
Well, I am a fish, aren’t I?
Fish!Wart spits dirt as he floats up to the surface without meaning to.
Swim to them.
MERLIN
You merely look like a fish. That doesn’t mean that you can swim like one.
—Oh, hello there, Kairi.
Wart waves his fin…
WART
Hi, Kairi!
…which makes him spin over.
Kairi giggles, thereby making bubbles that propel her backwards a little.
KAIRI
Woops… Hi!
She swims up to Wart, grabs his tail in her mouth and drags him back down to Merlin.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Very good, my dear. Now, Wart, you don’t have the instinct of a fish. So, you’ll have to use your, your brain for a change. You are living between two planes now. Somewhere between the ceiling and the floor.
While Kairi stays put and listens, Wart has fun mimicking the movements of a passing creature, which makes him swim backwards in strokes.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Now, there, there’s lots of ups and downs… like-like, uh, like a helicopter.
WART
Helicopter?
MERLIN
Yes…
Merlin catches Kairi’s blank look.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Oh. No, never mind that.
He swims in a circle around Wart.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Every flick of a fin creates movement. So, first we’ll start with the caudal fin.
[Rhythm game tutorial starts: hit the buttons at the right time for a perfect score and get to the spot where Merlin is waiting. The underwater mini-games would work like Melody of Memory memory dives, with the notes running along a line over the scene.]
Wart spins over horizontally, using his lateral fins the one after the other.
MERLIN
No, no, boy. Your tail. Tail.
Wart catches up and bumps into Merlin.
[Swim to the surface to exit the memory. Talk to Merlin when you’re ready to start the mini-game.]
MERLIN
Now, now, that gives you the forward thrust now.
Come on. Let’s get a rhythm.
Music [“That’s what makes the world go ‘round”] starts playing for the first rhythm game sequence. Merlin turns around and leads the way. The environment is modeled after the original Sword in the Stone movie backgrounds. The trio swim along the castle wall, at the bottom of the moat, among sunken dead branches and broken items, rocks and water plants. A frog sometimes crosses the screen and teases Wart and Kairi with its own moves. When they get to an area underneath a drawbridge, Kairi and Wart swim in and out of the links of one of the chains.
MERLIN
That’s right.
Don’t just wait
then trust to fate
And say that’s how
it’s meant to be
It’s up to you
how far you go
If you don’t try
you’ll never know
And so, my lad
as I’ve explained
Nothing ventured
nothing gained
didldidldum
End of rhythm game sequence.
[Obtained Water magic upgrade.]
Merlin, Kairi and Wart swim through thick algae and laugh. They stop and talk.
MERLIN
Let’s, let’s swim through that tall grass again. It tickles.
[Play the song again]
[Try another lesson]
[Swim around]
If you decide to play the song again:
WART (darting off excitedly)
For every to there is a fro
For every stop there is a go
KAIRI (joins in the singing)
And that’s what makes
the world go ‘round
If you decide to try another lesson:
Wart swims around excitedly humming the first song, then the frog catches his caudal fin in its mouth. Wart tries to pull free.
WART
Oh, let go, let go, let go!
The frog suddenly lets go and Wart hurtles past Kairi and Merlin into a broken piece of crockery.
WART
Oh, you big, bug-eyed bully, you!
MERLIN
Oh, here, here, here, here, here, now, boy. There’s no sense in going around insulting bullfrogs.
Merlin, Wart and Kairi swim away. The music changes to something more mysterious and ominous.
MERLIN (cont’d)
A fish has plenty of other problems without that.
The water world has its forests and its jungles too.
So it has its tigers and its wolves.
Merlin, Wart and Kairi project shadows on the castle wall they swim by. These grow into toothy fish Nightmares. A much larger and longer shadow follows.
MERLIN (cont’d and spoken)
But that, eh, ah…
That’s what makes the world go ‘round
You see, my boy it’s nature’s way
Upon the weak the strong ones prey
Kairi feels the presence behind them. She turns around and spots a huge pike. She gasps and speeds up to Wart.
KAIRI
Wart! Merlin!
Wart gasps and tries to hide in a crack in the wall. He gets stuck.
MERLIN (cont’d, sing-songy)
In human life it’s also true
The strong will try to conquer you
[Tap X to help Wart.] Kairi grabs Wart’s caudal fin to pull him out of the wall, and then they both rush away as the pike chases them.
MERLIN (cont’d, sing-songy)
And that is what you must expect
Unless you use your intellect
Brains and brawn
Weak and strong
WART
Help, Merlin! Help! Help!
MERLIN
That’s what makes the world go round…
Jehoshaphat!
Merlin tries to slow the pike down by grabbing its tail. The pike turns. The momentum sends Merlin flying and he gets stuck in a helmet.
Meanwhile the rhythm game starts gradually, with Kairi sending small blasts of ice magic to the Nightmares in time with the buttons you have to press. Like in Melody of Memory, if you miss notes, your HP bar depletes, and you can get a Game Over if you reach zero, whereas in the first mini-game you just start over.
WART
Oh! Quick, Merlin, the magic!
MERLIN
No, no. You’re on your own, lad. Now’s your chance to prove my point.
WART
Wha-What point?
[The rhythm game starts for good, based on the Secret Forest battle music.]
[Defeat the strong one or you’re prey!]
Merlin occasionally throws comments from the helmet. These are brief breaks in gameplay during which Kairi struggles more or less depending on how well you are doing; then the chase resumes.
MERLIN
He’s the brawn and you’re the brain.
Oh, now, don’t, don’t, don’t panic!
You use your head. Outsmart the big brute.
KAIRI
Wart!
Wart follows Kairi through a chain link. The pike gets its jaws stuck in it.
MERLIN
Smart move, lads! That’s using the old intellect.
Wart hides and picks up a broken arrow. Given the opportunity, he sticks the arrow piece vertically into the pike’s mouth. Kairi still fends off Nightmares.
MERLIN
Bravo, boy! Great strategy!
WART
Is the lesson about over?
MERLIN
D-D-Did you get the point?
WART
Yes, yes, brain over brawn.
KAIRI
Merlin, the arrow won’t hold him off long!
MERLIN
Okay, lads, I’ll fix the big brute. Higgeldy piggeldy… No, no. Hocus pocus… Now, what in blaze… Eh…
The pike snaps the arrow. Kairi and Wart don’t wait for Merlin to flee, aiming for the surface. The pike chases after them. Wart jumps out of the water, Kairi swerves to the side. The pike jumps out after Wart.
KAIRI
Wart! Merlin, hurry!
Wart and the pike jump in and out of the water. Hit the right buttons to avoid the pike.
The next time the pike plunges back in, it drags Archimedes down into the water with him, having caught his foot in its teeth.
ARCHIMEDES
Ouch!
WART
Help! Archimedes! Help!
Last phase of the rhythm game sequence: Kairi and Archimedes team up to defend Wart, Kairi trying to keep the enemies away while Archimedes tries to catch Wart.
Archimedes eventually catches Wart in his beak, Kairi grabs the owl’s leg in her mouth, and the three fly out of the water, the combined weight keeping them close to the surface. The pike rushes after them and crashes into rocks off screen. Archimedes looks back then ahead and drops both Kairi and Wart in surprise as he tries to slow down. He lands badly and crashes into a tree trunk. [End of the rhythm game.]
Merlin emerges from the water in human form with his head in the helmet.
MERLIN
What in thunder is a monster like that doing in the moat?
He takes the helmet off and puts his hat back on.
MERLIN
By George, l-l-l… I’ll, I’ll… I’ll turn him into a minnow.
WART & KAIRI (flopping on the ground)
Merlin!
MERLIN
Oh! Oh, there you are, children.
Snick snack snorum!
They turn back to human form.
MERLIN (cont’d)
How in the world did you ever get out of that mess?
WART
That, that big fish almost swallowed us and, and Archimedes, he, he saved me.
MERLIN
Well, by Jo… Oh, what do you know about that?
Merlin picks up Archimedes by one leg. Archimedes spits and coughs.
ARCHIMEDES
I did nothing of the sort! I intended to eat him. Young perch is my favorite dish. You know that!
MERLIN
Oh. (chuckles) Do you believe that, Wart?
WART
Well, l…
SIR ECTOR (calling off screen)
Wart. Wart!
WART
Oh, I’ve gotta go. It's Sir Ector. Thank you, Merlin. It was so much fun. And, Archimedes, I, l…
ARCHIMEDES
Pinfeathers, boy!
SIR ECTOR
Wart! Where are you, Wart?
WART
Coming! I’m coming.
Wart runs to the castle bridge. Kairi stays. Merlin wrings his beard and stays put, turned towards the tree where Archimedes is perched.
Talk to Merlin:
MERLIN
Now, Archimedes. Why would you half-drown yourself for a tidbit of fish? And after such a big breakfast?
Talk to Archimedes:
ARCHIMEDES
Pinfeathers and gully fluff!
Talk to Merlin again:
MERLIN
Would you like to give it another go?
You can replay any of the rhythm game sequences. Saying [Yes] to Merlin turns you into a fish again and puts you back at the spot where you can choose between the two rhythm game sequences.
RETURN TO THE BOOK PAGES:
- The Old Moat area has been updated.
- Obtained Form change #2: Fish. Turn into a fish to explore some underwater areas in other worlds.
—
SECRET FOREST – OLD MOAT
Just like the tree tops became accessible once you obtained the Squirrel transformation, you can now explore the moat around the castle as a fish.
SECRET FOREST – OLD MOAT – UNDERWATER
Fish!Axel immediately joins you for the exploration. He is actually an axolotl, with a black body and red external gills. There is a lot of treasure and a few side-quest cards to find. To reach them you’ll sometimes need to combine forces or figure out tiny puzzles with Fish!Axel as the area is filled with rocks and sunken items of various sizes. Axel and Kairi chat and banter along the way.
AXEL
So Kairi… Why am I that salamander thing again?
KAIRI (faux innocent)
I don’t know… You tell me?
AXEL
This isn’t one of Merlin’s lessons. And he only turned me into this once.
KAIRI
Maybe I thought it was funny?
AXEL
Ha ha.
KAIRI (giggling)
Sorry.
-
AXEL
Ugh! I feel stupid.
KAIRI
At least in my dream you can talk.
AXEL
Yeah…
So what? You needed the company?
-
KAIRI
I wonder why we never saw a castle around the forest.
AXEL
Yeah. Merlin hid so much from us. I wonder why…
KAIRI
I don’t know if the forest feels bigger or smaller now.
-
KAIRI
Do you remember Archimedes?
AXEL
Who?
KAIRI
Merlin’s owl, Archimedes.
AXEL
Oh yeah! The grumpy little bird. Never saw much of him, did we?
KAIRI
No… we didn’t…
AXEL
He was always sleeping, or out somewhere.
I thought he was just a stuffed owl.
KAIRI
Yeah…
-
AXEL
You know that time Merlin turned me into a salamander?
I told Roxas and Xion about it.
KAIRI
Oh? So what did they say?
AXEL
You were right. They thought it was hilarious. Now they want to turn into fish, too.
Kairi laughs.
KAIRI
I’m so glad.
AXEL
I guess… it is kind of fun.
-
AXEL
You’re a natural.
KAIRI
Sora and I used to pretend we were mermaids.
AXEL
Did you now?
KAIRI
Yes. I did like the idea of being the fastest little fish, with the help of currents.
AXEL
That’s cute.
-
AXEL
And to think I wanted to be a fish when I was a kid.
KAIRI (stunned)
Really?
AXEL
Just so I wouldn’t… get wet.
Kairi giggles.
AXEL
Hey! It would have been very useful back then!
KAIRI (sing-songy, teasing)
Okay…
AXEL
Ugh! Nevermind. Just swim.
-
AXEL (to himself)
They’d love it.
KAIRI
Hm?
AXEL
What?
KAIRI
Who’d love this? Roxas?
AXEL
Oh! Uh. I don’t know.
Yeah, Roxas would laugh his head off, probably…
I guess Isa would never let me hear the end of it. The old Isa anyway.
You can return to the surface at any point of your exploration.
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING
There still are three keyholes around Kairi's Station:
Notes:
Took some time to play Melody of Memory to my heart's content and finish writing most of the fic. Back to coding and posting!
Most of the side-quest dialogue comes from The Sword in the Stone.
Chapter 8: 100 Acre Wood
Summary:
“This book is one of the world's most cherished elements. I'd been meaning to tell Leon I'd found it, but perhaps we should keep it between us for now.”
— Merlin, KH2, Hollow Bastion
Notes:
Note to late 2020 readers: I have gone back and replaced all mentions of “present-day!Kairi” with “Heart-Diving!Kairi” or “HD!Kairi” as the actual “present-day Kairi” is sleeping in a lab, and we’re playing the one that’s diving into her own heart. Think of HD!Kairi as the Melody of Memory Kairi :) That’s who she is.
Also, reminder that the "Shift" mechanic allows Kairi/the player to delve deeper into a dream to reach new layers of memories.
Now let’s move on to the first full Disney world at last! Credits at the end. Enjoy!
Field theme:
Winnie the Pooh – Kingdom Hearts OST
“Fight Pudding with Pudding” – FFXIII-2 OST
“Woods and words / Backson tracks” – Winnie the Pooh (2011) OST
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
RADIANT GARDEN – MERLIN’S HOUSE
MERLIN
Read to your heart’s content, my dear.
You know what to do.
POOH’S STORYBOOK is on the DESK at the back of the room. The cover illustration is that of a log on the grass beneath a blue sky with white clouds.
[Enter POOH’S STORYBOOK]
Kairi opens the book and the camera dives into the pages.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER I
KAIRI
(dignified princess yelp)
Kairi lands in the illustration of a page filled with the first chapter of the 2011 Winnie the Pooh story.
The book is slanting to one side, with a drawing of Pooh’s empty bedroom. Kairi holds herself up awkwardly against the wall of the room, the floor being too steep to walk on.
[Use the R joystick to move the camera and the book around.]
The Shift command will zoom in on the picture, putting the room in almost full screen—though it is still tilted—with only a white frame indicating you are still in a book page; you’ll be able to move in it like in a relatively normal 2D level with some depth—walking left and right within the frame normally, walking away from the camera as you move to the back of the picture. Shift again to go back to the full-page view.
If you Shift out of the picture and the book is still tilted, Kairi will fall off the side of the page with another yelp. The title art appears:
~100 ACRE WOOD~
The words linger for a second, then the letters fall with a cute cartoon crashing sound.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – 100 AKER WOOD MAP
Kairi lands on a greenish hand-drawn double page featuring all the storybook’s characters’ houses, as well as the SPOOKY FOREST, RIVER AND ROX, and SIX PINE TREES. In the top left corner are the words 100 AKER WOOD. At the bottom of the map are the words “DRAWN BY ME.” on the left page; the words at the bottom of the right page have been erased. There is a SAVE POINT somewhere. You can move around this double page like in the KH1 and KH2 storybooks. The only area you can enter right now is Pooh’s house, which will bring you back to POOH’S ROOM.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER I – POOH’S ROOM
The room is still tilted. The way out of the area and forward is to shake your controller until the room rights itself. Kairi will slide in the room to whatever side is at the bottom of the screen. When the room is upright again, it will take up the full screen with no visible border, and you will be able to explore the room like in a normal 3D level.
You can then Shift out of the picture safely and hop down to the line “Pooh’s morning routine began with his exercises.”
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER I
Kairi becomes significantly smaller, or the words bigger, when she is on the page. Yet there is another catch. Kairi is too heavy for the lines. Words will crumble under her weight and she will fall to the bottom of the page. You need to be in Squirrel form—or cast a Frog or Mini status effect on yourself—to be light enough to platform across the lines on the pages, all of which are temporary transformations of course. If you fall off the book, you’ll land back on the hand-drawn map and will have to start over. Use Gravity magic to restore the fallen words to their original lines. There may be some scrambling in the process, but the lines will work as platforms you can stand on again. Use Heart-Diving!Kairi form or change camera angles with the joystick to access lower lines; otherwise, if the book is perfectly upright on the screen, you will only be able to jump up to higher lines or across gaps.
Once you get your bearings, you’ll be able to get to the edge of the right page.
[Jump, grab the ledge (corner of the page) and jump again to turn the page.]
KAIRI
I hope it doesn’t get worse.
It doesn’t.
[Find Pooh and his friends!]
Platforming across lines and pages, you’ll pass pictures of a BRIDGE, of an area with tall trees, and more. All areas are empty. No sign of anyone. To enter a picture and visit the area, you need to hop up or down to it from the paragraphs, change back to HD!Kairi, then use the Shift command. The camera zooms in until the picture takes up the whole screen; then you can explore the area like a normal 3D level.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER II
You come across OWL’S HOUSE (foot of the tree) and RABBITS ORCHARD. Once you’ve entered a picture, you’ll be able to access it from the 100 AKER WOOD map and pop up on the corresponding page. But you need to visit the picture and make sure no one’s home before the connection to the map is created—knock on Rabbit’s door, look through Owl’s window…
KAIRI
I wonder where everyone is.
Eventually, you reach:
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER III
Walking along the middle line of the left page, Kairi suddenly gets dirt thrown in her face from the right side of the screen.
KAIRI
Hey!
The dirt piles up and blocks the way to the right. You have to crawl down the page or up over the pile of dirt to get to the right page.
By the time you reach the picture on the other side of the dirt pile, POOH is standing on the right side of the frame, in a clearing, next to a large piece of cloth held down by four rocks as if for a picnic, while PIGLET watches him on the other side, holding a shovel much too big for him. POOH is holding an empty honey pot in one arm and looks at his clean paw, disappointed. POOH peers into the pot.
POOH
Oh, Piglet, this is a very light lunch.
Piglet takes the pot back using his shovel.
PIGLET
No, Pooh. This isn't lunch.
He deposits the honey pot in the center of the cloth.
PIGLET (cont’d)
I just thought it would complete the disguise.
POOH
Well, it certainly fooled me.
KAIRI
Pooh?
Pooh and Piglet turn at the call, startled. Piglet jumps and runs behind the nearest tree.
POOH
If you’ll excuse me, I shall…
He blunders off after Piglet.
[Enter the picture.]
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER III – CLEARING – DAY
You may want to try to approach them from behind like in KH1, but Kairi will stop some distance away. You can move around the area, figuring it out, while the dialogue runs on.
KAIRI
Why do they look so scared?
POOH (off screen)
Be quiet, Piglet.
PIGLET
Shhh!
KAIRI
Hello? Um…
Did I frighten you? I didn’t mean to.
POOH
It sure looks smaller than I thought.
PIGLET
B-b-but it has the red hair and everything. W-w-we should run.
KAIRI
What?
POOH
Wait.
KAIRI
I’m a friend of Sora’s. My name’s Kairi.
PIGLET
S-s-sora? It said, “Sora.” Do you think it’s a trap?
POOH
Good question. We should ask them.
Pooh walks out from behind the tree. A non-playable scene starts.
POOH
Hello there, somebody we don’t know.
Kairi leans down and smiles warmly.
KAIRI
Hello, Pooh! I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t mean to.
POOH (to Piglet)
I don’t think they’re the Backson, Piglet. They don’t smell like monkey’s feet and mould.
KAIRI
The what?
POOH
The Backson. We’re trying to catch it, you see?
Piglet comes out, holding the shovel in his tiny arms defensively.
KAIRI
Hi! I’m Kairi. What’s your name?
PIGLET
P-p-p-piglet. You know Sora?
KAIRI
I do. I’m a good friend of his. It’s very nice to meet you!
PIGLET
He’s been captured, and we’re trying to save him!
KAIRI
Oh?
PIGLET
Y-y-yes!
POOH
Yes. By the Backson! It’s a very scary monster…
PIGLET
…that puts holes in your socks and stops all the clocks!
POOH
And it’s terrrrribly bizy…
KAIRI
Busy? A monster?
What does it look like?
POOH
Oh, um. It has a tail, and um, a shaggy rug.
PIGLET
An ugly mug!
POOH
Two sharp horns.
He mimics horns with his arms.
POOH (cont’d)
Red hair.
PIGLET
With a ring in its nose and big black toes.
Piglet looks at Kairi’s boots awkwardly and then up to her hair, shaking. All are silent for a second.
KAIRI
How do you know it’s captured Sora?
POOH
We found a note. Owl read it for us. Then Rabbit thought of a plan to catch the Backson. Everyone else is collecting items that the Backson likes to destroy. And then the Backson shall follow the trail of items right to this lovely picnic.
(whispering conspiratorially)
Which is just a pit, of course.
PIGLET
And when he falls in, we'll get Sora back.
POOH
Yes, Piglet. We shall get Sora back.
Kairi looks a little uncertain.
KAIRI
Do you still have the note?
POOH (thinks hard)
The note? Owl must have it.
A cart filled with a huge pile of items enters the screen with a squeak of wheels. RABBIT, wearing a metal pot for a hat, shows up, hanging upside down from the tree above.
RABBIT
Well done, you two.
He throws a tea cup and an oven mitt over Pooh and Piglet’s heads.
RABBIT (cont’d)
Now, put your combat gear on.
He flips over onto the ground.
RABBIT (cont’d)
This is a dangerous mission, and we cannot afford any mistakes. Sora’s fate is in our hands.
He switches Piglet and Pooh’s “helmets” around as he speaks. Then he notices Kairi.
RABBIT
Who is this?
KAIRI
I’m Kairi.
POOH
She’s a friend.
KAIRI
I’d like to help.
RABBIT
Well, we do need all the help we can get. Nice to meet you, Kairi. You’ll need combat gear. Check the pile over here to see if you can find something.
[Check the pile.]
[Obtained COLANDER.]
Kairi puts the colander on her head.
KAIRI
I’m all set.
Kanga, Roo, and Owl rush into the clearing.
ROO
Rabbit, Pooh, Piglet!
RABBIT
What’s happened?
ROO
Monsters!
Piglet jumps in Pooh’s arms.
PIGLET
Oh d-d-d-dear!
As Kanga gets near and Roo jumps out of her pouch, Piglet dives into the pouch.
Kairi looks to the forest. A Flood—night-blue Unversed—creeps out of the forest, followed by a swarm of Buzzerflies—bee Nightmares.
KAIRI
Leave it to me.
[Fight the enemies.]
The Flood spends a lot of time seeped into the ground while you battle the Buzzerflies. It’s easier to block its attacks until you’ve defeated all the bees and then defeat it.
OWL
Why thank you, dear.
KANGA
Thank you…
Kanga pauses uncertainly.
KAIRI
Kairi.
KANGA
Nice to meet you.
ROO
Nice to meet you, Kairi! You have a cool weapon like Sora’s!
Kairi smiles wistfully.
KAIRI
Yes. I’m a friend of his.
RABBIT
Would you be able to defend us while we set the trail?
KAIRI
I’d be happy to.
RABBIT (nods in thanks)
All right!
Don’t you worry, my friends, we’ll get Sora back in no time!
[Help Pooh’s friends create a trail to lure the Backson out of the SPOOKY FOREST.]
Scene track: “Hundred Acre Wood Spy Game”
POOH’S STORYBOOK – SPOOKY FOREST – DAY
[Fend off Nightmares and the occasional Unversed while the group drag the cart along and arrange a trail of items around the forest.]
- Roo crawls into a hollow fallen trunk and sticks crayons out of the cracks
- Owl places three items on a WOODEN BRIDGE over the river
- Kanga and Roo place a klaxon on a big TREE ROOT.
- Piglet places wooden cubes on another root which Pooh rearranges
- Owl hangs a ladle on a HIGH BRANCH
- Rabbit throws Pigglet a Christmas bulb to throw to Pooh sitting on a branch next to a small STREAM—Pooh throws it back to Rabbit.
- Piglet switches a pinecone with a tea pot on a TREE STUMP.
- Roo twists the string of a paddle ball around a branch
KAIRI
Owl, Pooh said you found a note from Sora.
OWL
Why, yes, indeed!
KAIRI
May I see it?
OWL
I must have left it at my house.
KAIRI
Oh.
OWL
But the area seems safe enough now. Feel free to go and get it while we finish up here. Don’t knock. Please ring!
KAIRI
Are you sure?
OWL
Yes. It’s no problem at all.
KAIRI
Where’s…
OWL
We’ll regroup in the CLEARING. See you later!
KAIRI
…your house?
Owl leaves.
[Keep exploring the woods, or use the Shift command to zoom out of the current area and see the storybook page.]
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER IV
You are on the left page. A small paragraph under the picture of the SPOOKY FOREST reads “As the group continued on with Rabbit’s plan, they journeyed deeper and deeper into the woods, placing items as they went.”
On the right page, there is a picture of a fallen tree trunk that you can enter. It is another entry point to the CLEARING.
KAIRI
I think I walked past Owl’s house earlier. Maybe if I go back?
If you’ve visited the picture before, it’s easy to go back to the foot of OWL’S HOUSE by jumping off the page and using the 100 AKER WOOD MAP. If not, you’ll have to go back through the pages of the book until you reach the area.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER II – OWL’S HOUSE
A very long DARK ORANGE WOOLEN THREAD is tangled in the letters of the sentences in the upper third of the pages. It dangles into the picture of OWL’S HOUSE so that you can follow it to your destination. If you’ve entered the area from the 100 AKER WOOD MAP, you’ll first find the other end of the thread caught in the branches of Owl’s Tree and you can follow that lead through the pages until it stops close to the picture of RABBITS ORCHARD. Once you’ve followed it to both ends, you can tug on it to obtain ORANGE THREAD.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – OWL’S HOUSE – DAY
You can enter the house at the top of the very tall tree by ringing the doorbell. You can either hit the bell with your Keyblade; pull the rope with ∆; or find the end of the rope hidden in the leaves above the sign that says “DON’T NOCK PLEZ RiNG,” on the right side of the platform.
Eeyore’s tail is what’s attached to the end of the rope to pull on, in lieu of a handle.
KAIRI
That’s odd…
Pull anyway. The bell rings; the door unlocks.
There are items, a card, a chest to find in the house and around the platform, but no note.
Kairi notices the THREAD in the branches on her way out if you haven’t interacted with it before.
KAIRI
Maybe I should check somewhere else.
Maybe they dropped the note when they collected the items.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – RABBITS HOUSE – DAY
Rabbit’s vegetable patch looks oddly devastated and the scarecrow is just a naked stick figure with a ball of cloth for a head. Debris from the garden is scattered around in a trail, mingled with fallen letters from lines in the sky. The trail of devastation leads West, to another side of the SPOOKY FOREST.
Note: the field soundtrack for the world is whimsy and light, not scary.
On the opposite side of the area (NE), walking away from the house, you’ll find yourself at the bottom of a steep slope that isn’t easy to climb—you’ll slide back down if you manage a few steps uphill. A boulder is lying there, upside down, with a round nose and a big frowning mouth with teeth drawn in white chalk. There are crushed sticks and hay nearby.
Near the top of the slope, fallen letters form the word — h e L p.
It’s possible to climb all the way up if you really try, or you can give up and go back to the other trail. At the top, the ground then gently slopes back down to another house in a tree to the right, and KANGA’S HOUSE in the distance to the left.
KAIRI
I should check the woods.
Slide back down. Enter the woods to the West.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – SPOOKY FOREST – DAY
You can see mud tracks on the ground, around a tree, leading deep into the woods. They aren't very big and have an indistinct, sort of round shape.
KAIRI
Is this the Backson? Did something happen?
There is a puddle of mud between you and the tracks. If you step in it, you’ll leave tracks of your own.
KAIRI (noticing her own tracks)
That explains the tracks. But it doesn’t explain who made them.
Follow the tracks. Your Dream Eater notices trampled tomatoes on the side of the trail, and a discarded metal spring.
You end up walking along a small stream.
There is a reed sticking out of the water and slight, suspicious ripples.
—
If you haven’t completed the MISSING PAGE #1 SIDEQUEST:
KAIRI
It’s too chilly to swim. And I’ve got to find out what’s going on.
If you have completed the MISSING PAGE #1 SIDEQUEST:
KAIRI
It’s so chilly here. Maybe it’d be easier as a fish?
[Turn into a fish to dive into the water.]
As a fish you find a CARD and EEYORE, who is hiding underwater using the hollow reed to breathe.
KAIRI
Oh! Hello!
Eeyore greets you back on instinct, but it means he lets go of the reed. It drifts away. Catch it as Eeyore scrambles up to the surface.
You meet him on solid ground. He has no tail. He shakes the water off and so does Kairi as she turns back to human form. Eeyore looks left and right, concerned, then sighs and drops to his rear, head bowed in defeat.
KAIRI
Are you okay?
EEYORE
Yeah… I was just hiding.
KAIRI
From the monsters?
Eeyore sighs.
EEYORE
No. Tigger scared them away. I’m hiding from Tigger.
KAIRI
Who’s Tigger?
Eeyore is silent for a long moment.
EEYORE
My friend.
KAIRI
Oh. Why were you hiding from your friend? Did you have a fight?
EEYORE
No. He said we would catch the Backson together, since the others left me behind.
He tried to turn me into Tigger Two. Painted stripes on me and all. But I hate pouncing.
KAIRI
He sounds like he really cares about you.
EEYORE
I don’t know… I guess so.
KAIRI
You’re lucky to have such a good friend.
Eeyore has another long pause before responding.
EEYORE
Yeah.
KAIRI
My name’s Kairi. I’m helping Pooh and the others find the Backson. I’m a friend of Sora’s.
EEYORE
Nice to meet you, Kairi. I’m Eeyore. I’m a friend of Sora’s, too.
I sure would like to help him… but I’m too slow.
KAIRI
It’s okay to be slow. I’m sure there’s lots of ways you can help.
EEYORE
I don’t know.
KAIRI
What would you like to do?
EEYORE
I’d like to find a replacement for my tail.
I had a tail that I liked. But it’s gone.
He stands up and turns to show the nail on his behind. Kairi takes a look.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Hmm... I'm not sure I've seen a tail that could fit.
KAIRI (to Eeyore)
Would you like me to help you look for one?
Eeyore sighs heavily.
EEYORE
No, thanks. The others tried all morning. It was a disaster. I sure miss my old tail.
KAIRI
I’m sure you’ll find it. Don’t give up! And if you don’t find it, then you’ll find a new one that you like even better!
EEYORE
Yeah… I’ll keep looking. I’ll find something.
KAIRI
[Okay]
KAIRI (thoughts)
Hm... I think I've seen a tail that could fit.
But where?
KAIRI
Owl’s doorbell looks like a tail! Maybe you should ask him?
EEYORE
Really? Oh no, I don’t want to bother him.
KAIRI
[Okay]
KAIRI (thoughts)
Hm... I think I've seen a tail that could fit.
But where?
Oh! The thread!
KAIRI
I found some thread near Rabbit’s house. Here! You can have some.
EEYORE
Oh, no, I’ve tried that. It got all tangled up on my way and I got stuck. I couldn’t move anymore.
KAIRI
Maybe it just wasn’t the right size. Here!
She cuts a piece off with her teeth and ties it to Eeyore’s nail.
Eeyore twirls it around.
EEYORE
You can’t really see it.
KAIRI
Oh... Sorry.
EEYORE
It's fine. It looks nice. Much nicer than the rest of me.
KAIRI
Don’t say that…
EEYORE
(sighs)
Thanks anyway.
KAIRI
[You're welcome]
KAIRI (thoughts)
Oh, that thread I found earlier would've made a nice tail!
But how’s he going to get it?
...
I should've picked it up...
KAIRI
I’m sure you can find one you like. I’ll keep looking for you.
EEYORE
Thanks.
KAIRI
[You’re welcome]
KAIRI
The others have gathered lots of items for the trail. I’m sure there’s something there that would look nice on you.
EEYORE
Oh… no… They’ve already tried everything. Nothing fits. I should try to find my new tail myself.
KAIRI
[Okay]
Eeyore has fallen silent.
Kairi hesitates for a second before speaking again.
KAIRI
Want to go find your friends?
EEYORE
You go ahead, I’ll be fine.
KAIRI
Are you sure?
EEYORE
Yes. I’m fine.
I need to find my tail.
I sure miss it...
As you walk away, Eeyore slowly moves around the area.
KAIRI (thoughts as you move away)
I need to tell Pooh and the others that Eeyore’s here. I don’t know if it’s safe here, and he’s all alone.
—
You can finish exploring this part of the woods, including treetops in Squirrel form. The tracks disappear after a while, into the bushes.
KAIRI
There’s nothing here. Maybe I should check on the others.
[Return to the CLEARING by first Shifting back to the book pages.]
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER ???
On the page, you’ll notice that SORA’s name appears a lot in the lines of dialogue. Then entire lines turn to strings of “Honey Honey Honey”—
It reads like this:
“Pooh, we cannot rest until Sora is rescued. Try thinking of him instead of honey.”
Pooh’s tummy rumbled. “Very well,” he said, trying it out. “Sora. Sora. Sora! Ooh. It worked. Much better.” Pooh hummed contentedly.
Until the shadow of a honey pot appeared on a tree.
Pooh gasped. He stopped in front of it. He lifted the mitt off his head; the lid of the pot opened. He put it back on; the lid fell back down.
“Does anybody see that?” Pooh asked.
“See what, honey?” Kanga asked.
“Honey? Ooh!” Pooh’s tummy rumbled again.
“I can't wait to see the honey on that Backson's honey when he falls into our honey. Eh, Owl?” Rabbit said.
Owl agreed, “that cheeky honey will honey twice before honeying our honey again.” “After we honey the honey,” Roo asked, “can I honey a honey?”
“Uh-uh-uh. No honey before honey, honey.” Kanga said.
“Wha... ?”
“Honey up, Pooh. We have to honey,” Piglet honeyed.
“Honey,” Owl honeyed on.
Rabbit honeyed, “Ooh, honey!”
“Yes,” Kanga honeyed.
“Honey,” Rabbit honeyed.
As Pooh watched the honey honey away, his honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey honey...
“Ooh, Sora, Sora, Sora... hoo-hoo-hoo”
The pages fill up with lines of HONEY interspersed with punctuation. Some HONEYs inflate and burst like bubbles, dealing damage if you walk near them at that moment. After a short while, bees appear and start chasing you.
The book and camera tilt until the pages become a flat continuous surface. Kairi turns back to her human form, looking tiny in the arena. The camera zooms to her level as a Queen Buzzerfly appears.
[Mid-boss: Defeat Queen Buzzerfly!]
The arena is a long stretch of pages covered in lines upon lines of the word HONEY. All the pictures have turned into pools of liquid honey with springboards.
Queen Buzzerfly is surrounded with swarms of bees which you can hack at or, more effectively, disperse with ice or water magic. The Queen herself attacks with Stinger—which shoots purple stingers at you—and Pollen. She can also charge at you and hit you with her arms at close range. You can block Stingers and roll away from Pollen if you move fast enough.
She has four weak points—one on the front of her crown, two on her back, and one on the back of her skirt. The latter is the only one you can reach with a normal jump and combo. The other ones can be hit with Fire or Water magic, but you’ll find yourself quickly out of MP.
You will need to create platforms to jump higher by using the Aero spell to create whirlwinds of “honey” letters where you stand. When you cast the spell, the letters may hit the Queen and deal some damage, but more importantly, you can jump on top of the whirlwinds and use them as platforms. To do so, start by jumping on the springboards around the page and give the controller an upward jolt to jump as high as possible. From the top of the whirlwinds, you can use a reaction command to wave the Queen over, if she’s too far away. The whirlwind will last just twice as long as the Aero spell usually lasts. Gravity magic will create stairways of floating letters that you can climb onto from the ground and that are easier to navigate, but which crumble under just one step. Finally, the springboards are vulnerable to your Heart of a Princess Shotlock and mis-aimed Fire spells, and can be destroyed.
After her crown or her back takes a few hits, the Queen wildly shakes her head and bats you off, her movements knocking down the platforms. The letters tumble down and Floods appear. The Unversed drop MP and HP orbs when defeated. Every so often, she will glow and you’ll have just a couple seconds to run before she flails and spins, releasing a powerful Aeroza spell that destroys all remaining platforms and blows the letters away. This attack also destroys the nearest springboards.
With no more letters or boards to reach her weak points, you will have to run further down the pages of the story book until you find new pools and lines. Use the reaction command to make sure the Queen chases you to the new arena. Repeat the process until the Queen is defeated.
[Obtained Aero upgrade]
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER IV
Kairi catches her breath on the CHAPTER IV double page. It lies flat, like the MAP area, and she can walk on it safely. The lines underfoot are a jumbled mess of HONEY, but the pictures are back to normal.
You can access the CLEARING directly from the log illustration on the right page, or take a longer route through the SPOOKY FOREST from the left page, which will be uneventful. Step on the picture and Shift to enter the area.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CLEARING – DAY
Kairi enters the edge of the clearing. Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, and Piglet are pacing around.
RABBIT
Pooooh? Oh, now where did that bear go?
KAIRI
What’s the matter?
ROO
Pooh’s missing!
KANGA
We searched all over, and no sign of him.
OWL (flying in)
The report from my aerial excursion is inconclusive.
A loud, echoing MOAN makes them all jump and shout in fear. Near the tree where the trap was laid, the cloth covering the pit is gone, something having clearly fallen inside.
RABBIT (gasps)
The plan worked. We caught the Backson!
Moaning continues.
PIGLET
Oh! It sounds horrib-b-ble!
RABBIT
Now that we have him, Owl, you can go and get Sora back.
Kairi looks between all of them.
OWL
No! No, I'm far too important to put myself in that predicament. Kanga, off you go.
KANGA
Oh, no, no, no. I'm with child.
She produces Roo to stress her point.
ROO
Send the pig.
Piglet panics, stammers and faints under his teacup.
KAIRI
I’ll go.
KANGA
Oh, be careful…
[Check the pit.]
Kairi looks down. At the bottom of the pit, a small creature caught in the cloth runs against the wall and falls backwards. The cloth falls off, revealing that it’s Pooh, his head stuck in the empty bait honey pot.
POOH
Oh, bother…
KAIRI
Pooh?
The other animals show up at the edge of the pit.
RABBIT
Pooh?
POOH (waves upwards)
Oh, hello.
PIGLET
Oh, Pooh, you went back for the honey, didn't you? But I told you it was empty.
POOH (standing up)
Yes, and I believed you, Piglet. But my tummy had to see for himself.
KANGA
Poor, poor Pooh.
ROO
How are we ever gonna get him out of there?
KAIRI
We need to throw him a rope.
A scratching metal sound draws nearer, making them turn around. Eeyore enters the clearing. He is dragging an anchor attached to the nail on his behind with a long chain—his own new tail.
EEYORE
It's me, it's me
I win the honey pot
Found this anchor over there
Now it's on my derrière
Not that anybody'd care
PIGLET
Eeyore!
[If you missed the Eeyore encounter]
KAIRI
Who is this?
ROO
It’s Eeyore. He’s our friend!
-
[If you’ve already met Eeyore]
KAIRI
Eeyore, you did it!
OWL
And where have you been all this time?
KANGA
Have you seen Tigger?
EEYORE
(mumbles with his head between his legs)
RABBIT
I’ve got an idea!
[Talk to rabbit.] OR [You can leave the clearing to skip the scene. It will go on whether you stay or not.]
RABBIT
Eeyore’s new tail looks long enough to reach the bottom of the pit. Let’s throw it down and pull Pooh back up!
They pick up the anchor and get to the edge of the pit, encouraging Eeyore to move along.
RABBIT
OK, everyone, make sure you have a good hold. Heave-ho! Heave-ho!
KAIRI (too polite to interfere, even if you run around them)
Um… I’m not so sure about this.
[Talk to EEYORE]
Something tells me I was better off with Tigger.
RABBIT
Heave-ho!
EEYORE
Yep.
All shout as they are dragged along with the heavy chain, except Piglet who falls to the ground. They hit Rabbit and fall into the pit. Sound of a broken pot.
RABBIT
Oh, this is lovely. We are stuck down here, and the Backson is still up there.
PIGLET
Oh, d-d-dear! Wait for me.
He starts climbing down into the pit. Kairi catches him.
KAIRI
No, Piglet!
RABBIT
No, no, Piglet. Stay.
PIGLET
But the Backson!
RABBIT
You can help us if you stay up there!
KAIRI
That’s right, Piglet! And I’ll be with you. You’ll be safe.
Let’s go look for something to get them out of here.
PIGLET
Okay. There might be something over by the pack.
KAIRI
Show the way.
[Follow Piglet around the clearing.]
He stops next to a flower patch.
PIGLET
I found something! Here.
KAIRI
What? Ooh. That's a lovely flower, Piglet.
PIGLET
Yeah, I thought so, too.
KAIRI
It is very nice. But I think we need something longer.
PIGLET
Longer? Of course. How silly of me.
[Obtained DAISY.]
He runs in another direction, towards the trail of items, and starts trying to heave a huge green book into his arms.
KAIRI
Um, good thought, Piglet. But are you sure that's long enough?
PIGLET
Oh, yes, it is. Owl read this to me once, and it was certainly the longest thing I'd ever heard.
They both giggle.
KAIRI
I think what we need is a rope, Piglet.
PIGLET
A rope? Well, there is this rope.
He runs to another spot, and picks up a perfect-looking rope.
KAIRI
That’s perfect! Let’s bring it back to the pit!
OWL (from within the pit)
Spot-on, Piglet. Do be a helpful little swine and get us out of here.
PIGLET
All of you?
RABBIT
Yes, Piglet, all of us.
PIGLET
All right. Three, four... Don't forget Rabbit.
He rushes off with the rope.
KAIRI
What are you doing?
Piglet snips away at the rope with scissors.
KAIRI
Piglet!
PIGLET
And six. There!
He rushes back with his small pieces and drops them in front of him.
PIGLET
Now you can all get out!
He starts arranging the six little pieces along the edge.
POOH
How very thoughtful you are, Piglet.
RABBIT
Good grief!
KAIRI
Tie them together, Piglet. Can you tie a knot?
PIGLET
I cannot.
RABBIT
So, you can knot.
PIGLET
No, I cannot knot.
RABBIT
Not knot?
POOH
Who's there?
RABBIT
Pooh!
POOH
Pooh who?
RABBIT
No! Agh…
Kairi has picked up two pieces.
KAIRI
I don’t think it’s possible to knot these pieces anyway.
ROO
Oh! I know! There’s a jump rope at Sora’s house.
KAIRI
Sora’s house? That’s it! Piglet, can you show me where the house is?
POOH
And bring some honey!
PIGLET
Oh… Okay… But I’d really rather stay here.
KAIRI
It’s okay, I'll protect you!
PIGLET
Through there?
Owl flies out of the pit and lands gracefully next to Piglet.
OWL
Yes, Piglet. Through a dark wood fraught with peril, on a mission of life or death. It is a task of great complexity, but I have full confidence that you shall return victorious, and rescue us from the abyss.
He pushes Piglet to the edge of the woods.
KAIRI
Um… Owl?
Owl pushes Kairi, too.
OWL
Go forth, bravest friends, and we shall await your return. For weeks, if necessary.
KAIRI
Alright… let’s go.
Owl flies back down into the pit. Camera stays on the pit from ground level.
A pause.
RABBIT (incredulous)
Owl!
OWL
What?
RABBIT
I can't believe… how wonderful that speech was!
They all clap.
POOH
I can't, either.
EEYORE
Moved me to tears.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – SPOOKY FOREST – WITH MIST
If you try to Shift out to the page, Piglet lets out a terrified shout, and Kairi decides against getting out of the picture. The camera zooms back in.
Nightmares and rare Floods come out. Piglet is a party member. He carries a wooden spoon, a teapot lid as a shield, and his teacup helmet. He mostly runs around you and hides in combat, but you do have a team attack when the enemies gather into a pack:
KAIRI (team attack line)
Piglet!
PIGLET (team attack line)
Oh d-d-d-dear. I mu-mustn’t fear.
Kairi grabs him, spins and throws him to the enemy. Piglet curls into a ball and scatters the pack, taking 25% of their full health.
At some point, Piglet yells and runs back to hide behind a root. Kairi gasps.
KAIRI
Oh no, Piglet, look. It’s just a balloon.
PIGLET
B’loon? Oh dear.
He gets out of hiding and moves close to the red balloon, stuck in some low branches.
PIGLET
How’d you ever get stuck up here? Wasn’t the Backson, was it?
The balloon squeaks as Piglet pulls on its string. Kairi helps untangle it as Piglet pulls and pulls.
PIGLET
Oh good.
They free B’loon. The branch snaps backwards and hits something. A loud pained grunt is heard.
Kairi jumps into her fighting stance. A growing shadow emerges from the bushes.
PIGLET
Backsoooon!!!
KAIRI
Piglet, hide!
???
Backson?!
Piglet shouts as the balloon carries him away and the unknown creature—a two-legged thing wearing an ugly faded blue shirt with too long sleeves and with a mop of red hair that hides most of its face—runs in the same direction, shouting, too.
You may catch glimpses of an orange tiger tail as the creature runs off.
KAIRI
Piglet!
[Save Piglet!]
Run after Piglet and the creature. It runs too fast for Kairi to catch up and hit it with her Keyblade, but you can lock on and cast spells. Aero will blow Piglet further away. Branches will snap back on their trail and hit Kairi—block them. The creature will dodge fire and howl in fright!
The creature eventually jumps and grabs Piglet around the waist, flying away with him.
PIGLET
Help me! Help!
???
Piglet!
PIGLET
He knows my name!
They fly away from Kairi’s reach, out of the woods. The path is blocked by water and bushes. Shift out to the pages.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER V
The lines on the current page narrate the end of the previous scene and Kairi’s feelings and actions as she now tries to save Piglet. A timer has appeared. Get to the next page before it runs out. The destination spread has a two-page-wide CLEARING illustration on the lower half, with blocks of text narrating Piglet’s fear in the upper half. Once above the clearing illustration, you’ll see that some lines have been knocked out of the blue, clouded sky, and letters are scattered around the pit.
KAIRI (shouting down)
Where’s Piglet?
RABBIT (from within the pit)
Down here! But B’loon is in trouble!
[SHIFT]
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CLEARING – DAY
Kairi stands on a line of text floating in the air. Gazing up you can see the chapter text in the sky.
B’loon is stuck at the very top of the text. Go get it. Knock over more letters to create stairs and grab B’loon before it flies away. If you’ve knocked down too many lines before you reached the balloon, you can restore the paragraphs with Gravity. Once you’ve caught it, drop down to the CLEARING area.
Kairi falls into the bushes, holding B’loon. When she gets back to the clearing with B’loon, everyone’s already got safely out of the pit. TIGGER and Piglet are with them.
EVERYONE
Kairi!
ROO
Are you alright?
KAIRI
Yes. How did you all get out?
RABBIT
Pooh used the letters you and Piglet knocked down to build a ladder!
POOH
But the honey pot was still empty.
KANGA
We’ll get you lunch, dear. You deserve it.
POOH
It can’t be soon enough…
KAIRI
Well, I’m glad you’re all safe. I thought the Backson got you, Piglet.
PIGLET
Oh no… It was Tigger!
KAIRI
Oh.
ROO
Does that mean the Backson is still out there?
KAIRI
Oh, right, Owl. I couldn’t find the note.
OWL
Really?
POOH
You mean, this note?
Pooh takes the note out of his shirt. Kairi reads it eagerly:
“Gon out
Bizy
Back soon
S.”
KAIRI
Um… I think there’s been a misunderstanding.
OWL
Impossible!
KANGA
How so?
KAIRI
It says “back soon”, not Backson.
A beat.
ALL
Oh…
After a second of relief, they all turn to Owl, who looks mortified, and flies off in a hurry.
EEYORE
Well, that’s a relief.
KANGA
Am I glad there’s nothing to worry about!
TIGGER
We all got pumped up for nothing!
PIGLET
So there’s no monster?
KAIRI
I guess not…
POOH (looking up to Kairi hopefully)
So Sora’s going to be back soon, then?
KAIRI
I…
She clutches the note and suppresses the tension she feels. She smiles at them.
KAIRI
Yes. I’ll bring him back soon.
ROO
Yay!
POOH
Does that mean you’re leaving?
KAIRI
I should… I don’t know.
RABBIT
We still have to find Eeyore’s missing tail.
EEYORE
I’m fine…
KAIRI (holding out the note)
You said you found this near Sora’s house. Could you show me where that is?
TIGGER
It’s easy! It’s the one with the green door.
I’ll show you!
KAIRI
Thanks!
Do you mind if I keep this?
POOH
Oh no, keep it. We don’t need it.
KAIRI
Thank you.
She pockets the letter.
POOH
When you find Sora, will you say hi for us? We do miss him.
KAIRI
I will. I’m sure he misses you, too.
TIGGER
Now come along, Tigger Three!
PIGLET
Tigger Three?
TIGGER
I’m Tigger One. Eeyore’s Tigger Two.
I’ve seen how Kairi can bounce!
Let’s pounce!
KAIRI (lightening up)
Alright. Lead the way!
ROO
Come back soon!
They giggle.
POOH
What’s so funny?
Shift out of the picture.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER V
The lines form a messy set of stairs that leads to the top left corner. Tigger bounces up it. The quickest route is to stay in Heart-Diving form and fall off the page to the MAP. Or you can use the save point in the clearing, which can now teleport you to the 100 AKER WOOD MAP.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – 100 AKER WOOD MAP
The house labelled MY HOUSE now has a dark colored door. Tigger bounces next to it. You can enter the area from the map.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER VI
You drop from the sky down a left page devoid of text, to an illustrated stretch of grass.
Tigger looks up, puzzled.
TIGGER
What horrendemous thing happened here?
He tries to bounce back up, as high as possible. If you stick around long enough, he’ll manage to get onto the top of the picture area, but he’ll drop back down. The illustration continues on the next page, but to get across the gap, you need to Shift into the area.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – MY HOUSE
Walking South, you’ll find the top of the cliff with the steep slope and the word HELP that leads to Rabbits Orchard. The house is in the opposite direction. It is a beautiful, healthy oak tree with a door.
There are scattered toys, a broken jack-in-the-box and black paint stains on the ground, in the area in front of the house.
The door has no handle. It looks like the door in the Secret Place. Tigger doesn’t seem surprised. He’s busy bouncing up and down, looking up. The sky overhead is a light, soft blue with pastel clouds. If you stand under the tree branches, you’ll see lines of text through them, far up ahead.
You can ring the bell on the bike and kick around musical instruments.
Shift out of the picture onto the second page.
POOH’S STORYBOOK – CHAPTER VI
Tigger hops to the top of the picture and starts climbing up the lines to investigate. The door is now a normal 100-Acre-Wood-style green door, with a handle and a lock.
[Open it?]
[Y/N]
Kairi uses her Keyblade. The line of light pierces through the keyhole and with a flash, it unlocks. Kairi steps to the door, pulls it open and enters.
FADE TO WHITE THEN BLACK.
[Obtained Hunny Spout Keychain]
[Obtained MYSTERIOUS LETTER.]
—
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING
Kairi blinks as she steps to the center of her Station of Awakening. Nothing has changed in the patterns of stained-glass. However, looking around her, she notices a new floating keyhole appearing, left of Radiant Garden.
Stepping close to it, you can’t hear any line, only silence. If you wait a little, you’ll hear a soft chime followed by the heavy crunch of a good chunk of snow dropping to snowy ground below.
- [Visit ???] See next chapter!
The other worlds are still there:
- [Secret Forest]
- [Destiny Islands]
- [Radiant Garden]
—
You earn the trophy “True Detective” if, while searching for the note, you interacted with all traces of Tigger’s shenanigans.
—
Whichever destination you choose, a cutscene starts:
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD”
The scene opens with some close-ups on Axel, who is sitting in a chair, in his casual outfit—mane of fiery red hair, one black boot on the chair, arm thrown over his folded knee. He is watching Ansem the Wise take notes next to Kairi, frowning with undisguised distrust. His other hand is gripping the edge of the chair tightly. Ienzo, at the monitor, sighs in annoyance. Ansem looks up, interrupting his work.
ANSEM THE WISE
There is no need for such hostility.
IENZO
It is unwarranted…
Ansem cuts him off with a gesture. Ienzo stops immediately and goes back to his work, but he is listening. Axel leans back against the wall, anything but casual.
AXEL
We’ve all done very icky things as Nobodies, and I know most of us want to leave it in the past. We were made to believe we had no heart after all, and some of us were kids at first. We didn’t know any better. But what’s your excuse?
Ansem frowns gravely.
ANSEM THE WISE
I will take my share of responsibility for Xehanort’s many crimes. I failed to protect you.
Axel scoffs.
AXEL
Don’t blame everything on Xehanort. He had no hand in what you did to Roxas.
Ansem looks even darker.
AXEL
Yeah… That was entirely on you.
ANSEM THE WISE
I didn’t understand that Nobodies were more than abnormalities.
AXEL
Right. None of us really did, did we?
ANSEM THE WISE
I will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for these sins.
AXEL
You sure owe him and Naminé more than an apology. Helping restore them to life won’t be enough to earn their forgiveness. Or their trust.
ANSEM THE WISE
I understand your point.
AXEL
I’m not done.
IENZO
What else could there possibly be, Axel?
AXEL
“Subject X.”
A beat of tense silence.
AXEL
Xehanort wasn’t in charge back then, was he? You had her locked up in a cage.
Ienzo looks at Ansem the Wise.
AXEL
Don’t tell me you don’t remember. I’ve got it… perfectly… memorized.
He goes back to his first position as he says these words—curled up on the edge of the chair like a raptor, looking out for prey. Another beat of tense silence.
IENZO
Master’s research was always well-intentioned.
AXEL
Sure. Nothing fishy ever happened here, especially not before Xehanort showed up.
ANSEM THE WISE
You have all rights to distrust me, but I assure you no harm will come to Kairi.
I put an end to Xehanort’s experiments as soon as I found out how far he'd taken the freedom I gave him. His folly showed me the pursuit of knowledge could have devastating consequences.
AXEL
That was your first clue…?
IENZO
Axel, stop that. I will not let you insult Master Ansem inside his own castle. You are in no position to lecture others on right and wrong.
Axel pauses.
AXEL
Alright. Then tell me this, if we’re allies. What happened to her? Where is she?
Ansem holds his gaze.
Fade to black.
—
POOH'S STORYBOOK – SECOND VISIT
Two mini-games become available when you return to the world:
- MY HOUSE: Tigger uses the opportunity of the odd blank page to challenge you to a bouncing contest. You’ll learn that the lines that used to be here were dragged off the page when Eeyore's orange woolen tail got caught in the book lines, or when you pulled the orange thread. The door to “Sora’s house” is the normal green door. If you open it, it’s just a closet-size space in the tree trunk with more stuff in it and a card for the Pomp and Circumstance side-quest. The door on the page picture leads to the Station of Awakening. The gap between pages drops you to the 100 AKER WOOD MAP. Mini-game theme: "Bounce-O-Rama" from Kingdom Hearts ... sped up.
- OWL’S HOUSE: Pooh stands on the tree house platform, staring at the bell rope. This is the story and resolution of the missing tail mystery. Then, Owl, who has just “achieved completion of his autobiographical treatise!” will offer to read a passage. This will launch a side-scrolling pure platform mini-game. Mini-game theme: "Dash-A-Long" from Re:Chain of Memories
In RABBITS ORCHARD, help Rabbit fix the mess Tigger made while teaching Eeyore how to bounce like a Tigger. You’ll get a HONEY POT as a reward.
—
[Click "Previous Chapter" to (re)visit the Sword in the Stone Missing Page #1, aquatic side-quest.]
[Click "Next Chapter" to visit the new world.]
Notes:
Queen Buzzerfly is of course based on the Dream Drop Distance Dive boss fight, specifically the one from Sora's story. Watch the original gameplay here.
90% of the incredible lines of dialogue in this chapter were lifted from the 2011 Winnie the Pooh movie. All I did was weave Kairi into the plot.
The crazy meta narration in this movie seemed like a cool level design premise for a game. I hope I did the original movie justice with this chapter. I'm not sure I'll keep the illustrations for long, as they are Disney+ screenshots, however downgraded, and not fanart... So, I guess, enjoy them while they're up!
The 3D models of Pooh's Room are from Re:Chain of Memories (PS4). Thank you, Aem, for providing those acrobatic screenshots!
Thank you for reading!
Chapter 9: The Great Prince's Forest
Summary:
“A prince does not look back, only ahead”
Notes:
The world appears as a new keyhole around the Station after you finish the 100 Acre Wood story.
Field theme inspiration: “Snow Flakes in the Forest” — Bambi 2 OST
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
A FOREST COVERED IN SNOW – DAY
Kairi’s boot sinks into thick snow. She takes another tentative step which goes just as deep.
KAIRI
Wow…
She stops, and shivers, hugging herself, looking around at the tall trees, amazed, but also freezing.
KAIRI
It’s… Oh!
She pulls her hood up; the rim of the hood glows, as well as the trim of her sleeveless top and of her skirt; the outfit grows long sleeves, the skirt grows down to her knees, her black shorts cover the rest of her legs, plunging into the boots, which are now rimmed with white unnatural wool; she also gets black gloves with pink finger tips. Little black Chirithy ears stick out from her hood, which now has a thicker black rim. She shivers again and rubs her arms.
Fade to Flashback
DESTINY ISLANDS – PLAY ISLAND – AFTERNOON
KH3 Sora and Kairi cross the bridge to the paopu tree.
SORA
Donald couldn’t even give me a coat!
KAIRI
Did you try pulling your hood up?
SORA
What?
He does and the top of his outfit turns into a rain coat.
SORA
WHAT? You mean I could have done this all along?
KAIRI
It would seem so!
BACK TO THE FOREST – DAY
Kairi smiles.
KAIRI
Thank you, Good Fairies, for this.
Sora, you were right. Snow looks beautiful.
She smiles and looks up again. Camera pans to a view of the deserted forest. It’s a bright day. The title screen appears.
THE GREAT PRINCE’S FOREST
Kairi takes another step and doesn’t sink as deep.
[Explore the area.]
Throughout the world, you’ll hear chiming, tingling sounds, then lumps of snow falling from above.
THE DEN – DAY
There is a fallen, large tree trunk across mounds of probably rocks covered in snow, with a single green bud on top of it. Underneath it, is an opening that looks like the entrance to the den of a wild animal. It could host five Kairis.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Why does this feel like… home?
[SHIFT]
With a loud heartbeat, a vision of the Destiny Islands falling to Darkness flashes in—blink-and-you’ll-miss-it KH1-Kairi’s shoes treading the darkened, crumbling beach. Another beat—the wooden door in the Secret Place in 1st person camera—the camera pans to the left and faces KH1 Sora who is rushing into the cave. The whole vision is slightly blurred and obscured by dark haze. Another beat and—still 1st person POV—KH1 Kairi lifts her hand. Quicker heartbeats—she is propelled forward and vanishes as Sora tries to catch her in his arms.
In the forest, Kairi staggers forward with a gasp, hugging herself reflexively. Looking stunned, she lowers her arms, then brings her hand to her pendant.
END SCENE
There are deer tracks coming from the den and joining another set of tracks a few feet away. Both sets leave the area through the woods. One of the two runs all over the place at first, then goes into a straight line.
The tracks lead to a steep slope down which you can slide—something has slid down, too—, then the tracks reappear a little further on and reach a RIVER, near a wide but not very high waterfall. The animals have crossed the water to the other side.
THE RIVER – DAY
Try to step into the river: Kairi splashes through a few steps, yelping that it’s freezing cold and you need to hop back to the shore or onto a rock nearby before your MP bar depletes, otherwise she slips and falls into the water—fade to black and she reappears on the river bank.
[SHIFT BY THE RIVER]
A kid’s voice makes Kairi look around her.
???
Hiya Bambi, watch what I can do! Whee!
The fleeting ghost of small gray RABBIT slides from the opposite slope, down the river—which looks frozen solid underneath him—and off screen if you don’t angle the camera to follow.
???
Come on! It’s all right, look! (Thumps on ice with his foot.) The water’s all stiff!
[SHIFT AGAIN]
You’ll hear the bunny giggle.
???
No, no, no.
Kind of wobbly, aren’t ya? You gotta watch both ends at the same time.
I guess you’d better unwind it… Wow!
Some fun, huh, Bambi? Come on, get up. Like this.
You can try using Blizzard magic on the water. It will freeze, but the ice isn’t strong enough to support Kairi’s weight.
You don’t have to follow the tracks, anyway. The forest is pretty big and open. You can climb up the rocks around the small waterfall in Squirrel form. You can get around to the other side of the river by taking a longer route. There is an area with a dead tree you can’t jump high enough to get over yet, but you can crawl underneath it if you turn into a squirrel. Many small animals seem to have done the same, leaving tracks in the snow.
Your Dream Eater will notice a hollow dead tree you can interact with…
KAIRI
Hello?
ECHO
Hello?
… and Shift by.
THUMPING SOUND.
???
I’m thumping. That’s why they call me Thumper.
ECHO
...call me Thumper...
THUMPER
Thumper!
ECHO
...Thumper!...
In another area, you’ll hear voices:
???
Burr-r-r
THUMPER
Bird
???
Burr-rr
THUMPER
Uh-uh. Bird-duh!
GIRL VOICES
Come on, say bird! Say bird! Say bird! Say bird!
???
Bird!
Laughter from many kids.
There are areas in which the snow is so deep you need to hack your way through. Fire creates a dent in the layer, but sputters out against the wall of cold, and Kairi says:
KAIRI
Maybe I should hold back on the fire here.
Aero works better to clear light snow from chests and vegetation. You can also turn into a Squirrel and climb up trees to fetch CARDS or jump and drop down from greater heights—just to turn back to human and roll in the snow.
At some point, you will hear a grunt and notice a FAWN struggling to crawl backwards under the fallen tree. Kairi gets closer and kneels to help just as the fawn unsticks itself and rolls backwards. Both gasp. The fawn freezes, looking terrified.
KAIRI
Oh no, don’t be scared…
She straightens up into a crouching position, one knee in the snow, brushing the snow off her lap. Bambi stares. Kairi pauses and stares, too.
KAIRI (quietly)
We’ve met before, haven’t we?
Bambi keeps staring, but he unfreezes and gets up, nodding slowly.
BAMBI
I’m Bambi.
KAIRI
I’m Kairi.
She holds her pendant tight in her fist. Bambi steps closer and sniffs at her neck. He bumps his head against her cheek, then takes a step back. A ghost-then-solid figure of a young deer replaces him, stepping around Kairi, making her look up, then stand.
YOUNG ADULT BAMBI
You’re the girl creature from my dreams.
As Bambi steps around her, Kairi is suddenly in her KH1 design. The young deer stands in front of her.
YOUNG ADULT BAMBI
You know Sora.
KH1 flashback of Sora holding his fist over his heart, eyes closed—rays of white and blue light shine from it.
Back to present:
KAIRI
Yes. I feel like…
The rest of the summon animation flashes in, with Sora pointing the Kingdom Key to the ground covered in vibrant green grass, dragging it in a circle around him and throwing a sphere of pink light a few feet away, from which fawn!Bambi emerges.
Back to present:
YOUNG ADULT BAMBI
…our hearts are connected.
End of the KH1 summon sequence: Bambi hops over to Sora who smiles and pets his head.
Back to present:
Kairi smiles. Bambi smiles. The vision flickers, and Bambi fades back to his younger self. But he’s still smiling, even more broadly than before. He is positively beaming now. Kairi is back to her Heart-Diving design.
BAMBI
Nice to meet you, Kairi!
He hops around in the snow.
BAMBI
I’m going to see the groundhog with Thumper! You should come, too!
KAIRI (bemused)
Is this a dream?
BAMBI (pauses)
Huh?
Kairi shakes her head, smiling.
KAIRI
Never mind. I’d love to! Lead the way!
Bambi joins the party.
BAMBI
Over here, come on. Hurry!
Bambi yelps when Nightmares spawn, but his hopping around drops HP and MP orbs. The PARADISE team attack triggers a brief animation reminiscent of the KH1 summon animation, in which Kairi pets Bambi’s head before slashing the air around her, spraying pink light and snow, as Bambi hops and lands as strongly as possible on a patch of solid spring ground which Kairi’s move has cleared; more light bursts out in a shockwave that sprays snow and makes icicles rain down on the Nightmares.
BAMBI (recurrent end-of-battle line)
These creatures are scar—I’m not scared!
They eventually catch up with Thumper who is sitting, dejected, in the middle of a bunch of rabbit paw prints.
BAMBI
Thumper!
Kairi is suddenly a squirrel in the scene.
THUMPER
Bambi! (to Kairi) Hiya!
KAIRI
Hello!
BAMBI
This is my friend, Kairi.
THUMPER (to Bambi, making no effort to be discreet)
You brought a girl??? Ugh! Not another one!
Bambi looks awkwardly between the two. Thumper continues his dramatic complaining while brushing the snow off his fur.
THUMPER
My dumb sisters have been after me all morning.
(conspiratorially)
But then I’ve told them the first one to get to the groundhog is who I’ll sit by.
He winks and nods, pleased with himself.
THUMPER (to Bambi)
I’m sure glad your father let you come.
BAMBI (stammers)
He understands. He and I are best pals.
Kairi shares a look with Thumper. A flash of 5-year-old Riku on the Play Island beach, staring at her with a similar frown, briefly overlaps. She snorts.
THUMPER
What’s so funny?
(to Bambi)
See? That’s why…
A loud SNORE cuts him off. The three stare at a lair further away in the snow. A flower flies up and down in time with the snoring. Bambi and Thumper run to the lair.
The next scene plays out whether you stay close to Bambi and Thumper or not. It’s up to you whether you run around the area as a human or as a squirrel. Form change is virtually unlimited in this world.
Thumper hops on the edge of the hollow in an old tree and thumps.
THUMPER
Wake up, Flower! Wake up!
The snoring stops.
THUMPER (cont’d)
Come on, Flower. You're gonna miss the groundhog.
FLOWER
Gosh, I hope the groundhog sees his shadow, (yawn) so I can get back to hibernating.
FRIEND OWL (off screen)
Attention, everyone. Attention.
Thumper and Bambi rush towards the voice, to the left of the lair. Shortly after, Flower, a young skunk, crawls out of the lair and trots after them.
GROUNDHOG TREE – DAY
Dozens of small forest animals have gathered around a very big tree. A big owl seems to be stuck in a hole in the ground, under the tree’s thickest roots. There is also a save point. As you walk into the area, four beige bunnies surround Thumper and hug him. The dialogues play out while you explore the area. You may stop and listen, or move around.
THUMPER’S SISTERS
We decided we'll all sit by you.
THUMPER
Great…
They giggle. A female fawn stands near them and turns around, accidentally bumping noses with Bambi.
FEMALE FAWN
Hi, Bambi!
Bambi steps back in a panic, trips, and falls.
BAMBI
Hi, Faline.
He gets up and comes back.
Talk to them to hear their conversation:
FALINE
I almost didn't recognize you.
BAMBI
Really? I guess it's 'cause my spots are almost gone.
And my antlers are coming in, too. Can you see them?
He shows the top of his head to her. She looks, but:
FALINE
Um… Well...
Thumper hops between them to take a look, too.
THUMPER
I don't see anything.
Bambi glares at him.
THUMPER (cont’d)
Well, I don't.
Talk to Flower or other animals around:
FLOWER
What’s going on? Did we miss it?
ONE OF THUMPER’S SISTER or BABY QUAIL
The groundhog won’t come out!
KID POSSUM
I hope it doesn’t mean Spring won’t come!
QUAIL MOTHER
If the groundhog sees his shadow, it means we’ll have more winter.
FEMALE PHEASANT
It must be nerve-wracking. No wonder he doesn’t want to come out.
Talk to Friend Owl to help him out of the hole.
Friend Owl staggers backwards, making Kairi fall and roll back to the group of friends as a squirrel. Cutscene:
FRIEND OWL (recovering)
Oh, well, yes. T-T-T-The groundhog!
The groundhog crawls out of the hole, covering his eyes, and turns around. A long shadow stretches from his feet, getting longer as he steps away from the root.
GROUNDHOG
Why me? This is the last year. My nerves just can't take it anymore.
THUMPER’S SISTER (gasps)
I see his shadow.
THUMPER (defeated)
More winter.
FLOWER (happy sigh)
More hibernating.
Kairi stares at the long shadow.
THE GROUNDHOG
No shadow, no shadow. Please, no shadow.
Please don't let there be a shadow.
Please don't let there be a shadow.
A cloud starts to drift in front of the sun as the groundhog slowly takes its hands away from its eyes, still not opening them. The shadow disappears in the shade just as the groundhog opens its eyes and looks down.
THE GROUNDHOG
Huh! No shadow. No shadow!
Oh, spring is here! Spring is here!
Everybody cheers. Kairi looks relieved. The groundhog dances merrily.
THE GROUNDHOG
Oh, I’ll never be frightened again!
But suddenly the music changes and a long, darker shadow spreads towards the groundhog from the edge of the clearing, stretching under Bambi’s hooves as it creeps in. Everybody screams and hides as a dark shape emerges from the ground, where the shadow has coalesced. Darkness drips down like water, revealing a small deer-shaped Nightmare with budding antlers.
["Anger Unchained" – KH3]
[Defeat the Nightmare]
Phase 1: Bambi has left with Faline and everyone else, but Faline comes back into the fighting area, so Bambi does, too. You double the fawn power. Black holes appear wherever the enemy deer hops to, and stays for a few seconds. Shadow heartless emerge from the holes if Kairi, Bambi or Faline step on the holes. Faline stays out of the way of the Nightmare deer, but can hop on the heartless to hit them with her hooves.
The Nightmare retaliates hard if you get to the end of your combo, with a KH2FM-Roxas kind of speed. After it loses one full health bar, the Shift prompt appears.
[SHIFT]
Phase 2: The scene changes to Spring—flashes of ominous colors make Kairi cover her eyes with her arm and Bambi appear as a Young Stag. Faline runs off. The snow drifts to the sides like doves flying away, clearing a perfectly circular area surrounded by uncanny, cloudy splashes of slush. Stomping through the slush, the Nightmare deer grows bigger, into a muscular shadow stag with yellow eyes, vestigial wings on its back and tendrils around its longer and sharper antlers. As it jumps back into the area, creating a shockwave of darkness, you can see a heart-shaped hole in its chest.
As a Young Stag, Bambi gets to attack harder with his antlers.
[Defeat the Heartless]
The colors and effects of the battle are modeled after the Ronno vs. Bambi scene from Bambi.
Dealing the final blow triggers the usual end of boss fight slow motion animation and blur.
You hear a male teen laugh as the scene Shifts back to winter.
A spotless fawn with green eyes and tiny antlers is cackling in the middle of the area, while the other animals stand and watch, the groundhog nowhere to be seen. The animals start walking away, disapproving.
SPOTLESS FAWN
It looks like I scared the shadow right out of him.
Did you see the look on his...
The fawn looks around. Everyone’s gone. He rushes after Bambi and Faline while Kairi stands there, stunned.
SPOTLESS FAWN
Hey!
Go after them, or not right now.
If you check the groundhog’s burrow, it will yell at you.
THE GROUNDHOG
Leave me alone!
[Catch up with Bambi!]
You hear voices in the distance first. Small enemies spawn on the way. The indistinct dialogue runs on in-between battle sequences. Kairi soon reaches the top of a gentle slope into a very large clearing. The spotless fawn is leaving the area with a doe.
SPOTLESS FAWN
Ma! How many times do I have to tell you?
Don't bother me when I'm trying to make new friends.
HIS MOTHER
Sorry, dear.
You can hear Thumper across the clearing.
THUMPER
You big mama's boy! Why don't you run home to your mama?
You big old mama's boy!
THUMPER’S MOTHER (off screen)
Thumper!
THUMPER
Coming, Mama.
Gotta go. See you, Bambi.
Faline, Flower, and Bambi are on the other side of the clearing; Thumper is just leaving. An adult skunk trots into the area, and a doe steps up to Faline. As you near the group, Kairi stops running and walks instead, always staying a couple of steps away.
FLOWER
See you, Bambi.
Flower leaves with his parent.
FALINE
Do you want us to walk you home?
BAMBI
No. My father's coming for me.
FALINE
Well, it was nice to see you again, Bambi.
Bambi smiles, watching her go, then gradually looks sad. This is when Kairi can step close to him. Bambi sighs and starts pacing around in the snow, dejected.
Talk to Bambi:
KAIRI
Are you okay?
BAMBI
Oh! Yeah. It’s nothing…
If you try to leave the area, Kairi will slow down at some point and think:
KAIRI
He looks so lonely…
I shouldn’t leave him alone…
And you have to go back.
Talk to Bambi again:
KAIRI
Would you like to walk around with me?
BAMBI
Father said to wait near the groundhog tree.
KAIRI
Do you mind if I wait with you?
BAMBI
…Sure.
You can walk with Bambi back to the groundhog tree. He’ll walk at a painfully slow pace. If you run ahead, Nightmares spawn and you’ll need to defeat them before you can find Bambi again. He’ll have moved a little quicker. Turning into a squirrel and running around his legs will make him laugh and cheer up for a few seconds. You can also leave him before you reach the destination. With or without you, Bambi will get to the deserted GROUNDHOG TREE area.
GROUNDHOG TREE – DAY
Bambi curls up against a root to sleep.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Poor thing…
| [Maybe I should try to find his father.] | [Wait with Bambi] |
|---|
[Find Bambi's father.]
Backtrack and explore new or previous parts of the woods. The day grows darker, shadows longer, and light snow starts falling. Nightmares spawn. You can sometimes make out tracks, but the snow covers them. After a while, a new scene starts.
Kairi hears a sound in the thicket and turns sharply.
KAIRI
Wait!
She peers into the woods and can’t see anything.
THE GREAT PRINCE (off screen)
Who’s there?
Kairi stays where she is.
KAIRI
I’m a friend of Bambi’s. My name’s Kairi.
THE GREAT PRINCE (off screen)
Why do you smell like Man?
Kairi turns around to try to locate the deer. On one shot, she looks like a squirrel.
KAIRI
I am… Man.
The Great Prince comes out. He is imposing and towers over Kairi with his tall antlers. Kairi doesn’t look down, but keeps her hands in clear sight.
KAIRI
Bambi’s waiting for you. By the groundhog tree.
The deer spins around in that direction.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Is he still there?
KAIRI
He was when I left. He fell asleep next to the burrow.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I hope Spring comes soon. I can’t look after the herd and take care of him. It’s best a doe looks after him.
Kairi says nothing. Then:
KAIRI
Let’s go get him.
The Great Prince joins the party as you make your way back to the GROUNDHOG TREE. He fights like Young Adult Bambi. Stomps harder and deals more damage. There is no team attack.
Bits of dialogue as you progress.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Bambi is a late sleeper. And he can’t find food on his own when he’s hungry.
KAIRI
He’s just a child.
/
THE GREAT PRINCE
He has no dignity.
KAIRI
What do you mean?
THE GREAT PRINCE
He’ll have to display authority if he’s going to dominate the herd when he grows up.
/
KAIRI
Where’s his mother?
THE GREAT PRINCE
She was killed by Man.
KAIRI
Poor Bambi. He must miss her so much.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I think it's best to leave the past in the past.
A prince does not look back, only ahead.
GROUNDHOG TREE – TWILIGHT
Bambi is nowhere to be found. The Great Prince sniffs around the area, but Bambi’s not there anymore.
KAIRI
Where is he? I left him there just a while ago.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I told him to wait for me.
KAIRI
I hope he’s okay…
A flight of crows suddenly flies over the trees in bleeding purple sky, cawing.
BIRDS
Man! Man!
THE GREAT PRINCE
Bambi!
Kairi feels danger, too. The deer dashes away.
[Follow The Great Prince!] If you lose sight of him, follow the tracks. If you take too much time and the snow covers the tracks, the screen fades to black, Kairi stops running and the game is over.
You get to the edge of the woods. Loud barking in the distance. You are looking at a meadow covered in snow, with naked twigs sticking out. The sky is an eerie purple-to-red-to-pale-gold sunset hue. Shadows stretch abnormally across the snow. Dogs are running towards the center of the meadow, where Bambi is standing frozen.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Run, Bambi!
KAIRI
Bambi!
Bambi does not move. The Great Prince rushes ahead and fights off the dark dogs—as you get closer you can see they are actually Nightmares.
[Help fight off the Nightmare Hounds]
When you win the battle, dark shadows of dogs run away to the thicket across the meadow.
Then, light glints off something in the thicket.
[Wait with Bambi]
Kairi sits close to Bambi and wraps her arms around her knees, and rests her head on them. The Shift prompt appears.
[Get up and look for Bambi’s father]
[SHIFT]
Kairi closes her eyes. The winter landscape turns into field of colorful flowers, the trees melting away, making way for the wide, open Radiant Garden sky. Kairi turns into her 4-year-old self.
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Kairi!
Move the joystick to make her stand. You are in the OUTER GARDENS. You can Shift between HD!Kairi (summer clothes) and 4YO!Kairi. A gust of wind carries petals and dandelion seeds around you, guiding you in the direction of the voice.
KAIRI
Grandma?
There are Nightmares to fight on the way. Grandmother’s figure, on the other side of the area, disappears when they are here. Once you get close enough, Kairi runs up to her grandmother. Shifting creates a cut that changes the angle and Kairi’s age in the shots. Apart from that, the scene plays out in the same way. Kairi hugs her grandmother tightly.
KAIRI
I miss you so much.
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
There, there. It's going to be all right. You'll see.
KAIRI
Why did you have to go?
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
Everything has its season. Where one thing falls, another grows.
Maybe not what was there before, but something new and wonderful, all the same.
KAIRI
But I feel so alone.
KAIRI’S GRANDMOTHER
I'm always with you. Even when you can't see me, I'm here.
I’m here…
GROUNDHOG TREE – TWILIGHT
FADING ECHO
I’m here.
Kairi wakes up with a start, back in her winter clothes, in the forest. It is much darker than earlier. There is no more music. Bambi is nowhere to be seen. Kairi stands.
KAIRI
Bambi?
She catches a sound. A SOFT, SLIGHTLY DISTORTED VOICE can be heard in the distance.
VOICE
I’m here.
Hello?
KAIRI
Hello?
A light snow is falling. Kairi looks around her, on her guard.
KAIRI
Who’s there?
The voice echoes through the woods as you walk away from the Groundhog Tree.
VOICE
It’s me.
I’m here.
Hello?
I’m here.
Past the clearing where Bambi’s friends left with their parents, you tread further into an unexplored part of the thicket. You jump across a small stream. Go up a hill, and back down. Up another, to the edge of the woods.
You are looking at a meadow covered in snow, with twigs sticking out. The sky is an eerie purple-to-red-to-pale-gold sunset hue. Shadows stretch abnormally across the snow.
[Something’s wrong]
As you turn around to re-enter the thicket, a cutscene starts. Kairi glances back one last time to the meadow and gasps.
KAIRI
Bambi!
Bambi is treading slowly forward, looking scared, around a snowy mound at the center of the meadow. His shadow creeps up the white slope.
Birds suddenly burst out of the thicket on the other side of the meadow.
BIRDS (cawing)
Man! Man!
Music returns. Barking sounds ring as a pack of dogs run out of the same thicket the birds came from. Kairi freezes. A stag runs past her.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Run, Bambi!
Kairi doesn’t move; neither does Bambi. Dogs are running towards the center of the meadow, where the fawn stands frozen. The Great Prince rushes ahead and fights off the dark dogs.
[Help fight off the Nightmare Hounds!]
Join the Great Prince against the enemies. The stag fights like Young Adult Bambi, yet he stomps harder and deals more damage. There is no team attack.
After a scripted amount of time, dark shadows of dogs run away to the thicket across the meadow.
Then, light glints off something in the thicket.
[I’ve got to see]
VOICE
Hello…
KAIRI (to herself)
What is this?
VOICE
I'm here.
It's me.
Hello.
As you approach a snowy mound, at the center of the meadow, Bambi’s shadow stretches up the white slope from Kairi’s feet.
Birds burst out of the thicket on the other side of the meadow.
BIRDS (cawing)
Man! Man!
Music returns. Barking sounds ring as a pack of dogs run out of the same thicket the birds came from. Kairi freezes.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Run, Bambi!
Kairi glances back upon hearing the shout. When she faces the dogs again, you can see that they are Nightmares. Bambi stands frozen, two steps away.
[Fight off the Nightmare Hounds!]
But you’ll quickly realize that you can’t summon your Keyblade.
The Great Prince joins the fight. He fights like Young Adult Bambi—stomps harder and deals more damage. There is no team attack.
Use magic, guard and counter-guard to survive and fend off the enemies.
After a scripted amount of time, dark shadows of dogs run away to the thicket across the meadow.
Then, light glints off something in the thicket.
THE GREAT PRINCE (even more urgently)
Run, Bambi!
Bambi doesn’t move.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Go! Now!
He lifts Bambi up with his antlers and throws him to the side. Bambi jumps back up to his feet and dashes off, his father on his heels. They get to the thicket as gun shots ring out.
Kairi is still in the meadow. The scene spins and Shifts around her—from winter to fall to late summer. A doe crosses the field on Bambi’s tail. Kairi watches them, stunned. They are chased by Shadows as the meadow splits and crumbles under a glowing purplish force.
FAIRY GODMOTHER’S VOICE
Oh, the poor thing! He has turned into a summon gem.
Kairi looks up and around but Fairy Godmother is nowhere to be seen.
[Run!] Flee the meadow before it crumbles down.
The dialogue keeps going until you reach safety.
SORA’S VOICE
A summon gem?
Kairi falters briefly upon hearing Sora's voice.
FAIRY GODMOTHER’S VOICE
This little creature lived in a world that was consumed by darkness. When a world vanishes, so do its inhabitants. But this one has such a strong heart, he became a gem instead of vanishing with his world.
SORA’S VOICE
Can he regain himself?
FAIRY GODMOTHER’S VOICE
Yes, but only his spirit. Now, watch!
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!
Whenever you call, he will help you.
Don’t worry, when their worlds are restored they will return there.
Sora, please help save them.
Kairi skids to a halt at the top of a hill. Bambi and his father have stopped on the other side of it, some distance away.
BAMBI
But it was Mother! I heard her voice!
THE GREAT PRINCE
It was one of man's tricks!
BAMBI
I'm sorry. But I…
THE GREAT PRINCE
What if I hadn't gotten there in time? You could have been...
When I tell you to run, you run. Never freeze like that, ever!
BAMBI
I'm sorry…
Silence.
The deer sighs.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Let's go home.
Kairi watches them go.
BAMBI (off screen)
She’s never coming back, is she?
THE GREAT PRINCE (off screen)
…No.
FLASHBACK – DESTINY ISLANDS – MAYOR’S HOUSE
6-year-old Kairi stands in the unidentified room in her pajamas, looking lost.
THE MAYOR
Your grandmother’s gone, Kairi.
KAIRI
She said she’d always be with me.
THE MAYOR
You need to forget about it, Kairi. There are no castles here. It’s just a dream.
END OF FLASHBACK – BACK TO THE FOREST
Kairi stays quiet. She looks ahead for a moment longer, then she walks away.
Go wherever you want. You can walk and jump, but not run. Thunder claps. Rain starts falling and the snow melts away.
On the thawing ground, you find MISSING PAGE #4.
Notes:
You won't miss anything by choosing to "stay" or "exit" the world at the end of this chapter. There will be links to re-enter the world when needed, and also links to do the Missing Page #4 side-quest later. So no need to go back to try all the different "branches"—just play it like you would play the missing-page quest in KH1 and KH2 :)
The "wait with Bambi or not" paths, however... Feel free to try a different path by clicking here!
The first Thumper dialogue lines are lifted from the 1942 Bambi movie. Plot points and other dialogue lines come from Bambi 2 (2006). Kairi and KH-related lines are my own, except for Kairi's dream within a dream—those lines are entirely from Bambi 2.
Bambi 2 is one of my favorite Disney movies. It's a thing of beauty and I'm not done with it yet :) Check it out if you haven't seen it!
Chapter 10: Intermission
Chapter Text
PREVIOUSLY IN THE GREAT PRINCE'S FOREST
Bambi and his father have walked away.
Kairi stays quiet. She looks ahead for a moment longer, then she walks away.
Thunder claps. Rain starts falling and the snow melts away.
On the thawing ground, you find MISSING PAGE #4.
[Stay in the Great Prince's Forest until Spring]
[Return the Missing Page to the book in Merlin's Cottage]
AN: No need to go back to try all the different "branches" here. If you choose to stay in Bambi's world, there will be a link to play Missing Page #4 later, and if you choose to take a side-quest break here, there will be a link to re-enter Bambi's world when needed. You won't miss anything. Just play it like you would play the missing-page quests in KH1 and KH2 :)
Kairi adjusts her hood and walks slowly under the rain.
Fade to black.
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD”
Axel and Ansem the Wise are locked in a staring contest. Ansem eventually sighs.
ANSEM THE WISE
Xehanort’s Heartless asked me the same questions. I am afraid I have no answer to give you…
AXEL
Yes, you do…
A puff of pink smoke interrupts them as Merlin and Even materialize in the room, Even caught mid-step and mid-sentence.
EVEN
…will follow me.
He stumbles and catches himself.
EVEN
How on earth…?
Merlin steps around him unperturbed, carrying his magic bag in one hand. Even straightens up and clears his throat.
EVEN
Master Ansem, Merlin the Wizard has agreed to come take a look at our discovery.
Axel has stood up and nods to Merlin in greeting. Even frowns at the remaining tension in the room.
AXEL
What discovery?
ANSEM THE WISE (to Even)
Speak freely. There should be no distrust between us.
EVEN
Well, we have collected data in Kairi’s dreams regarding a book that seems different from others.
Merlin stands next to Ienzo to take a look at the monitor, stroking his beard with his free hand. The screen displays lines of code and the picture of a blitz ball. Merlin loses interest within a couple of seconds. He turns and looks around the room, frowning.
MERLIN
Axel, my boy, would you assist me for a moment?
Axel steps up and Merlin makes him hold his bag in both arms. He opens the bag and starts rummaging inside, half-disappearing into it.
MERLIN (grumbling with his head inside the bag)
And what are you doing here? Haven’t I told you to stay with the rest of the set?
Ow! Why, you impudent piece of… Ah! There it is!
He pulls out two heavy volumes—Pooh’s storybook and the red-covered Sword in the Stone book. Tucking them awkwardly under one arm, he pulls out his wand from his sleeve and waves it so that a small metal tray wheels closer to him, next to Kairi’s chair. Another flick and a pillow soars from the bag to land on the table. Satisfied, Merlin steps forward and drops the books on the pillow. The three scientists gather round. Axel puts the bag on the floor.
Pooh’s storybook lays on top of the other. Ienzo looks at the cover intently. On the cover illustration, Pooh sits on a log next to Sora under a starry night sky.
ANSEM THE WISE
What are these books?
EVEN
I have seen this little bear in the memories we took from Sora at Castle Oblivion.
MERLIN
Yes, Sora has created a very special bond with the inhabitants of this world.
IENZO
A world? Inside this book?
MERLIN
Yes. It is a rather unusual book—quite unique, in fact. I have had it in my possession for many years. Ten years perhaps. Though I can’t recall how it came to me.
While Merlin speaks, a porcelain sugar bowl peers out of Merlin’s bag, looks left and right, then grabs its teaspoon and climbs out of the bag.
MERLIN (cont’d)
I have studied it extensively, but in my travels, it was damaged. Sora managed to restore its life and magic on his first journey, and his connection to Pooh, here, has manifested on the cover ever since. Several times that connection has been broken, and each time, Sora was able to repair it. Kairi has seen one such occurrence.
AXEL
So if this picture is a sign of their connection, and Sora’s here with Pooh, does it mean he hasn’t disappeared for good?
As Axel’s boots move away from beside the bag, you can see the sugar dispenser making a beeline for the door.
MERLIN
It is a hope we must cling to. I have to say, however, there is something amiss which I cannot quite put my finger on. I have yet to venture a visit to the 100 Acre Wood, but Kairi may have wished to follow that lead.
He strokes his beard again in thought. Meanwhile, Dilan spots the sugar dispenser at the door, bends down to catch it, and gets a teaspoon whack on the finger for his troubles; he grunts as the sugar dispenser rushes into the hallway, then manages to catch it.
IENZO
What does it take to enter the book?
MERLIN
I’m afraid some precautions are required. A gentle heart and a Keyblade for one…
EVEN
And what about this other book?
MERLIN
Oh, I thought you might enjoy my own humble attempt at recreating the magic of this world. You see…
Fade to black.
[Continue to the Great Prince’s Forest]
When you exit The Great Prince's Forest, a cutscene starts:
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD”
Axel and Ansem the Wise are locked in a staring contest. Ansem eventually sighs.
ANSEM THE WISE
Xehanort’s Heartless asked me the same questions. I am afraid I have no answer to give you…
AXEL
Yes, you do…
A puff of pink smoke interrupts them as Merlin and Even materialize in the room, Even caught mid-step and mid-sentence.
EVEN
…will follow me.
He stumbles and catches himself.
EVEN
How on earth…?
Merlin steps around him unperturbed, carrying his magic bag in one hand. Even straightens up and clears his throat.
EVEN
Master Ansem, Merlin the Wizard has agreed to come take a look at our discovery.
Axel has stood up and nods to Merlin in greeting. Even frowns at the remaining tension in the room.
AXEL
What discovery?
ANSEM THE WISE (to Even)
Speak freely. There should be no distrust between us.
EVEN
Well, we have collected data in Kairi’s dreams regarding a book that seems different from others.
Merlin stands next to Ienzo to take a look at the monitor, stroking his beard with his free hand. The screen displays lines of code and the picture of a blitz ball. Merlin loses interest within a couple of seconds. He turns and looks around the room, frowning.
MERLIN
Axel, my boy, would you assist me for a moment?
Axel steps up and Merlin makes him hold his bag in both arms. He opens the bag and starts rummaging inside, half-disappearing into it.
MERLIN (grumbling with his head inside the bag)
And what are you doing here? Haven’t I told you to stay with the rest of the set?
Ow! Why, you impudent piece of… Ah! There it is!
He pulls out two heavy volumes—Pooh’s storybook and the red-covered Sword in the Stone book. Tucking them awkwardly under one arm, he pulls out his wand from his sleeve and waves it so that a small metal tray wheels closer to him, next to Kairi’s chair. Another flick and a pillow soars from the bag to land on the table. Satisfied, Merlin steps forward and drops the books on the pillow. The three scientists gather round. Axel puts the bag on the floor.
Pooh’s storybook lays on top of the other. Ienzo looks at the cover intently. On the cover illustration, Pooh sits on a log next to Sora under a starry night sky.
ANSEM THE WISE
What are these books?
EVEN
I have seen this little bear in the memories we took from Sora at Castle Oblivion.
MERLIN
Yes, Sora has created a very special bond with the inhabitants of this world.
IENZO
A world? Inside this book?
MERLIN
Yes. It is a rather unusual book—quite unique, in fact. I have had it in my possession for many years. Ten years perhaps. Though I can’t recall how it came to me.
While Merlin speaks, a porcelain sugar bowl peers out of Merlin’s bag, looks left and right, then grabs its teaspoon and climbs out of the bag.
MERLIN (cont’d)
I have studied it extensively, but in my travels, it was damaged. Sora managed to restore its life and magic on his first journey, and his connection to Pooh, here, has manifested on the cover ever since. Several times that connection has been broken, and each time, Sora was able to repair it. Kairi has seen one such occurrence.
AXEL
So if this picture is a sign of their connection, and Sora’s here with Pooh, does it mean he hasn’t disappeared for good?
As Axel’s boots move away from beside the bag, you can see the sugar dispenser making a beeline for the door.
MERLIN
It is a hope we must cling to. I have to say, however, there is something amiss which I cannot quite put my finger on. I have yet to venture a visit to the 100 Acre Wood, but Kairi may have wished to follow that lead.
He strokes his beard again in thought. Meanwhile, Dilan spots the sugar dispenser at the door, bends down to catch it, and gets a teaspoon whack on the finger for his troubles; he grunts as the sugar dispenser rushes into the hallway, then manages to catch it.
IENZO
What does it take to enter the book?
MERLIN
I’m afraid some precautions are required. A gentle heart and a Keyblade for one…
EVEN
And what about this other book?
MERLIN
Oh, I thought you might enjoy my own humble attempt at recreating the magic of this world. You see…
Fade to black.
[Continue to the Sword in the Stone side-quest]
[Return Missing Page #4 to the Sword in the Stone book.]
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE – DAY
The Sword in the Stone book is on the bookstand, if you enter the cottage as Heart-Diving!Kairi.
SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK PAGES
The new episode appears in the book as an illuminated drawing of a medieval castle under the snow.
[Enter the area.]
NORTHWEST TOWER – MERLIN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Merlin and Archimedes are keeping warm by a fire, which is burning in a black suit of armor they use as a stove. They hear Wart’s voice outside.
WART (off screen)
Merlin! Archimedes! Merlin!
Wart barrels into the room, having run up the stairs, wearing a red livery shirt much too big for him. He shows off his outfit excitedly.
WART
Merlin, look! I’m a squire!
Merlin turns around with a frown. Archimedes smiles awkwardly.
MERLIN (sarcastic)
Hah!
ARCHIMEDES
Oh. Uh, very nice, boy.
MERLIN
Yes, indeed. A fine monkey suit for polishing boots.
WART (face falling)
It’s-It’s what all squires wear.
MERLIN
And I thought you were going to amount to something!
(getting up)
I thought you had a few brains!
Merlin kicks his globe and the nearest pile of books in anger. Wart looks stunned.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Great future. Hah! A stooge for that big lunk Kay. Congratulations, boy!
WART
What do y… What do you want me to be? I’m nobody. You… You don’t know a thing about what’s goin’ on today.
(starts crying)
I-l-l-I’m lucky to be Kay’s squire.
MERLIN
D… Oh! Of all the idiotic… Y-Y-Y… l…
Blow me to Bermuda!
Merlin shakes, sparks fly around his feet, and he blasts off through the roof like a rocket ship. Wart and Archimedes rush to the opening in the wall that serves as a window, Archimedes carrying his wooden perch along.
Merlin soars away through the night sky in a big arch of sparkling, multicolored stars.
WART
Where… Uh, where did he go?
ARCHIMEDES
To Bermuda, I suppose.
WART
Where’s that?
ARCHIMEDES
Oh, an island way off somewhere that hasn’t been discovered yet.
WART
Will he ever come back?
ARCHIMEDES
Who knows? Who knows anything?
HD!Kairi stands in the middle of the fallen books. Snow falls through the hole in the roof.
You can now play. There is no mini-game. There is just this room filled with objects and details, and little interactions to figure out.
KAIRI (thoughts as you rummage around the room)
This must be what Merlin wanted to hide.
He just left and abandoned Wart.
Did he ever come back?
I should ask Archimedes about this. But…
Talking to Wart and Archimedes makes them repeat the last two lines of the dialogue.
Searching the room, and making more piles of book topple over, you can find a spell upgrade. With ice magic, you can extinguish the fire in the armor and light it back on. Use Gravity or Magnet to make items in the room fly. Aero will make the snow swirl, but won’t affect the environment otherwise.
There is a wide gap in the roof, through which the snow falls, which you could obviously jump through to access the roof. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Kairi remarks:
KAIRI
I can’t jump high enough…
You can get out of the room through the door to return to the book pages.
[Obtained Secret Letter XXX]
SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK PAGES
- Page 1: Two fish explore the Old Moat
- Page 2: Two squirrels run atop the Oldest Tree
- Page 3:
- Page 4: An Old Castle under the snow
- Page 5:
SECRET LETTER XXX
Dear Sora,
I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Did Master Yen Sid tell you? I’m training to be a Keyblade wielder, like you. Can you believe it? No more waiting around for you to come home from your adventures. Now I can do my part to help.
Training is so much fun. Sure, Merlin doesn’t make it easy for us, but he’s such a great teacher! He never gets mad at us when we fail or make mistakes. Sometimes he bickers with Lea, but that’s only when Lea’s already in a bad mood. I know he fights a lot more with Cid. Sometimes he does get frustrated when we don’t understand the theory (there’s so much to memorize! you can’t possibly know all that!), but he always keeps it to himself, and more than makes up for it with encouraging words and reassurances that we have all the time in the world to learn. As long as we play it smart, and try to think first instead of leaping head on into a challenge, he is pleased.
Sometimes I lose my focus and can’t summon my Keyblade. I’m getting there. But who would’ve thought? After all this waiting, now that I finally get to be a part of things, what I most have to learn is patience!
I’ll make the most of this special place, before the big fight.
I can’t wait to be by your side.
Love,
Kairi
[Return to the Great Prince’s Forest]
Chapter 11: The Great Prince's Forest (2)
Summary:
For it's out of the darkness that we learn to see
And all that we dream of awaits patiently
Notes:
When snow melts in The Great Prince’s Forest, you are given a choice to either stay in the world until Spring, or exit the world and return later. Either way, the story continues here.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
THE GREAT PRINCE’S FOREST – SPRING
The rain gradually stops. All the snow has melted away. The voice of one of Thumper’s sister booms across the quiet forest.
THUMPER’S SISTER
Big Brother!
Oh, big Brother!
… BIG BROTHER!
Birds fly away, startled.
Kairi stops walking, listening. She has her regular outfit back on. Then, a sudden BUMP draws her attention to her feet. A hollow log has bumped into her boot, emitting a startled “Oompf.”
THUMPER (off screen)
Back up.
The log backs up.
THUMPER (off screen)
Gnnnn!
The log bumps forward again.
THUMPER (off screen)
Watch it!
Bump, bump.
THUMPER (off screen)
Come on! Push harder!
The log backs up. Kairi lifts her foot, so on the next push and grunt, the log moves without bumping into anything. Thumper lets out a dramatic SHIUSH—“finally!”—and the log moves on.
Kairi chuckles. The log freezes in place, dropping to the grass.
THUMPER (off screen)
Shhh!
Walk to the log and interact with it:
FLOWER (off screen)
How come we're hiding from your sisters?
THUMPER (off screen)
Shhh
KAIRI (chuckling again)
Thumper, Flower, it’s me. Kairi.
Thumper crawls out from under the log and looks up.
THUMPER (relieved)
Oh, it’s you!
Flower crawls out after him.
FLOWER
Hi, Kairi!
Thumper looks around.
KAIRI
So, what are you doing?
THUMPER
We’re hiding from my sisters. They won’t leave me alone!
FLOWER
I think they're sweet.
THUMPER
Well, you don't have to live with them.
Bambi enters the area, looking dejected. He doesn’t acknowledge them and keeps walking. The other three share a look and trot after him.
THUMPER
Hey, Bambi. What's wrong?
BAMBI
Nothing.
THUMPER
Come on. You can tell your bestest friend.
Bambi sighs.
BAMBI
Well, my father never takes me with him anymore.
I guess I'm not what a prince's son is supposed to be…
If I could just show him…!
FLOWER
Show him what?
BAMBI
That I can be brave like him.
Kairi, Thumper and Flower look at each other. Kairi seems to be about to say something, but Thumper beats her to it.
THUMPER
If that's all it is…
He hops up onto a rock nearby.
THUMPER (cont’d)
…being brave is easy. I can teach you!
BAMBI
You can?
THUMPER
Sure! Watch this.
He takes a deep breath and then growls with all his mighty cute little strength, which results in him just making a weird face.
FLOWER (whispers to Bambi and Kairi, who lean down to listen)
I think he's got a hairball.
THUMPER
No, I'm being brave, silly. The trick is to be scarier than whatever's scaring you. See?
Grrr!!
Bambi tries a “grrr”. Kairi plays along and tries too. Thumper rolls onto his back laughing.
THUMPER
You look like a squirrel.
FLOWER
Oh! Oh! Watch me! Watch me!
He falls on four legs and growls, releasing a squeaking fart which makes the leaves on a small plant behind him fall.
BAMBI, THUMPER AND KAIRI
Ew!
Thumper and Kairi cover their noses; Bambi can’t, so he just frowns. The smell makes them tear up.
THUMPER<
Flower! You just found your inner strength!
FLOWER
Oh, gosh!
KAIRI (being positive)
Well, it’s true…
BAMBI
But I’ve fought before. Tell them, Kairi!
THUMPER
Not like that, you didn’t.
Thumper hops down and pushes at Bambi’s legs.
THUMPER
You need to stand very straight. Stick out your chest.
Take the deepest breath you ever took in your whole life.
Bambi does and holds it.
THUMPER
Now let it out with a big GRR!
Bambi bleats.
KAIRI
It’s going to take some practice.
THUMPER
A lot of practice.
Come on. Do what I do.
He hops away and flattens himself on all fours.
THUMPER
I'm a mountain lion. Awr!
BAMBI
I'm a… a bear!
He hops after Thumper, bleating.
FLOWER
I'm a turtle!
He folds his tail over his back like it’s a turtle shell and growls as he follows his friends. Bambi and Thumper stop. They all look at Flower with confused faces.
FLOWER
What? Turtles are so scary.
A beat.
THUMPER
Come on, everyone! Let’s practice!
[Follow Thumper, Bambi and Flower around the forest!]
Thumper grrs every now and then, and calls on one of the others to do the same.
THUMPER
Come on, Bambi! You can do it!
Kairi, your turn!
Bambi bleats.
When Nightmares spawn, Thumper and Flower will hop behind Kairi’s legs. Bambi will jump, sometimes bleat at them, and then hop around Kairi, dropping HP and MP orbs as usual. The team attack is a group team attack where they all regroup around Kairi:
KAIRI
Let’s be brave!
They all take a deep breath and:
ALL
Grrrr!
A shockwave ripples through the ground and stuns the enemies.
THUMPER
Yeah, that’s it!
Some Nightmares have shells like turtles.
FLOWER
See? I told you turtles were scary.
The mood in this segment is similar to the beginning of the KH3 Kingdom of Corona journey, with your travel companions occasionally interacting with the environment on their own, as you revisit different parts of the forest and explore new areas.
In one area, Bambi bleats at a bee on a stalk. The bee flies off, but the whole swarm then comes chasing Bambi and Thumper in retaliation and the two of them run away screaming. Lock on the swarm and neutralize it with ice or water magic; if you hit the bees with your Keyblade, they’ll just attack you instead. You can also run, or, if you’ve returned to the 100 Acre Wood to help Rabbit, use the Honey Pot here—give it to the bees for a reward. [The bees give you an Elixir.]
In another area, Thumper roars into a log; there is a corresponding echo. Bambi bleats into the hollow; the log bleats back. Flower grrs into it and a loud terrifying roar echoes back, scaring them away. By the time you catch up and reach the log yourself—and if you stick around for a few seconds—you’ll see a field mouse come out of the log, giggling.
In a new area, Bambi, Flower and Thumper growl at their reflection in the stream, giggling at the deformed faces they create in the rippling water. You can growl there, too.
Upstream, you eventually reach a big fallen trunk that allows everyone to cross to the other side. Bambi, Thumper and Flower start to cross. Walk slowly with Kairi so as not to fall. She holds out her arms for balance.
THUMPER
See? There's nothing to it. All it takes is one good grrr.
A porcupine jumps out of the trunk.
PORCUPINE
Grrr!!
BAMBI, FLOWER, AND THUMPER
Porcupine!
They run off, back into the tall grass. Kairi falls into the water with a yelp.
PORCUPINE
Get out and stay out, you trespassing hooligans. Trashy, muddy paws.
Couldn't you have anything nice?
The porcupine turns back and curls up on the trunk.
Go find your friends in the tall grass. They peak out from their hiding spot when you get near.
BAMBI
You okay?
KAIRI
Yes. Just a little… wet.
FLOWER
Well, we can always swim across.
Thumper points at something on the other bank.
THUMPER
Uh-oh!
They all look uphill across the stream. The Great Prince is making his way down the slope.
THUMPER
Let's go before he sees you.
BAMBI
No. This is it. I can show my dad how brave I am.
KAIRI
What are you planning to do?
FLOWER
You better hurry… He’s walking away.
Flower is pointing towards the Great Prince who is walking further away from the stream, towards an area with a huge wall of rock and waterfall.
BAMBI
Oh…
Kairi looks relieved.
THUMPER
Don't worry. I'll take care of your dad.
Thumper hops away. Bambi follows.
KAIRI
Bambi, I don’t think it’s the best way…
BAMBI
But I wanna show him I can be brave.
KAIRI
Just… be careful.
Follow him. Flower follows, but stays a good distance away from the trunk. Thumper hops down to the river bank and across rocks that form a line under the fallen trunk. Bambi steps onto the trunk. Kairi summons her Keyblade, standing on the ground at the end of it. Thumper stops halfway and turns up to Bambi.
THUMPER
And remember what I taught you. Grrr!
Bambi looks scared. He turns his head to Kairi.
KAIRI
Be smart.
Bambi straightens up. He’s the one you control now. Walk to the Porcupine and press ∆ to STOMP. Bambi stomps on the trunk with his front hoove.
BAMBI
I'm gonna walk across this log.
PORCUPINE
Get off my property, you pesky squirrel.
BAMBI
I'm not a squirrel. I'm the young prince.
PORCUPINE
Oh yeah? Where you going, princey?
Not this way. Try again.
Try to go around him, but the porcupine keeps hopping sideways, blocking your way.
PORCUPINE
Try again! Try again!
BAMBI
You don't understand. I have to get across.
PORCUPINE
Go around! In my day, we didn't wander willy-nilly onto someone's property. We took the long way. It sometimes took days, weeks, in the pouring rain, 'cause we had a little thing called respect.
Step back. A JUMP command appears.
Bambi jumps over the porcupine.
FLOWER & KAIRI
Bambi, you did it!
PORCUPINE
Yeah? Oh, you did it all right.
Kairi and Flower gasp. The porcupine raises its spines.
FLOWER
Behind you!
KAIRI
Look out!
Bambi runs to the other side. But the Porcupine pops into the hollow trunk, through a trap door, and out in front of Bambi.
You go back to playing Kairi:
[Use Link Block to protect Bambi from the spines that the porcupine throws at him, and hit the trap doors over his head to send him back inside the trunk.] If you fall into the water you have to climb back up from the river bank.
PORCUPINE (battle lines)
Here I am! Here I am again!
Ahahah!
Hit the porcupine with the right timing—when he jumps out—to send him flying and planting his spines in the trunk. He jumps back up, with a piece of bark on his spines. He growls angrily and turns into a Nightmare.
[Defeat the Nightmare!]
A STOMP command now appears, which you have to hit at the right moment—Bambi stomps, which lifts the other end of the trap door like a swing. If you stomp at the right time—when the Nightmare porcupine is standing on the opposite end at the right angle—it will end the fight. However, if Kairi’s standing there, she’ll go flying. If Kairi jumps on the area while Bambi’s in the wrong spot, Bambi will be sent flying and crash further down the trunk.
The Nightmare porcupine is sent flying. Kairi jumps out of the way, landing in the water. CUTSCENE: The Nightmare porcupine somersaults to recover and sharpens its quills, turning back into the normal porcupine. With an evil laugh, he bombs down on Bambi. Bambi yelps and crashes into the water.
Kairi and Bambi are both in the water. The porcupine, on the trunk, gloats.
PORCUPINE
Hah! That'll teach ya! Think twice before you trespass round here again. Mind your own beeswax next time.
Bambi gasps and hides underwater. The Great Prince appears. The porcupine keeps ranting and fiddling with his trap doors to get inside the trunk. Kairi hides from view under the trunk, against the raised ground on the side of the river where The Great Prince is standing.
PORCUPINE
That's the problem with these kids today. No respect. No respect at all. What are you looking at, you big moose?
With that, the Porcupine slams the trap door shut over his head. The Great Prince looks down somewhere on the ground behind him; frowns, grunts, and walks away. You can hear Thumper’s nervous laughter. Then Thumper hops down near where Kairi is hiding and hurries across the stream using the rocks.
Follow him. You splash through the water, which goes more than halfway up Kairi’s boots. Bambi emerges from the water, just below the rapids, panting. He gets out of the stream.
Flower runs to him; Kairi and Thumper join them.
FLOWER
Bambi, are you okay?
BAMBI (moans)
How does it look?
He turns around to show them his behind. Dozens of quills stick out.
KAIRI
That must hurt!
THUMPER AND FLOWER
Eww!!
THUMPER
I’m not gonna lie to ya. It ain’t purty!
BAMBI
It's hopeless. I'm a coward.
KAIRI
No. You're brave. This porcupine really wasn’t very nice.
And maybe we shouldn’t have bothered him in the first place.
BAMBI
Ow!
Thumper just pulled out a quill from his behind. He pulls another one, and another…
THUMPER
And look! No one's ever got that far across before. You’re the best!
Kairi sighs, but smiles.
BAMBI
Ow!
Faline appears.
THUMPER
Just one more.
FALINE
Bambi, what happened?
FLOWER
Bambi got stuck by a porcupine.
You can’t leave the area, but you can walk away from the group and explore the surroundings.
FALINE
A porcupine? Where?
THUMPER
Hold still!
BAMBI
It was nothing.
FALINE
Are you hurt?
THUMPER
Stop moving!
BAMBI
I'm fine. Really. It's just...
THUMPER
Got it.
SPOTLESS FAWN
Bambi. I thought I recognized that scream. I'm surprised to see you moving.
Kairi automatically turns into a squirrel if you are in the fawn’s line of sight. If not, you will temporarily only be able to walk and not run anymore.
BAMBI
It was only a porcupine.
SPOTLESS FAWN
No, no, no. I'm talking about how you froze out on the meadow, and right in front of your father.
Kairi stops and turns back defensively.
FALINE
Ronno!
RONNO
Don't feel bad. If we didn't have cowards, we couldn't tell who the brave ones are, hmm?
KAIRI (hopping closer as a squirrel)
Don’t listen to him.
BAMBI
I'm not a coward.
He bleats.
RONNO
Oh. Um. Yeah, sure.
(to Faline)
Come on. Let's go.
FALINE
I'm staying here.
RONNO
Ah, come on.
He pushes her backwards with his baby antlers. Faline gasps. Kairi fumbles with her empty squirrel hands, visibly wanting to summon her Keyblade.
FALINE
Ronno, quit it.
BAMBI
Leave her alone!
RONNO
Did you say something, Bambi?
He turns to Bambi and steps forward, intimidating.
BAMBI
No. Uh, well... I mean, yes. Leave her alone. Please?
KAIRI (commanding)
Stop it!
THUMPER
You tell him, Bambi!
RONNO
Oh, wook. It's the wittle bunny and the wittle skunk. Does the young prince play with the wittle bunny and the wittle skunk?
KAIRI & FALINE
Stop it!
Thumper shoves at Bambi’s legs and the sudden push makes Bambi knock Ronno back with his head. All gasp. Ronno grunts, fuming.
THUMPER
Run!
Ronno growls. Flower gasps and faints as Ronno jumps over him. The fawns run into the water and down the stream. Faline runs to the edge of the water and stops there.
FALINE
Run, Bambi!
Kairi shifts back to human form to run after Bambi, Thumper and Ronno, but she stops and crouches next to Flower.
KAIRI
Flower, are you okay?
Flower stirs and shakes and curls up against her knee. Kairi pets him cautiously.
KAIRI
It’s okay. Ronno’s scary.
FALINE
He’s a bully!
Kairi nods.
KAIRI
Faline, can you take care of Flower? I want to make sure they don’t get hurt.
FALINE
Yeah. Leave it to me.
[Find Ronno and Bambi!]
Explore this new part of the forest, downstream, until you hear a loud, echoing, fearful “Woahhhhh”
KAIRI
Thumper!
She’ll take a few steps in the direction of the voice. If you don’t follow the voice right away or get lost, you’ll hear other lines to guide you to the main action.
THUMPER
Turn around! Turn around!
Then, as you get closer, in an area sloping down like a slide, you’ll hear Thumper and Bambi screaming. You can slide down the long slope. You’ll end up in a bush.
When you step back out and onto the path, Ronno is stepping backwards from the next area, cowering down.
THUMPER (off screen, distant)
Uh-huh. Look at him. Look at him shakin'. Now who's the baby? You big baby!
You reach a small ravine with a brook running at the bottom. The gap to the other side looks difficult to cross. The camera stays fixed in a side, wide-shot position throughout the scene.
Bambi is on the other side of the gap, facing his father, Thumper perching behind his neck.
You can try to jump and air-slide across, as the scene plays out. You’ll fall.
THE GREAT PRINCE
When I give you an order, I expect you to...
How did you... Did you jump?
BAMBI
Yes, sir.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I didn't make a jump like that until I had antlers. Hm…
If you are down by the water, you can try to climb back up. It’ll be less slippery as a squirrel than as a human. You’ll still fail. And the camera stays fixed in this long-shot position.
Bambi beams up to his father.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Yes. Well... We should be… going… um… home.
He walks away. Thumper climbs up the back of Bambi’s head to get a better view.
BAMBI
He's never said anything nice like that before.
THUMPER
I guess he saw how brave you were.
Bambi trots along after his father, Thumper still standing on his back.
THUMPER (cont’d)
Gosh, what a jump. It was like flying!
As the voice fades, Ronno steps out of hiding, to the edge of the overhang.
RONNO
What's the big deal? Anyone can make that jump.
Down below, Kairi sighs.
Ronno barely steps back, bracing himself, then he jumps with a growl. He lands with only half of his body on the other side and his front legs aren’t enough to pull him up. So he falls into the mud in front of Kairi, who just looks at him.
[Note: you can still move around during that scene with Ronno, or stay still. Kairi will just jump out of the way automatically if you happen to be where Ronno ends up falling.]
The camera unlocks, back to normal.
Ronno is covered in mud. If you talk to him:
RONNO
Get lost!
KAIRI
You should stop with the attitude, you know.
RONNO
Whatever, squirrel.
You can go back to trying to find a way up. This is the longest part of free exploration, as you can progress up and down stream and figure out ways back up to the higher areas. You can even go as far as returning to the river from the winter part and cross it safely, half swimming across. On the other bank, the new paths would require you to jump higher.
Light briefly fades to night, then back to day as you walk around.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Maybe I should get back to the den?
KAIRI (thoughts)
If this is Bambi’s dream—or Bambi’s memories—I should be able to find my way back.
Prompt your Dream Eater to show you the way (#guidingkey), or Shift to make stretches of snow with deer tracks fade in and out over the grass, indicating the path to follow.
You’ll hear, then find, Bambi and Thumper in a small clearing, in the middle of which a big flat rock juts out like a springboard. Bambi is standing on the rock. Thumper is on the ground, a few feet away, standing next to a pinecone as big as himself.
THUMPER
Come on. You jumped further than this yesterday.
KAIRI
Hi there!
THUMPER
Oh! Bambi, show Kairi! Kairi, look how far Bambi can jump!
BAMBI
I don't know.
THUMPER
Oh come on…
(taunting)
You're not afraid, are ya?
(singsongey)
You're too afraid. You cannot jump.
Kairi looks disapprovingly at the taunting, but then notices that it does spur Bambi on.
THUMPER (cont’d)
Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah! Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!
Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah! Nyah nyah-- Aah!
Bambi has jumped over his head.
THUMPER
You did it!
KAIRI
That’s amazing, Bambi!
BAMBI (beaming)
Let's do it again! And this time put it out further.
THUMPER
Come on, Bambi. You can do it.
KAIRI
Woohoo! Great job!
THUMPER
Wait till your dad sees this.
KAIRI
You’ll have to teach me!
BAMBI
It’s easy! Watch!
Bambi keeps jumping, running back, and jumping again, laughing.
BAMBI
Put it out further!
You can play. Talk to Thumper or try to leave the clearing:
THUMPER
Wanna try?
KAIRI
[Okay!] / [Maybe not right now?]
[Mini-game: KH1-Pooh-mini-game style. Jump with the right timing to get as far as possible.]
[Victory: You obtain HIGH JUMP.]
BAMBI
Hey, watch this! Watch this!
He jumps and lands awkwardly on Thumper.
BAMBI
Did I make it?
THUMPER (his head popping out from underneath him)
Yep. You did it.
Kairi giggles. The Great Prince walks up to them.
Kairi crosses her fingers behind her back and waits. You can’t move around for a couple of lines.
THE GREAT PRINCE
What exactly are you doing?
BAMBI
I'm practicing my jumps.
THUMPER
Yeah. See?
THE GREAT PRINCE
Mm. I see.
He walks past them gracefully.
Once the stag has walked past you and away, you can move again, but you can’t leave the clearing.
BAMBI
I don't get it. Yesterday he really liked it.
THUMPER
What's he doing, anyway?
BAMBI
I don't know, but he sure does an awful lot of it.
KAIRI
Well, why don't you ask him?
BAMBI
Oh, he looks busy. I better not.
THUMPER
Parents like it when you ask them questions, lots and lots of questions.
BAMBI
Really?
KAIRI
Really…?
THUMPER
Go on. I'm right behind you.
Bambi leaves the clearing to follow his father. Thumper chuckles into his front paws. Kairi looks down to him and crosses her arms disapprovingly.
KAIRI
Thumper?
THUMPER
What?
He waves at Bambi encouragingly. Then chuckles again.
Moving the camera around, you can see Bambi and his father talking up the hill. If you try to exit the clearing that way, Thumper calls you back:
THUMPER
Now, look who’s meddling!
Shift to Bambi’s heart to watch an optional cut scene, or stay with Thumper.
THUMPER
Want to practice your jumps again? [Yes/No]
If you’ve said “no” the first time, the scene went on and you get an opportunity to play the mini-game now; Thumper will be annoyingly insistent. Since the first try unlocks High Jump and you really need the ability for later, the event is mandatory.
OPTIONAL CUT SCENE – FURTHER AWAY, UP THE HILL:
The Great Prince is standing very still. Next to him, Bambi fidgets, looking a little unsure whether he should do the same.
BAMBI
What are you doing?
THE GREAT PRINCE
Observing.
BAMBI
Observing. What's observing?
THE GREAT PRINCE
Well, it's... It's... It's difficult to explain. You have to look, listen, and smell, all at the same time.
BAMBI
I can do that. Look, listen, smell.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Try to feel the forest around you.
BAMBI
I don't feel anything.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Does playing in the meadow.
BAMBI
How do you know?
THE GREAT PRINCE
I feel it in my hooves. If there was danger, they'd know to stomp, and I'd run to them.
BAMBI
But wouldn't you be scared?
THE GREAT PRINCE
Perhaps, but I would still run to them. A prince may be afraid, but he can't let fear stop him from acting.
BAMBI
Wow. You know everything.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Not everything.
Well, the forest is waiting.
He walks away. Bambi looks disappointed. But his father turns.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Are you coming?
BAMBI
Sure!
In the clearing, Thumper is smiling next to Kairi’s boots as the pair watch Bambi and his father walk away. They look at each other with a happy smile.
If you’ve skipped the optional scene and tried to leave the area, Thumper calls you back so you can see Bambi and his father walking away together. Kairi and Thumper share a happy smile.
THUMPER’S SISTER (off screen)
Big brother!
Thumper’s face falls.
ANOTHER SISTER
Big brother!
THUMPER
Oh, for crying out loud!
Kairi giggles.
KAIRI
It’s okay. They’re family.
THUMPER
Yeah well… See ya.
He darts off. Four little bunnies cross the clearing, squealing and giggling after him.
There is a save point.
The Shift prompt appears.
[SHIFT]
The scene fades to a FLASHBACK from Kairi’s childhood.
DESTINY ISLANDS – MAYOR’S HOUSE
5-YEAR-OLD KAIRI
Daddy, please, take me with you!
MAYOR
You can’t go with me, Kairi. You have to go to school.
Kairi cries. The Mayor relents and crouches to hug her. Like other Destiny Island flashbacks with adults, his face is never visible.
MAYOR
You have to be brave, Kairi. You’ll make friends at school, and I promise I’ll come pick you up.
5-YEAR-OLD KAIRI (still sobbing)
I don’t want to go.
MAYOR
It’s going to be alright. You won’t be alone. I promise.
THE GREAT PRINCE’S FOREST – CLEARING – LATE AFTERNOON LIGHT
Kairi looks lost for a second, until the sound of tin bells rattling snaps her out of the recollection. Then distant, ominous barking. Boss music starts.
[“No surrender!” – KH3]
Kairi runs a few steps in the right direction. Ronno dashes past.
RONNO
Mommy!
[Find Bambi!]
A lot of Nightmares spawn along the way.
The Great Prince appears and gallops past Kairi.
KAIRI
Great Prince!
He stops and turns.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I left Bambi with Mena. They are in danger. There’s no time. Run!
He leaves.
Kairi slows to a halt and listens out. The barking changes direction. She sets off to the left of where the Great Prince was headed.
[Save Bambi!]
Sliding down a slope, through broken low branches, to a rivulet, you spot a pack of Nightmare Hounds downstream. Run as fast as you can.
KAIRI (thoughts)
It’s a dream, it’s a dream, I can run faster than this…
She suddenly skids to a halt, holding her arm over her nose. A Nightmare Hound dissipates in the middle of the path. Flower and Thumper hop out of a bush nearby, Thumper covering his nose.
THUMPER (to Kairi)
Kairi look, Flower made his bravest face!
FLOWER
I did it!
KAIRI
This is great, Flower! But you need to get someplace safe!
FLOWER
Okay!
THUMPER
Bambi went that way. You need to help him!
KAIRI
Thank you! I will!
You finally spot Bambi near the Porcupine tree. Bambi is stomping wildly on the trunk.
PORCUPINE
Looky who's here. I guess somebody didn't learn their lesson.
BAMBI
I learned plenty.
He stomps down on the trap piece and sends the porcupine flying. He runs to the other side. The porcupine lands spines first into a Nightmare Hound, as the rest of the pack is still on Bambi’s trail.
From where she’s stopped, upstream:
KAIRI
Good job, Bambi!
Run down and across the stream, too.
KAIRI
I’m right behind you!
[Defeat the Nightmare and save the porcupine.] With HIGH JUMP it’s easy to climb back up on the tree or on the other bank, even if you fall into the stream and battle the Nightmare there.
On the other side of the stream, in the area where the Great Prince stood in the earlier scene, there is a SAVE POINT.
You get to the meadow under a red sky with thunder, light rain, and lightning. The ground shakes beneath your feet. The controller vibrates in your hands.
[Final Boss Fight: Defeat the Nightmare Pack and cross the meadow!]
Phase 1: Get to the rock
Nightmare Hounds circle around you, hidden from view in the tall grass. You have to feel the vibrations in the ground to know when to move or jump, otherwise the Hounds circling you will jump out of the grass and deal damage. You won’t be able to hit any of them until you reach the large rock sticking out of the grass, at the center of the meadow.
Magic is tricky:
- Thunder works with a boost because of the storm but has a 50/50 chance of hitting you or start a fire.
- Fire clears the grass, but then you need to put the flames out.
- Blizzard gets caught in the grass without hitting your target and you need to hack through the frozen grass to shake the frost off and walk through. Save the spell to put out fires.
- Water magic only works from a close range, with a clear view of the target.
- Animal transformations (squirrel Form Change, Frog status effect) can work to hide from view in the grass, but you can get killed in two bites.
Phase 2: Defeat the Pack and get to the wall
Once you get on top of the rock, you can see the Hounds moving in the grass and hit them with your Shot lock. The light magic fireballs clear trails in the grass without starting a fire. If the enemies jump to attack you up there, block. Thunder magic doesn’t start fires anymore, but chances to get hit yourself increase as it starts to rain harder.
Reach the Nightmare Hounds one by one and smash them.
If you game over, the Great Prince appears to free you from a hound and give you a second chance.
KAIRI
Get Bambi! I’m fine!
Once the last Nightmare is defeated, Kairi stands panting on the other side of the meadow. She turns to the wall of rock and sets off again.
KAIRI (panting)
I hope Bambi’s okay!
Rain is pouring down in earnest. This is a hard platforming part which requires High Jump, and squirrel form for narrow ledges. The rock is slippery. You can get a game over if you fall.
The point you eventually reach allows you to see in the distance the last Nightmare Hound climbing up to where Bambi is standing. His father is on the other side of the cliff.
The hound manages to climb onto Bambi’s platform:
KAIRI & THE GREAT PRINCE (during a peal of thunder)
Bambi!
Bambi steels himself and knocks the dog back with his rear hooves. The Nightmare falls and explodes into black smoke. Bambi looks down. Kairi sighs in relief.
Bambi turns the other way and hops from rock to rock to reach his father. Kairi smiles, holding her pendant. But then she gasps.
THE GREAT PRINCE
Bambi!
The platform has crumbled under Bambi. His father’s cry echoes. He climbs down immediately.
Climb down, too.
You reach a lower part of the area at the same time as Mena (a doe), Friend Owl, Thumper and Flower do. Bambi is curled up into himself, some distance away; he isn’t moving. His father has knelt next to him. He nuzzles his head. Bambi has no reaction.
Thumper slowly hops forward, next to Kairi.
Bambi still doesn’t move. The Great Prince sighs and starts to get back up, but halts.
BAMBI
Dad?
Bambi lifts his head up weakly.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I’m here.
He leans down to nuzzle Bambi’s face. Bambi smiles.
THE GREAT PRINCE
I’m here.
Flower hops forward, next to Thumper. Thumper turns to look at him, then throws himself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Flower smiles and pats him on the head. Kairi smiles. Friend Owl and Mena look at each other, understanding, then Mena turns and walks away. Friend Owl nods to Kairi. Kairi nods.
The clouds part behind Bambi and his father, revealing deep blue night sky lit with stars and a bright full moon.
FADE TO:
Tree branches heavy with pink blossoms—THE CLEARING in the Spring.
THUMPER
It was raining and thundering. It didn't look good for the young prince.
Kairi, Faline, Flower, Friend Owl, Thumper’s sisters, the porcupine, and a few other small animals are in the clearing, listening to Thumper, who is telling a story from the top of the rock with great passion.
THUMPER (cont’d)
There were thousands of dogs, but Bambi wasn't a bit scared. They came closer and closer. There was nowhere to go. Then a dog that was tall as a tree roared from the shadows, but Bambi was too fast. He jumped up...
SISTER 1 (piping in, jumping up)
High in the air.
THUMPER
And then came crashing...
SISTER 2 (jumping up)
Crashing down. Right on the big dog's head.
THUMPER (thumps with his foot)
Quiet. I'm telling it! But the best part was...
SISTER 3 (making a face)
The best part was when Thumper helped Flower make his bravest brave face.
ALL SISTERS
And scared all the dogs away. —Oops.
Thumper stares. Then straightens up, looking pleased.
THUMPER
Uh-huh! That's how it went.
ALL SISTERS
Hooray for Thumper!
Everyone (who has hands) claps.
SISTER 2
Look who's here.
SISTER 4
Oh, the young prince.
ALL SISTERS (running to Bambi off screen)
Hooray!
THUMPER
You know, they're okay for sisters. Just too bad they're girls.
FALINE & KAIRI
Hey!
THUMPER
Oops.
(nervous laughter, pointing to something else)
What do you know, Bambi!
Bambi walks into the clearing, holding himself tall like a true young prince. His spots are gone. His baby antlers get caught in a low branch. He shakes it off.
FRIEND OWL
Well, looks like those antlers are finally coming in.
BAMBI (proud)
Really? I hadn't noticed.
Thumper’s sisters hop around him giggling as he comes closer to the group.
FALINE
Thumper's been telling us quite a story.
FRIEND OWL
Yes, yes. The one with the thousands of dogs.
BAMBI
Thousands?
THUMPER
What can I say? I'm a born storyteller.
FALINE (stepping closer)
I'll bet it seemed like a thousand dogs.
Porcupine rubs his hand, cackling. He raises his spines and pricks Bambi in the rear, making him jump and kiss Faline.
THUMPER’S SISTERS
oooooh…
Bambi stammers. Faline smirks.
FRIEND OWL (sighing)
Twitterpated.
FLOWER
What's twitterpated?
FRIEND OWL
Well, it's... I'll tell you when you're older.
Kairi chuckles. Her smile a little sad as she looks at Bambi and Faline.
KAIRI
I should get going.
EVERYONE
Bye, Kairi!
BAMBI
You’ll come back, right?
KAIRI
Yes.
She looks at Bambi’s heart.
KAIRI
I don’t think our connection could break that easily anyway.
BAMBI
Right!
Use the SAVE POINT to return to the Station of Awakening.
[Obtained Secret Letter]
[Obtained Link Summon]
—
[See next chapter for further details.]
—
SECRET LETTER
DEER GRAMMA
IM HERE
[A drawing of a tropical island, complete with paopu tree and two children.]
I LOVE YOU
XAIRI
Notes:
Summary quote: “There is Life” – David Friedman – Bambi 2 OST
Plot and dialogues lifted from Bambi 2 with little to no alteration.
Please watch the movie legally to enjoy those gorgeous environments in high-quality!
Chapter 12: "It was kind of funny"
Summary:
The Great Prince's Forest: Post-chapter details and events.
Chapter Text
[Obtained Link Summon]
Use your connection to Bambi's light to summon his spirit in battle.
Bambi is now a LINK SUMMON outside of The Great Prince's Forest. His spirit will appear in the form of the young stag, fighting in the same way as during the Heartless!Deer fight.
BAMBI SUMMON COMMANDS:
- Stomp: shockwave + defense boost
- Prince of the Forest: Bambi attacks and lures enemies away from Kairi
- Young Prince: Bambi turns into a spotless fawn and drops HP and MP orbs
- Brave Face: Kairi calls Flower and Thumper; all four friends regroup and growl together—this gives a temporary attack boost to Kairi and dismisses the summon. She will glow with the Power of Friendship until the effect dissipates.
Brave Face Bonus: Using Brave Face for the fiftieth time will make the animation change. As Bambi turns into a fawn to get in position, Kairi appears in her KH1 design—instead of her current design—and a spirit KH1 Sora appears next to her to growl with them. After this first iteration, Sora’s appearance during “Brave Face” will be random, with increased chances based on the number of Memory cards you’ve collected.
—
RETURNING TO THE FOREST, you’ll see everyone except Bambi in THE CLEARING.
Talk to Thumper: “Bambi doesn’t have time for us anymore... Wanna practice your jumps?” You can play the high-jump mini-game.
Talk to Faline: “Bambi’s spending so much time with his dad. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Talk to Flower: “Twitterpating sounds scary…”
Talk to Friend Owl: “I wish they’d take their time growing up!”
Talk to Thumper’s sisters: “Hey, wanna play hide-and-seek with us?” [Yes] “Hurray!” and they take off, giggling.
The HIDE-AND-SEEK SIDE-QUEST encourages you to explore every part of the woods and find treasure and cards you might have missed. A giggle upon entering an area will let you know that there is a bunny nearby. Take this opportunity to pick up your empty Honey Pot if you’ve given it to the bees earlier.
Get out of the clearing and Shift to call Bambi as a party member. He will appear in his spotless form.
BAMBI (running to you)
You stomped and here I come!
FALINE
Hey! I’m coming, too!
You can only have two party members with you on the field, including your Dream Eater, so if you want both fawns with you, you’ll need to swap the team around. Bambi can deal some damage with kicks and head butts, and drop HP and MP orbs. Faline draws the attention of enemies, dodges their attacks, and can kick them with her rear legs; she can also confuse enemies by zigzagging around the battlefield, and drop Focus orbs. The "team attack" is a bleat (Bambi and/or Faline) + grrr (Kairi), that boosts attack for a short while. KH1 Sora will appear every 50 team attack.
New Bambi lines during field exploration:
BAMBI
Feel the forest, feel the forest…
(He knocks into something)
Felt it!
BAMBI
Wait. I hear trouble. What? What? Hornet nest, antler-high!
You can access previously blocked areas thanks to High Jump and the river having thawed. Where the water is deep enough (i.e. pools near waterfall areas) you can turn into a fish and find treasure underwater… as long as you’ve completed the Missing Page #1 side-quest.
—
When you leave the world, after finishing the chapter, a cutscene starts:
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD” – NIGHT
Kairi sleeps in the medical chair. At the door, Axel waves at Aeleus in both greeting and goodnight as he enters the room; Aeleus gives him a side-glance and nods. Upon entering the room, Axel spots Ienzo, alone in the lab, still typing away at the monitor and taking notes.
AXEL
Still here?
Ienzo glances his way after a beat, deep in thought, then back to the screen.
IENZO
Merlin was kind enough to explain his experiment in minute detail, but he’s made it clear that we cannot keep the book for continuous observation. Kairi’s search is our best chance.
Axel grabs the metal chair against the wall with a weary gesture and spins it so that the back of it is turned towards Kairi. He flings himself down on the chair and crosses his arms over the back. He looks at Ienzo.
AXEL (trying to make amends)
Don’t you need to sleep sometimes?
Ienzo sighs. He gazes at the monitor. It displays lines of code and a torn page in a separate window. Ienzo types something and the icon window closes, the lines returning to simple trackers of Kairi’s vitals.
IENZO (briskly)
You are right. I can always look over the data in the morning.
AXEL
I didn’t…
As Ienzo leaves, Axel sighs in defeat and makes a weary gesture of goodbye. He is now alone with Kairi in the room.
There is a beat of silence. Axel stares at the ceiling, then looks at Kairi. The monitor beeps softly along with Kairi’s heartbeat.
AXEL
Should I be doing more?
Kairi doesn't respond. The heart rate beats on quietly on the monitor.
AXEL (subdued, to Kairi)
I don’t know how he does it. I can't stand being in this lab… This is where he did it to us, you know? Xehanort... This is where he turned us into Nobodies.
He looks at the floor, then stubbornly back up.
AXEL
Ienzo was one of the first.
He pauses again, then goes on.
AXEL
I can't open corridors of darkness anymore. Can't say I miss it. I'd gotten used to it before, with the coat, but now that I'm whole again… it scares me. I hope I don’t have a reason to use them anymore. I want to stay as far away from that darkness as possible. It pulls at you...
Axel scratches his head and there is a new stretch of silence.
AXEL
Sorry…
Then he catches himself and smiles wistfully.
AXEL
Sorry, I hope you are doing okay.
A beat, then he breaks into a real smile as he thinks of something else entirely.
AXEL
You know that time Merlin turned me into a salamander?
I told Roxas and Xion about it.
Kairi doesn't respond. The heart rate beeps on.
AXEL
You were right. They thought it was hilarious. Now they want to turn into fish, too.
Kairi sleeps peacefully. Axel smiles.
AXEL
I guess it was kind of funny.
—
A new episode has been added to THE SECRET FOREST.
Chapter 13: The Secret Forest (2)
Summary:
"Well, let’s go!"
"You can’t go."
"Why not?"
"Because it’s way too dangerous."
—Kairi and Sora, Kingdom Hearts, Secret Waterway
Notes:
Field theme: “The Black Shroud” – FFXIV OST
Just for the sake of having everything linked in one place, I'll be repeating a couple Missing Page scenes you've probably already read before. But mostly, it's new content. Don't mind the unnecessarily-bloated word count :)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE – EXT – DAY
Heart-Diving!Kairi finds herself in front of the cottage. Archimedes flies down from the sky and enters the cottage through a window hidden from view. Memory-Kairi, still in her KH2 outfit, is sitting next to the door, leaning against the wall. She has her notepad and pencil out, and she is writing, the notepad propped up against her knees, occasionally pausing to think, bringing the pencil to her lips. Merlin and Axel aren’t around.
[Enter the cottage as HD!Kairi]
[Shift to Memory!Kairi and enter the cottage]
World updates:
After you've visited the cottage, your Dream Eater wants to go to the Sunset View area and, once there, hops excitedly up and down at the edge of the cliff, as if it wanted to slide down slope. Whereas on your first visit to the world, sliding down the cliff made you reappear on the Path, you can now explore the expanse of woods down below, and loop back up by climbing a steep platform path on the left (when facing the cliff), or follow the stream to the right, to the previously visited Downhill River area.
The Eastern part of the woods is still unavailable; the “glitch” when you try to go East from the Path still occurs—you'll reappear on the Western side of the Path as soon as you get through the bushes.
Contrary to your first visit, you can explore all unlocked areas of the woods as Memory!Kairi. Flashback scenes will trigger automatically when you reach their location; you won’t need to Shift, since you'll already be on the Memory plane. You will have combat limitations (i.e. none of Heart-Diving!Kairi’s specific abilities), but also weaker foes (the odd Emblem Heartless here and there, and colorful will-o-wisp sort of enemies with various weaknesses and immunities that you’ll have to figure out).
If you choose to explore the woods as HD!Kairi, you'll have normal random encounters with Nightmares. In this “Dream plane,” you’ll have to Shift deliberately to trigger flashback scenes when the prompt appears. To turn into your unlocked animal Form changes, and swim or climb up trees, you’ll need to be in this plane.
Finally, while fighting in the Dream plane, you might get a co-op situation command similar to Donald’s meteor team attack in KH3. It’s called “Wart.” Kairi calls out “Wart!” and jumps back, covering her head, as trees around shake and acorns rain down on the Nightmares; when the attack is finished, Kairi grins to the trees and Wart, perched in the branches, responds with a beaming smile and thumbs up, before vanishing into the foliage.
If you’ve skipped or missed some memories on your first visit (chapter 3), they are still there for you to find.
New areas and flashbacks:
- Sunset view
- The Climbing Wall
- The Western Path
- The Training Pond
- The Old Moat : Recaps from chapters 3 and 7.
After you’ve seen three or more memories in these new areas, a new scene gets triggered near Merlin’s Cottage.
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – DREAM PLANE – DAY
The cottage is in its usual cluttered state, with the Sword in the Stone book lying on the BOOKSTAND at the back. Archimedes flies down from the beams and perches on the black board nearby.
ARCHIMEDES
Have you come to learn more?
KAIRI
Hm?
Talk to Archimedes: He takes off quietly and goes to sleep inside his little wooden birdhouse.
Interact with the birdhouse:
KAIRI
Hello?
Archimedes?
Maybe he’s asleep.
No answer.
THE SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK PAGES
The restored pages appear as illuminated pictures in the book:
- Page 1: Two fish explore the Old Moat --- (chapter 7)
- Page 2: Two squirrels run atop the Oldest Tree --- (chapter 3)
- Page 3:
- Page 4: An old castle under the snow --- [Restore MISSING PAGE #4 – First visit] / [Re-visit with High Jump]
- Page 5:
NORTHWEST TOWER – MERLIN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Merlin and Archimedes are keeping warm by a fire, which is burning in a black suit of armor they use as a stove. They hear Wart’s voice outside.
WART (off screen)
Merlin! Archimedes! Merlin!
Wart barrels into the room, having run up the stairs, wearing a red livery shirt much too big for him. He shows off his outfit excitedly.
WART
Merlin, look! I’m a squire!
Merlin turns around with a frown. Archimedes smiles awkwardly.
MERLIN (sarcastic)
Hah!
ARCHIMEDES
Oh. Uh, very nice, boy.
MERLIN
Yes, indeed. A fine monkey suit for polishing boots.
WART (face falling)
It’s-It’s what all squires wear.
MERLIN
And I thought you were going to amount to something!
(getting up)
I thought you had a few brains!
Merlin kicks his globe and the nearest pile of books in anger. Wart looks stunned.
MERLIN (cont’d)
Great future. Hah! A stooge for that big lunk Kay. Congratulations, boy!
WART
What do y… What do you want me to be? I’m nobody. You… You don’t know a thing about what’s goin’ on today.
(starts crying)
I-l-l-I’m lucky to be Kay’s squire.
MERLIN
D… Oh! Of all the idiotic… Y-Y-Y… l…
Blow me to Bermuda!
Merlin shakes, sparks fly around his feet, and he blasts off through the roof like a rocket ship. Wart and Archimedes rush to the opening in the wall that serves as a window, Archimedes carrying his wooden perch along.
Merlin soars away through the night sky in a big arch of sparkling, multicolored stars.
WART
Where… Uh, where did he go?
ARCHIMEDES
To Bermuda, I suppose.
WART
Where’s that?
ARCHIMEDES
Oh, an island way off somewhere that hasn’t been discovered yet.
WART
Will he ever come back?
ARCHIMEDES
Who knows? Who knows anything?
HD!Kairi stands in the middle of the fallen books. Snow falls through the hole in the roof.
You can now play. There is no mini-game. There is just this room filled with objects and details, and little interactions to figure out.
KAIRI (thoughts as you rummage around the room)
This must be what Merlin wanted to hide.
He just left and abandoned Wart.
Did he ever come back?
I should ask Archimedes about this. But…
Talking to Wart and Archimedes makes them repeat the last two lines of the dialogue.
Searching the room, and making more piles of book topple over, you can find a spell upgrade. With ice magic, you can extinguish the fire in the armor and light it back on. Use Gravity or Magnet to make items in the room fly. Aero will make the snow swirl, but won’t affect the environment otherwise.
There is a wide gap in the roof, through which the snow falls. With High Jump, obtained with Thumper and Bambi, you can access the roof. You’ll find a card and a chest with a Silver Necklace (Atk+2, Magic+2, MP haste). If you jump or fall off the roof, you land on the book pages.
You can get out of the room through the door to return to the book pages.
THE SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK PAGES
[Obtained Secret Letter XXX]
- Page 1: Two fish explore the Old Moat --- (chapter 7)
- Page 2: Two squirrels run atop the Oldest Tree --- (chapter 3)
- Page 3:
- Page 4: An old castle under the snow
- Page 5:
When you take the exit point, a new option appears:
[Back to Merlin’s Cottage]
[Back to Merlin’s House] – NEW!
[Stay a little longer]
However, you won’t be able to exit to Merlin’s House in Radiant Garden until you finish this chapter’s scenes.
SECRET LETTER XXX
Dear Sora,
I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Did Master Yen Sid tell you? I’m training to be a Keyblade wielder, like you. Can you believe it? No more waiting around for you to come home from your adventures. Now I can do my part to help.
Training is so much fun. Sure, Merlin doesn’t make it easy for us, but he’s such a great teacher! He never gets mad at us when we fail or make mistakes. Sometimes he bickers with Lea, but that’s only when Lea’s already in a bad mood. I know he fights a lot more with Cid. Sometimes he does get frustrated when we don’t understand the theory (there’s so much to memorize! you can’t possibly know all that!), but he always keeps it to himself, and more than makes up for it with encouraging words and reassurances that we have all the time in the world to learn. As long as we play it smart, and try to think first instead of leaping head on into a challenge, he is pleased.
Sometimes I lose my focus and can’t summon my Keyblade. I’m getting there. But who would’ve thought? After all this waiting, now that I finally get to be a part of things, what I most have to learn is patience!
I’ll make the most of this special place, before the big fight.
I can’t wait to be by your side.
Love,
Kairi
NORTHWEST TOWER – MERLIN’S ROOM – NIGHT
Wart and Archimedes are looking out the opening in the wall that serves as a window. If you talk to them, they repeat the same lines.
WART
Will he ever come back?
ARCHIMEDES
Who knows? Who knows anything?
Snow falls through the wide hole in the ceiling. With High Jump, obtained with Thumper and Bambi, you can access the roof. You’ll find a card and a chest with a Silver Necklace (Atk+2, Magic+2, MP haste). If you jump or fall off the roof, you land on the book pages.
You can get out of the room through the door to return to the book pages.
THE SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK PAGES
- Page 1: Two fish explore the Old Moat --- (chapter 7)
- Page 2: Two squirrels run atop the Oldest Tree --- (chapter 3)
- Page 3:
- Page 4: An old castle under the snow
- Page 5:
When you take the exit point, a new option appears:
[Back to Merlin’s Cottage]
[Back to Merlin’s House] – NEW!
[Stay a little longer]
However, you won’t be able to exit to Merlin’s House in Radiant Garden until you finish this chapter’s scenes.
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – DREAM PLANE – DAY
The cottage is in its usual cluttered state, with the Sword in the Stone book lying on the BOOKSTAND. Archimedes is nowhere to be seen.
Interact with the birdhouse:
KAIRI
Hello?
Archimedes?
Maybe he’s asleep.
No answer.
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – MEMORY PLANE – DAY
The cottage is in its usual cluttered state. Archimedes dozes on his little perch and will speak with you if you need supplies in the CABINET. The BOOKSTAND at the back of the room is empty. There are two suitcases jammed between the foot of the bookstand and the nearest pile of books—a big red one and smaller black one.
KAIRI (thoughts)
I’m not strong enough.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Sora, please be safe.
KAIRI (thoughts)
I want to be strong. I will be strong enough, you’ll see…
Interact once or twice with items in the room to trigger a scene.
Kairi gazes around the room, looking defeated.
KAIRI
I wish we could journey together.
Would I still just be in your way?
MERLIN (entering)
Now, now, child. What seems to be the matter?
Kairi looks down.
KAIRI
Nothing.
She looks up and smiles sadly, tucking a strand of her longer hair behind her ear.
KAIRI
I just miss my friends.
MERLIN
Patience, my dear. All in due course.
KAIRI
I know, but, sometimes it’s not easy.
Merlin thinks for a moment before speaking again.
MERLIN
Do you remember the first time we trained together?
Kairi perks up a little at that.
KAIRI
Of course. How could I forget?
Sora had to save the worlds, and you taught me my first spells.
MERLIN
The furniture certainly remembers.
They chuckle.
MERLIN
Well, I think there’s someone who must miss Sora, too.
KAIRI
Oh? Oh! Do you mean Pooh?
MERLIN
Indeed! You weren’t able to visit his world last time without your own Keyblade, but now that you have one… Now, where did I put it? Ah!
He clears a small pile of books from the top of a chest with a wave of his wand, opens the chest, and has Pooh’s storybook float out of it into his hands.
When he sees the cover, he frowns.
KAIRI
What’s the matter?
MERLIN
This is most peculiar indeed.
Kairi rushes to his side to take a look. Pooh is sitting alone on the left side of a log under a starry night sky, looking sad. Kairi looks back up to Merlin.
KAIRI
What’s wrong?
MERLIN
I thought Sora would be on the cover.
KAIRI
What does it mean? Did something happen to him?
MERLIN (stroking his beard)
Sora is fine, as far as I’m aware. This must have happened a while ago.
KAIRI
How long ago?
MERLIN
Well, I stored the book away when Sora set off on Master Yen Sid’s journey to the Sleeping Realm…
He breaks off. After a thoughtful beat, Kairi chips in.
KAIRI
Something did happen to him then. Do you think it might have affected the book?
MERLIN
Perhaps…
A beat.
MERLIN
How about I take the book to Sora and let him find out what happened? After all, he’s always been more than successful at repairing it. Perhaps it’s a simple matter of reconnecting with it.
KAIRI
Yes.
MERLIN
How do you feel about training alone with Lea for a while?
KAIRI
It’s okay. Axel and I are friends now.
MERLIN
Good! No time to lose then.
He summons his travel bag with a wave of his wand and opens it. The SUGAR BOWL hops over and prepares to jump in.
MERLIN
Not you!
He pushes the Sugar Bowl to the side, making it sulk. He puts the book inside.
KAIRI
Merlin, when you see Sora, would you tell him…
She breaks off.
MERLIN
Yes?
KAIRI (shakes her head)
Never mind. He should focus on Pooh.
MERLIN
I’ll be sure to give him your love.
Kairi smiles at that.
ARCHIMEDES (off screen)
Hah! Unless you forget.
Kairi turns around.
KAIRI
Huh?
Merlin doesn’t appear to have heard.
MERLIN
I’ll return shortly.
He disappears in a puff of pink smoke.
END SCENE.
Nothing else happens or changes in the room, except that you can find a Pomp & Circumstance card in the open chest.
THE CLIMBING WALL – MEMORY PLANE – DAY
Lea approaches as the Climbing Wall appears into view. When he spots Kairi he freezes. Kairi stops and Merlin walks past her. Lea stares at Kairi, at a loss for words. Kairi averts her eyes, frowning, silent and defensive. Merlin looks between them.
MERLIN
I gather you’ve met before.
KAIRI & LEA
We have.
Lea scratches his head awkwardly.
LEA
It wasn’t my proudest moment.
Kairi looks up and glares properly now. Lea is taken aback. He hides his face in his hand.
MERLIN
Is this going to be a problem? Should we talk this out?
Kairi deflates and shakes her head, looking away again. Lea stares at the ground. They both speak at the same time.
LEA
Look…
KAIRI
Axel…
Lea flinches at the name and falls silent. After a beat, Kairi steels herself and goes on, still looking down, body language a little scared, but voice steady.
KAIRI (steadier)
I don’t trust you.
Lea listens with a guilty expression.
KAIRI (cont’d)
But Riku and Mickey said you saved them, and Sora… If it weren’t for you, they probably wouldn’t have been able to rescue Sora… So, I guess…
LEA (panicking)
Wait! Don’t thank me for that! I only did it because…
Merlin whacks him round the back of the head with a rolled-up newspaper.
MERLIN (to Lea)
Will you let her finish? This isn’t how talking works!
(to Kairi)
Please.
LEA
Sorry… I just…
But Kairi has closed up and just looks at him with a suspicious frown.
LEA
Sorry…
There is a beat of silence, then Merlin sighs and takes a step towards Kairi.
MERLIN (gesturing towards Lea with his newspaper)
There is no need to be afraid of this giant noodle of a person.
While I’m here, no harm will come to you.
Lea is too startled to react to the insult. Kairi remains tense.
MERLIN (cont’d)
As Queen Minnie said, other arrangements can be made for your education. Yet I don’t think it will be necessary.
I understand Lea has a difficult past to put behind, but I will not tolerate any funny business. Is that clear, young man?
LEA
What? Yes! Of course!
MERLIN
Alright then. You are both here to train as Keyblade wielders.
Believe it or not, Lea has demonstrated some worthiness of this responsibility.
LEA
Hey!
MERLIN (cont’d, to Kairi)
In time, maybe you will get to see it, too.
But where you place your trust is entirely up to you.
Kairi nods.
MERLIN (to both)
Now, time doesn’t matter in these woods, but that doesn’t mean we should waste it.
Kairi, I understand you’ve used a Keyblade before…
End of flashback.
When you reach the foot of the Climbing Wall, small, floating, rocky platforms fly from the cliff and settle in the air in various hovering formations above the treetops. Make use of High Jump and Air Slide, gusts of wind that will support Squirrel Form’s weight, and Combo Master (once you get it) to reach all of them. There are cards and chest to find, and timed challenges to take up.
THE WESTERN PATH – MEMORY PLANE – DAY
Memory-Kairi slows to a walk, then stops and looks at the heel of her shoe, softly hissing in pain.
A twig snaps and she turns around with a start.
LEA (holding up his hands in front of him)
It’s just me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.
Kairi relaxes a little, but still frowns.
KAIRI
What do you want?
Lea flinches at her tone, which makes Kairi soften a little.
LEA
You don’t have to be scared of me. I won’t hurt you.
Kairi doesn’t respond. Lea scratches his head awkwardly.
LEA
Listen, I understand if you can’t forgive me, or trust me, but…
I guess what I’ve been trying to say is…
I’m sorry… I’m sorry for what I did to you…
I mean it. I feel awful about it.
KAIRI (evenly)
Why did you do it?
LEA
I… I wanted to see Roxas again. I thought that maybe if we could…
I don’t know what I was thinking, but you were bait to Sora…
He trails off.
LEA
That was stupid. Sorry.
Kairi just looks at him. After a beat, she speaks again:
KAIRI
You want to be a Keyblade Wielder, so you can help your friend.
That’s why you’re doing it. You want to get Roxas back.
LEA
Yes.
KAIRI
So nothing’s changed. You’ll do whatever it takes.
LEA
Yes… Wait, no! Everything’s changed!
Kairi holds his gaze.
LEA
I want him back, but no more icky jobs to get there!
I’m sick of it… And I don’t think he would forgive me anyway.
Kairi considers this, then nods.
KAIRI
I believe that your heart is in the right place now. People I trust are counting on you. If we are to fight together, I need to believe in you myself.
She pauses. He waits.
KAIRI (firmly)
I want to thank you. For saving Sora.
Lea looks uncomfortable.
KAIRI
And thank you, for not pretending to be a different person… Lea.
He hesitantly looks at her.
LEA
I need to make some changes.
Kairi nods again.
KAIRI (with a slight smile)
We have all the time in the world to learn, here, don’t we?
Lea nods with an awkward smile. Then it drops and he bows deeply.
LEA
I’m sorry.
Kairi is startled by the sudden formality, but before she can say anything, EMBLEM HEARTLESS suddenly spawn around them. Lea moves to protect Kairi, but Kairi steps around him.
KAIRI
No. I need to train, too.
LEA
Right, sorry…
[Defeat the enemies!]
The Heartless are a combination of Crimson Jazzes, Spring Metals, and a Book Master, all Radiant Garden enemies in KH2FM.
You can’t use your Keyblade, only a couple spells (Fire, Water, Reflect), which forces you to be strategic. A situation meter fills up with each successful move. When it is full, you can Shift to HD!Kairi to finish the fight quicker.
THE WESTERN PATH – JAZZ AND METAL FIGHT – MEMORY!KAIRI
It is possible to win the fight without a Keyblade, if you like the challenge. Lea, occasionally, accidentally uses his chakrams, as he tries and fails to summon his Keyblade and deals physical damage to the enemies.
A short resolution scene starts after you win.
Kairi takes one last look around to make sure the area is clear, then drops her fighting stance, and looks at the heel of her shoes once more.
KAIRI
Shoot.
LEA
Are you alright?
KAIRI
Yes, it’s nothing.
She starts walking away, but visibly flinches in pain.
LEA
Are you hurt?
Kairi looks at him and sighs.
KAIRI
No, it’s just blisters. It’ll heal over.
LEA
Oh.
KAIRI
There was no time to pick the best shoes.
She stares at her feet, thoughtful. Lea stands there awkwardly.
LEA (tentative grin)
Would you like a lift? I can carry you back to the cottage.
Kairi looks up as he points at his back.
KAIRI
Yeah… Okay. Just 'til we get to the cliff.
Lea steps forward and fades away from the scene.
If you walk West and West and West you eventually cross a line of bushes and end up on the Path—the one that leads to Merlin’s Cottage. If you backtrack through the bushes from there, you just end up on the other side of the Path.
[What if I finished the fight as HD!Kairi?]
THE WESTERN PATH – JAZZ AND METAL FIGHT – HEART-DIVING!KAIRI
Lea fades away as soon as you Shift to HD!Kairi and recover your full abilities.
When this wave of Emblem Heartless is defeated, a second wave spawns, with a whole orchestra of Emerald Sonatas and Amber Operas (UX), Vermilion Sambas, Marine Rumbas, Gold Beats, and Malachite Boleros (KH3), and two Rune Masters (KH2FM), creating slightly more of a challenge for HD!Kairi.
After you win the fight, a semi-translucent Memory-Lea and Memory-Kairi talk, a few steps away from each other, then Kairi nods, Lea steps forward and she gingerly climbs on his back, her feet visibly sore. They walk away and fade away from the screen.
If you walk West and West and West you eventually cross a line of bushes and end up on the Path—the one that leads to Merlin’s Cottage. If you backtrack through the bushes from there, you just end up on the other side of the Path.
[What if I finished the fight as Memory!Kairi?]
THE TRAINING POND – UNDER CONSTRUCTION – COMING SOON!
AN: There are some future plot points I still need to fully figure out before I can write this scene, already teased in the Missing Page #1 chapter.
This memory happens as Lea and Kairi are getting friendlier. Lea does something that makes Merlin turn him into an axolotl, much to Kairi’s amusement.
I will probably update this section after chapter 17 is posted. Thank you for your patience :)
SECRET FOREST – OLD MOAT – DREAM PLANE
Note: Memory!Kairi cannot find this area. The Northern Path leads her to the Oldest Tree area.
This area appeared during your first visit of the world, after meeting Arthur and finding the Sword in the Stone book.
This is a small, quiet and empty area: a moat snakes along the edge of the forest area you’ve just left, having followed the Northern Path to its end. On the other side of the water stand the walls of Sir Ector's castle. The bridge is up; you cannot cross.
[Shift] Nothing seems to happen—the screen ripples briefly and Kairi doesn’t change. But then your Dream Eater spots reflections of Arthur and Merlin in the water, as if the two were walking along the moat. You can see them in the water and/or hear their conversation clearly, but since you've likely already hear it once in its entirety (chapter 3), it now only comes in bits and pieces each time you activate the Shift command. The reflections may appear in the water with no lines to hear. Arthur hops from rock to rock, swinging a stick as if it were a sword. Merlin walks ahead of him, turning around when he speaks to him.
ARTHUR
I’d give anything to go riding about on a great white charger… slaying dragons and griffins and man-eating giants.
MERLIN
Well, won’t you?
-
ARTHUR
I only hope I’m worthy to be Kay’s squire. That’s a big job too, you know.
-
MERLIN
Oh, indeed, yes, yes. I would say almost impossible. Yes.
-
A dragonfly buzzes over the waterlilies. If you stand there doing nothing, a fish jumps out of the water and swallows the bug, making the reflections in the water ripple, then smooth out.
After you clear the Missing Page #1 mini-games, you obtain a fish Form Change. Just like the Secret Forest tree tops became accessible to HD!Kairi once you obtained the Squirrel transformation, you can now explore the moat around the castle as a fish.
Missing Page #1 was found underwater in the Destiny Islands.
SECRET FOREST – OLD MOAT – UNDERWATER
Fish!Axel immediately joins you for the exploration. He is actually an axolotl, with a black body and red external gills. There is a lot of treasure and a few side-quest cards to find. To reach them you’ll sometimes need to combine forces or figure out tiny puzzles with Fish!Axel as the area is filled with rocks and sunken items of various sizes. Axel and Kairi chat and banter along the way.
AXEL
So Kairi… Why am I that salamander thing again?
KAIRI (faux innocent)
I don’t know… You tell me?
AXEL
This isn’t one of Merlin’s lessons. And he only turned me into this once.
KAIRI
Maybe I thought it was funny?
AXEL
Ha ha.
KAIRI (giggling)
Sorry.
-
AXEL
Ugh! I feel stupid.
KAIRI
At least in my dream you can talk.
AXEL
Yeah…
So what? You needed the company?
-
KAIRI
I wonder why we never saw a castle around the forest.
AXEL
Yeah. Merlin hid so much from us. I wonder why…
KAIRI
I don’t know if the forest feels bigger or smaller now.
-
KAIRI
Do you remember Archimedes?
AXEL
Who?
KAIRI
Merlin’s owl, Archimedes.
AXEL
Oh yeah! The grumpy little bird. Never saw much of him, did we?
KAIRI
No… we didn’t…
AXEL
He was always sleeping, or out somewhere.
I thought he was just a stuffed owl.
KAIRI
Yeah…
-
AXEL
You know that time Merlin turned me into a salamander?
I told Roxas and Xion about it.
KAIRI
Oh? So what did they say?
AXEL
You were right. They thought it was hilarious. Now they want to turn into fish, too.
Kairi laughs.
KAIRI
I’m so glad.
AXEL
I guess… it is kind of fun.
-
AXEL
You’re a natural.
KAIRI
Sora and I used to pretend we were mermaids.
AXEL
Did you now?
KAIRI
Yes. I did like the idea of being the fastest little fish, with the help of currents.
AXEL
That’s cute.
-
AXEL
And to think I wanted to be a fish when I was a kid.
KAIRI (stunned)
Really?
AXEL
Just so I wouldn’t… get wet.
Kairi giggles.
AXEL
Hey! It would have been very useful back then!
KAIRI (sing-songy, teasing)
Okay…
AXEL
Ugh! Nevermind. Just swim.
-
AXEL (to himself)
They’d love it.
KAIRI
Hm?
AXEL
What?
KAIRI
Who’d love this? Roxas?
AXEL
Oh! Uh. I don’t know.
Yeah, Roxas would laugh his head off, probably…
I guess Isa would never let me hear the end of it. The old Isa anyway.
You can return to the surface at any point of your exploration.
SUNSET VIEW – DREAM PLANE
Ghost images of Axel and Kairi, sitting side by side on the rock facing the setting sun, flicker in and out depending on the angle. Shift to start the flashback.
If you have entered the area as Memory-Kairi, a ghost image of Axel alone flickers on the rock. Sit on the rock next to him to start the scene. The camera pans to the sunset and the music fades out, before the conversation fades in.
AXEL
It feels strange being a person again. It’s like sticking a very bad landing—you know what I mean? And it doesn’t stop. This body… I haven’t been a person since I was 15. It’s like being a Nobody is all I know.
KAIRI
How did it happen? How did you become a Nobody?
AXEL
Isa and I had made a friend at the castle. A girl our age, maybe your age. She was being experimented on. Isa and I decided to become apprentices to Ansem the Wise to rescue her, but then things didn’t go as planned.
KAIRI
Isa… is Saix, right?
AXEL
Yes.
KAIRI
You two were friends.
AXEL
We are friends. I don’t understand why he’d still follow Xehanort after everything he did to us.
KAIRI
… I’m sorry.
AXEL
I thought we had our own goals within the Organization. But then he seemed to have turned into Xemnas’s lap dog.
(Softer.)
I don’t understand.
There is a brief lull in the conversation. Then:
KAIRI
You are from Radiant Garden, right?
AXEL
Yes.
(Pause as he takes her in.)
Why d’you ask?
Kairi turns to look forward before answering.
KAIRI
I can’t remember very well. But Radiant Garden is the world I came from.
I know it. The library, the castle… I’ve been there. I feel it in my heart.
Axel stares at her, a little lost. She looks at him.
KAIRI
Tell me, what was it like?
The scene fades out.
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE – EXT – MEMORY PLANE - DAY
Axel approaches Memory-Kairi.
AXEL
Great fight today!
KAIRI
Thanks! You were amazing, too.
AXEL (bragging)
Guess I’m getting the hang of this Keyblade thing.
Merlin materializes in a puff of pink smoke.
MERLIN
Alright, lads! Your training with me is almost over.
I have taught you everything I could. The rest is up to you.
AXEL
Does this mean you think we’re ready?
MERLIN
Ah, there is always much to be learned. But I believe our time is up, here. Tomorrow I shall test your strength. Succeed and I shall allow you to return to the outside world to help your friends.
Axel and Kairi grin to each other.
MERLIN
In the meantime, you may try on your new clothes, which the three good fairies have made for you to shield you from the darkness.
KAIRI
New outfits?
Delighted chuckle.
Talk to Merlin:
MERLIN
Try them on! The suitcases are in the house.
Talk to Axel:
AXEL
Excited about the change of style?
KAIRI
I’m excited to see what they’ve made us. Aren’t you?
AXEL
Sure…
[Enter the cottage to get your new clothes!]
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – MEMORY PLANE – DAY
You’ll find the suitcases on the table at the center of the room. Kairi’s is black with tiny pink patterns.
[Change clothes?]
[Yes] / [Not yet]
Kairi opens her suitcase right there on the table, and pulls out her new outfit, smiling brightly. Along with the main piece, there is a pair of black shorts and a wide bracelet made of yarn and pearls.
KAIRI
This is it…
Enclosed is also a note with the royal seal.
Dear Kairi,
When your training is complete, please come visit us at Disney Castle.
Sincerely,
Queen Minnie
Kairi nods and puts the letter back down. She gazes at the items in front of her. She raises her hand to the back of her neck and feels her hair.
KAIRI
This is a new journey…
Two brief visions from KH1 flash in succession—Kairi stands at the edge of the Play Island pier, gazing at the setting sun, while Sora sits next to her; Kairi mockingly chastises Sora in the secret waterway in Traverse Town.
KAIRI
Sora… I won’t be in your way.
She looks back up and scans the room, determined.
SECRET FOREST – THE RING – DAY
Kairi is in her present-day outfit, with short hair and bracelets, holding her Destiny’s Embrace Keyblade. She stands next to Axel, who still wears his Organization black coat. They are listening to Merlin intently. He is standing on a small stool in the clearing strewn with various pieces of furniture.
MERLIN
Remember, children. If I have taught you one thing, it’s that you must now that there will always be something out there that is more powerful than you. However, if you use your wits, even in the direst of challenges, you shall best any brute that comes your way. Never underestimate years of knowledge and wisdom. Learn from your mistakes. And keep learning.
Merlin pulls out his wand from his sleeve and opens both arms around him in a wide gesture; he has to start over, pushing back his sleeves to his elbows, but the sleeves fall back down anyway. He doesn’t care.
MERLIN
Now. Let’s see how you fare. Good luck!
[Boss fight: Defeat Merlin!]
Battle theme: "The Tumbling" – BBS
Although Kairi's design is the Heart-Diving, present-day design, this is still a memory fight, so your abilities are somewhat limited. You can’t change keyblades; you can only use Destiny’s Embrace. Summons and Dream Eaters are unavailable. The rest of your unlocked magic is accessible, however.
Your party member, Axel, can’t die during this fight; he only gets temporarily knocked out, then his HP replenishes after a few seconds. And as this is the final test in Merlin's training, each phase has its own puzzle to figure out:
Phase 1:
Merlin stands on the small stool and dances to the battle music, waving his arms to make various pieces of furniture fly around the battle field.
Try to hit him with a physical attack. The furniture gets in your way and forms shields. Magic won’t work. You need to pierce through his defense twice to move on to the next phase.
Phase 2:
Merlin shapeshifts into a squirrel and attacks you from the tree tops.
Make the best use of blocks and Starcracker (Kairi’s barrier reprisal), the shotlock, and the team attack with Axel. Axel sometimes jumps in front of you to block attacks, and you can do the same by using Link Block; this makes your team attack more powerful.
Phase 3:
Merlin turns back into his human self and fires spell after spell at you.
Dodge, hide behind rocks and trees, turn into a frog to hide in bushes to avoid his spells, and sneak behind him when Axel draws his attention away.
Phase 4:
Merlin constantly shapeshifts, with different immunities and weaknesses depending on his form.
This phase is as annoying as the Hell House in FF7R and requires versatility with magic. E.g. Magnet works wonders against bird forms. When he turns into a frog, you can throw a Maiden’s Kiss item at him to turn him back into a human and disorient him long enough to get a couple of combos in.
You win the fight:
Standard slow-motion blur animation.
[New Link Summon]
Use your connection to Axel’s light to summon him in battle.
An explosion of pink smoke and colorful stars comically knocks Kairi back or makes her slide backwards with her arms braced before her face, depending on how much HP you’ve got left. She quickly recovers. Merlin promptly reappears, standing on his stool, brushing his sleeves and repositioning his hat.
MERLIN
Well done, lads! Well done!
Axel and Kairi glance at each other and grin.
MERLIN
I dare say you are as ready as can be!
Congratulations Lea on keeping your hold on your Keyblade—I mean, Axel.
AXEL (dejected)
You make it sound like that’s all I could do…
Merlin gives him a pointed look. Kairi giggles behind her hand. Axel sighs and scratches his head.
AXEL
I guess you have a point.
KAIRI
Well, it is the most important trick in the book.
Axel sticks his tongue out at her. She chuckles.
Merlin looks around as the forest repairs the damage it’s been inflicted, like a live animal shaking out its feathers.
MERLIN
Our time here has been put to good use.
Now Xehanort will always have more than one trick up his sleeves. We can’t have anticipated everything.
Look out for each other out there, but don’t forget to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.
Axel and Kairi were nodding seriously up to that point; now they give each other a puzzled look.
MERLIN
It’s… ah nevermind. Off we go now. Master Yen Sid awaits.
The camera returns to gameplay mode. Merlin hops off his stool, picks it up and leaves the area, holding it under his arm. Axel follows after a beat.
Catch up to talk to Axel:
AXEL
What if I do drop my Keyblade in the middle of a fight?
Memory!Kairi and Heart-Diving!Kairi’s designs are the same now, so you don’t need to Shift out of the memory. Your companion Dream Eater returns. Axel and Merlin vanish along the path.
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE – EXT – DAY
The battle portal still allows you to replay all of the fights from this world, including the Merlin boss battle, as well as fights from other visited worlds. You can also trigger Secret-Forest-specific fights by Shifting to Memory!Kairi in the area where they take place. The battle portal allows you to customize difficulty to a greater extent, and allows you to play with Wart as a party member.
[A special boss fight unlocks in the battle portal]
Stepping near the SAVE POINT, or entering the cottage, triggers the chapter resolution scene.
SECRET FOREST – BATTLE PORTAL – RAINBOW SYMPHONY
In all battle portal fights, you can choose to play as HD!Kairi or Memory!Kairi, with or without a Dream Eater, solo, or with Axel or Wart as party members. Wart is an optional limitation as a party member, as he is very weak and you have to make sure he doesn’t die during the fight.
Battle theme: "The Tumbling" – BBS
This special boss doesn't appear right away. The fight starts with a wave of Emblem Heartless comprised of all the musically-named enemies encountered in the Western Path fight (Crimson Jazzes and Spring Metals from KH2, Vermilion Sambas, Marine Rumbas, Gold Beats, and Malachite Boleros from KH3, Emerald Sonatas and Amber Operas from UX) + two Rune Masters (KH2FM), two Barrier Masters (Days, UX), and one False Master (UX). The latter has the unique ability to shape-shift into any of the other Heartless while still retaining his Master immunities. The RAINBOW SYMPHONY appears once you identify and defeat the False Master.
Appearance: The "King Mook" of the musically named mage heartless. It is far larger than normal, and has a swirl of colors covering its body. A very tye-dyed look. The tip on the top of its hat bounces around as if dancing to the beat of the BGM.
Attacks:
- Volley of fireballs. The fireballs are fired from the hat tip which again is dancing so it's unpredictable in which direction the fireballs are launched.
- Tornado Spin-out. Circles the field while spinning like a top, creating a whirlwind around its body.
- Thunderstorm. Moves to one side of the field and summons multiple waves of lightning bolts. The frequency and locations of the lightning bolts are timed to the BGM's beat.
- Ground Pound Town. Slams into the ground, causing large jagged rocks to shoots out from below.
- Bubble Burst. Summons a massive water-filled bubble over its head. It then pokes the bubble with its tip, causing it to burst splash all over the field, causing damage. A number of puddles will be left on the ground afterward that will cause Party to pratfall if ran over.
Victory nets you a RIBBON.
[Rainbow Symphony idea and design by Matgsy on KHInsider.]
SECRET LETTER XX
Dear Sora,
Here I am again, waiting for you at Master Yen Sid’s tower. Riku and King Mickey are resting. I hope Master Aqua’s okay. I can’t wait to meet her.
It is strange to see the outside world again, but it feels right. Now, time is in motion again. It is scary, but things are as they should be. Don’t you feel it?
Merlin took us to Disney Castle. Queen Minnie wanted to see us both, Axel and me. She taught me a new spell of light. A very powerful one. So powerful in fact that I don’t think I’m ready to use it yet. I need all my strength to see the long fight to the end.
She gave Axel a protective accessory, as a thank you for helping her when Maleficent tried to harm her. He is always so embarrassed when people are nice to him, but I think it does him good. I’m sure you’ll see him for what he’s become.
…
Master Yen Sid said he’s sensed Ventus’s light returning. So, you should be here soon. I’m here waiting, on the front steps, under incredible stars, and Riku is by my side. He’s closed his eyes. Should I draw faces on him? Or should I wait ‘til you get here?
All together again…
It won’t be long this time.
Love,
Kairi
SECRET FOREST – MERLIN’S COTTAGE – EXT – DAY
Merlin materializes in front of the cottage, making Kairi turn before she can push the cottage door open. She automatically Shifts to her KH2 outfit and long hair.
MERLIN
Ah! There you are!
Fade to black.
MERLIN’S COTTAGE – INT – DAY
Merlin lays Pooh’s storybook on the desk. On the cover, Sora sits next to Pooh on a log, under a peaceful blue sky with soft white clouds. Merlin steps back to let Memory-Kairi take a look at it. She touches the cover with the tips of her fingers and smiles.
She turns to Merlin.
KAIRI
So everything’s going to be okay.
Merlin nods.
MERLIN
He will have you by his side.
There is no connection Xehanort can ever permanently break.
Kairi nods.
She looks at the cover again.
KAIRI
This time, I’ll be there.
Sora and Pooh sit on the log, looking happy, under a slightly cloudy, daytime sky.
End scene.
[Obtained Spellbinder Keychain]
DIVE TO THE HEART – STATION OF AWAKENING
If you’ve watched or played all flashbacks from the Secret Forest, including the ones from the first visit, Axel’s portrait on the stained-glass window is now completely mended.
Even if you haven’t, the circle around it shines in a burst of bright light, then the light runs along the lines of the platform design to the Radiant Garden keyhole, making it pulsate briefly.
There are four keyholes around the Station:
- The Secret Forest
- The Destiny Islands
- Radiant Garden – Updated
- The Great Prince’s Forest
If you stand on the edge of the platform and peer into the distance, you can make out the soft white light of another Station cutting through black mist. It doesn't seem to have changed since the beginning of the game, but it may have moved further away.
Note: You can now access Radiant Garden through that door from the Station of Awakening, or by a new exit option from the Sword in the Stone book. The former will make you appear in the Entryway; the latter will make you appear in Merlin’s House.
Notes:
Resolution scene soundtrack: "Dearly Beloved - Forest Memory" – KH3 OST
Sources:
Thanks again, Matgsy, for lending me your Rainbow Symphony boss design! Check out his awesome Disney bosses in the Design a KH boss battle thread on KHInsider.
Chapter 14: Radiant Garden
Summary:
Destati, destati...
Forza, tendi la mano.
Destati, destati!
È giunta l'ora...Wake up, wake up...
Come on, stretch out your hand.
Wake up, wake up!
The time has come...
Notes:
Right click to open suggested music links in a different window. Or ignore :3
Chapter Text
For this world update to unlock, you need to have completed the Great Prince's Forest story and seen the Secret Forest revisit resolution scene. The Play Island chapter is technically optional at this point and can have been skipped entirely, although this would prevent you from getting any of the underwater scenes.
The new story elements start as you re-enter the world, via either the Station of Awakening or Merlin’s House from the Sword in the Stone book.
FROM THE STATION OF AWAKENING
You appear at the Radiant Garden ENTRYWAY save point. Although the OUTER GARDENS were accessible for a while, the camera is locked once more, making it impossible to go that way. You can only exit via CENTRAL SQUARE.
No music plays.
FROM THE SWORD IN THE STONE BOOK
You get out of the book into MERLIN’S RADIANT GARDEN HOUSE. The Sword in the Stone book closes on the DESK with a soft snap. It has replaced POOH’S STORYBOOK, which is nowhere to be seen. Merlin isn't in the room. No music plays. If you try to open the book again, Kairi stalls.
KAIRI (thoughts)
Wait… I’m sensing something.
Outside, in CASTLE TOWN, Kairi looks around, following her hunch. The area is deserted, save for the Moogle in the shop, and the light is slightly darkened compared to previous world visits. Kairi turns to the street that leads to CENTRAL SQUARE.
You can go back inside Merlin’s house and into the book now, if you wish to, which will allow you to return to Merlin's Cottage in the Secret Forest, and other worlds through that world's save point. Or you can move on to CENTRAL SQUARE.
RADIANT GARDEN – CENTRAL SQUARE – CLOUDY NIGHT
"Dismiss" starts playing.
Kairi looks up as she climbs the stairs from the Entryway—or looks ahead from the Castle Town street.
AQUA (off screen)
… Fight it. Terra, please!
KAIRI
Aqua!
She runs up the last steps (or rushes forward). In the center of the square, Terranort is holding Aqua up by her throat.
He drops her to the ground and grabs his head. When he starts speaking again, Kairi freezes; she is just a couple steps behind Aqua.
XEHANORT
Terra's heart has been extinguished--
Kairi takes a few, difficult steps backwards.
XEHANORT (cont’d)
--smothered by the darkness within him.
Xehanort summons his Keyblade and swings it down at Aqua. Aqua jumps back, out of the way. A little girl screams. Sora jumps in front of HD-Kairi and holds her to protect her. She barely has time to react, shocked, Sora has already disappeared.
Aqua straightens up.
AQUA
My name is Master Aqua.
She holds her hand out in front of her and summons her Keyblade. Kairi turns around in a panic.
KAIRI
Axel!
AQUA (cont’d)
Now return my friend’s heart or pay the price!
Kairi runs away and turns into a scared 4-year-old. She runs up the stairs towards the Western street while Aqua and Terranort fight. Before she can get to the street, there is a flash and loud beat and she gets rooted to the spot, almost falling. Her KH3 boots and 4-year-old legs overlap in flashes. Heart-Diving-Kairi raises her arms up in front of her, struggling against an invisible force, managing to turn a little towards the center of the square. Hazy tendrils of something creep up her legs, preventing any further movement. She looks up and Terranort is standing right in front of her, raising his Keyblade. The setting behind him flashes from Radiant Garden to the Keyblade Graveyard. Kairi is paralyzed, staring at Terranort powerlessly. A ghost of herself detaches from her motionless figure, grabs her own head, and bends forward, screaming.
KAIRI
NO!!
A demon tide washes over the screen, swallowing the vision—Terranort, the Keyblade Graveyard sky, paralyzed KH3-Kairi, the music… all disappear. HD-Kairi falls to her knees still holding her head with one hand, the other supporting her on the ground, arm shaking.
Radiant Garden is back to the previous cloudy night, but with no other sounds than Kairi’s panic attack. It gets gradually lighter as the Organization XIII theme fades in. Braig walks past her, exiting the square without pausing, without Kairi noticing. When Kairi looks up, she is crying.
Night is now pale morning daylight as she stares at the center of the square.
Aqua’s empty armor and Keyblade are lying on the mosaic ground, Terranort unconscious a few feet away. Three men approach and walk past Kairi to the center of the square.
BRAIG (off screen, to her left)
Right this way.
She looks up to see their faces but otherwise doesn’t move.
Braig, Dilan, and Ansem the Wise stop next to Terranort. Ansem kneels to pick up Terranort.
ANSEM THE WISE
Young man, what ails you?
Braig crouches next to them.
ANSEM THE WISE (cont’d)
Can you speak? Tell me your name.
Kairi looks on and heaves back a sob.
BRAIG
You can count on me.
Braig picks up Xehanort and stands. He nods to his left. Dilan looks at the empty armor.
Kairi struggles to a crouching position, then up, wiping her eyes with her left arm—the one with the large bracelet.
KAIRI (weakly)
Xehanort…
She looks at the scene again. The men are at the gate, which Ansem pushes open. They start climbing the winding stairway to the castle, Ansem locking behind him. Kairi takes a step towards them, then another.
[To the castle!]
The Org. XIII music keeps playing, as a field and battle theme.
The front gate is locked. If you interact with it you hear the sound of Kairi shaking it once. You have to take the long way up through the Western streets and the Gardens. Nightmares spawn, no mist blocks your way, but the environment is a little hazy and distorted.
It gets clearer in the GARDENS. You can Shift in and out of whichever playable form you’d like—HD!Kairi, 4YO!Kairi, Aqua or teenage!Lea—until you reach the steps to the FRONT DOORS, where a short cutscene brings back Heart-Diving!Kairi.
There is a SAVE POINT on the intermediate landing, before the last flight of stairs. You can pick up a flower next to it.
RADIANT GARDEN CASTLE – FRONT DOORS
Kairi walks up the last steps cautiously, unsure of what she’ll find. Aeleus is guarding the door. Kairi steels herself and summons her Keyblade, getting into her fighting stance.
KAIRI
Please… I need to get inside.
Aeleus draws his weapon and walks forward.
[Defeat Aeleus and enter the castle!]
Battle theme: something new, or a remix of the 13th Reflection.
Mist rises around the platform to complicate the fight against Aeleus, whose heavy hits deal a lot of damage on Kairi. The fight is about dodging his blows and blocking mist tendrils until you find openings. You can turn into a Squirrel or into 4YO-Kairi to slip through the mist and confuse Aeleus for a couple seconds, but these forms’ health bars and defense are very low.
Blink and you’ll miss it: when Aeleus only has 20% of his HP left, kid-Ienzo slips through the mist, coming from the castle doors and sneaking away around the edge of the platform and the battle. The mist then weakens.
The final hit to Aeleus will stun him and make him fall to one knee. Use the opportunity to run to the door and hit ∆.
HOLLOW BASTION – ENTRANCE HALL
[Theme re-imagining by Project Destati]
This is Hollow Bastion. You can tell, because the KH1 field theme is playing. If you Shift, Kairi’s grandmother appears, and 4YO-Kairi runs to the doors.
KAIRI’S GRANDMA
Do you want to go outside?
HEART-DIVING!KAIRI (desperate)
No!
The vision disappears.
The Heartless Door at the back of the hall, up the stairs, is gone, so you can now go that way. The library doors are locked.
Try to Shift again and Kairi just says, “No…”
Pass the Door. Kairi closes her eyes and the dark colors of the hall are replaced with the bright grey and blue colors of the Lift Stop area, spinning around her in a blur; Kairi turns into her KH1 form, until the spinning stops and the room settles into hues of green and stone architecture. Back to her current self, Kairi opens her eyes.
HOLLOW BASTION – CHAPEL
There is a SAVE POINT in the Chapel. There is no way to backtrack. A door to the right of the Chapel leads to the top of the Lift Stop area, on a platform which takes you to the GRAND HALL.
From the Chapel save point, you can go back to the Station of Awakening and to other worlds, but returning to this world will only take you back here. Radiant Garden is inaccessible.
HOLLOW BASTION – GRAND HALL
It is exactly the same as in KH1, after Sora turns into a heartless, except the Princesses aren’t in the glass cases on the sides; these only contain floating hearts of pure light. Kairi looks to the back of the room apprehensively.
KAIRI
Sora…?
You can try to Shift where Sora vanished in Kairi’s arms in KH1, but no flashbacks happen—instead, you turn into KH1!Kairi and can run around the room in this form. You can’t wield a Keyblade as KH1!Kairi.
There is a chest with a Pomp and Circumstance card. A seventh, narrow glass case overlooking the arena, facing the heart-shaped door.
Once you’ve gone up to the platform and back down—or shifted back to HD!Kairi after playing around with the KH1 model—a scene starts.
Heart-Diving!Kairi looks at the empty glass cases on either side of the hall. Coming from the back of the room, she stops between the first two cases.
KAIRI
Snow White, Jasmine, Alice, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora…
A beat.
Kairi looks back to the platform then to the floating hearts. She steps to the closest one to her left.
KAIRI
Can you guide me?
She summons her Keyblade, takes a deep breath in, and aims it at the floating heart.
The circular shattering effect of sleeping keyholes materializes around the heart, and a line connects Kairi’s Keyblade to its center.
FADE TO WHITE, THEN BLACK.
Chapter 15: The Silent Castle
Summary:
“Your memories brought forth this place... Here, you shall witness the entire truth.”
— ???
Notes:
In the Grand Hall in Hollow Bastion, Kairi turns her Keyblade to the furthest heart on the right, which transitions directly into this world.
—
This chapter is linear. All links provided are source links to other websites. Right click to open in a separate window.
—
Major spoilers for several KH and FF games ahead. All out of context.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
???
["The Silent Forest" – Project Destati]
A vortex of pink, blue and green swirls fades slowly into the darkness, drawing nearer as the 1st person camera floats closer and closer to it. A line of white light beams across the screen, guiding the movement. As the POV dives into the layers of color, loosely following the curving line, a flock of stylized orange larks fly past. The vision rearranges, the line shifts to a different course, and the POV follows the larks, settling into the flow of a Memory Dive.
The darkness clears, turning into a dark purplish sky, interspersed with weeping ethereal birch trees whose long, lean trunks take root way down below, off screen. A RHYTHM GAME SEQUENCE starts. It plays out with the same mechanics as the Missing Page #1 mini-game, to a re-imagining of the Enchanted Dominion field theme.
One bird stands out from the flock, a little behind—a pink sparrow, flapping its wings to catch up, then falling behind again, getting into the rhythm.
The larks fly ahead and turn neon blue as they enter a pre-dawn sky, dashing around the black outlines of tall castle spires, which pierce the oneiric surroundings like blueprints drawn in the air. The pink sparrow falls behind and continues the dive on its own.
Sudden flashes of pale green lightning alter the colors of the environment. Bird!Kairi twirls and flies down, through pale, parchment-colored clouds, picking up course through stretches of early morning sky, over sleeping fields and rolling hills. Eventually, she reaches a green forest. She dives into the tree tops.
THE RUSTLING FOREST – DAY
The music changes. AURORA’S VOICE is heard as she vocalizes in the woods. Bird!Kairi follows the voice as more animals gather round, also drawn by the sound. This is still a Memory-Dive-style mini-game. Down below, at the beginning of this phase, you may catch a fleeting glimpse of Prince Philip on his horse, who stops to listen. Further along, you’ll find Aurora (Rose) singing “I WONDER”.
Though you can get a game over if you miss too many notes during the first phase, now your performance in the mini-game will only have Kairi and the other birds chirp more or less in tune with Aurora. Kairi sort-of swears if you mess it all.
SONG LYRICS
I wonder, I wonder
I wonder why each little bird has a someone
To sing to—Sweet things to
A gay little love melody
I wonder, I wonder
If my heart keeps singing, will my song go winging
To someone who'll find me
And bring back a love song to me
If you achieve a perfect score, Kairi lands on a branch, and stays in bird form for the duration of the next of the scene. Otherwise, she turns into her squirrel form before landing and drops down, catching herself on a branch. She hides there, close to the trunk, to witness Aurora talking to the forest animals.
AURORA
Oh, dear. Why do they still treat me like a child?
FOREST OWL
Who?
AURORA
Who? Aunt Flora and Fauna and Merryweather. They never want me to meet anyone… But you know something? I fooled them. I have met someone.
FOREST OWL
Who? Who? Who?
AURORA
Oh, a prince. Well, he's tall and handsome and—and so romantic.
Oh, we walk together and talk together…
Kairi just listens quietly. No dreamy expression.
AURORA (cont’d)
…and just before we say good-bye, he takes me in his arms... and then... I wake up.
Everyone looks dejected.
AURORA
Yes, it's only in my dreams…
But they say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true;
and I've seen him so many times.
Kairi perks up at that.
Aurora hums to herself as she picks berries in the area. As a squirrel or a bird, you can explore the immediate surroundings. Aurora will chuckle and pet you if you get near her. A few animals gather round in a corner. Talking to them, or trying to leave, makes them point towards another area, then head off in that direction. You can now follow them into the woods.
When you leave the area, you can change back to human form, and get your Dream Eater back. The animals vanish into the woods and the world’s field theme resumes.
[Explore the Rustling Forest!]
Going back to the spot where Aurora was picking berries, just moments ago, you’ll find it empty. Nightmares spawn as you wander deeper into the woods—triggering the “Rustling Forest” theme.
[Defeat the enemies!]
The Nightmares are powerful, a step up from the last world.
After this first encounter, Kairi straightens up, looking serious, and dismisses her Keyblade. Then, she notices something—an ORB of light hovers above the ground, some distance away. Kairi looks at it, a questioning look on her face. After a beat, the orb moves away and disappears deeper into the woods.
[Explore the Rustling Forest!]
Shifting makes the tree leaves rustle in the wind. Two additional things may happen—if you are mid-combat or running away from Nightmares, and hold the Shift command long enough without getting hit, Kairi will side-step and turn, and the enemies will vanish in a flash of golden light; if you are on the field and the coast is clear, Kairi briefly slows to a walk and listens as the wind wakes indistinct whispers in the trees. Either way, the enemy type will change on your next encounter—Unversed instead of Nightmares. If you Shift again, it will go back to Nightmares. Once you Shift over fourteen times, you get a small chance of the enemies turning into Heartless instead of disappearing when trying to escape a fight.
KAIRI
Such a strange forest…
The orb of light reappears near a small stream. It flies over the water and vanishes from sight again. When you cross the stream, jumping from stone to stone, you’ll catch a glimpse of something in the water—the reflection of a Keyblade wielder who isn’t Kairi, and of a gray Dream Eater that isn’t Kairi’s. A Shift prompt appears. Triggering it, you hear the following line:
???
Just like I thought, Heartless are appearing.
I’m worried about him. Let’s keep up!
KAIRI
Was that…? I know that voice…
Kairi turns as if she were seeing them leave, in the same direction as the glowing orb.
KAIRI
Chirithy?
The enemies that do actually appear are still mostly Nightmares and Unversed.
Moving towards the lighter parts of the woods eventually takes you to the EDGE OF THE FOREST. A stone bridge crosses another bend of the stream; a path starts there and winds up a hill to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. A save point glows in the grass, under a slightly overcast sky.
As you step forward, the trees rustle, and you hear voices behind you in the forest.
FLORA
I think this is far enough to be safe.
FAUNA
Thank you, you’re a great help.
MERRIWEATHER
Thanks to you, it looks like Princess Aurora is going to make it safely.
FLORA
Until next time.
There is a couple seconds of silence during which—if you haven’t already turned around yourself—Kairi takes two running steps back into the woods, and you can try to find the voices.
CHIRITHY
Hmm. I wonder if it was really such a good idea to let them go.
Ever since we set foot in this world I’ve had a super nasty feeling.
I bet it’s the witch Maleficent.
Strong rustling of leaves as if someone spoke a line.
CHIRITHY
Yeah. Let’s do that!
You have exactly the time of the dialogue to go back into the woods, reach a nearby area you’ve just crossed, with a pile of neatly stacked logs, and Shift.
Should you fail to reach the destination before Chirithy finishes saying “such a good idea to let them go,” the forest falls silent. You can still get to the target area and Shift there. In this case, the immaterial voice dialogue will resume at “Ever since we set foot…,” but you can’t see who’s talking. When you decide to make your way back to the edge, Kairi suddenly stops and shivers, then you can keep walking or running normally.
Reaching the area and Shifting on time will make you hear Chirithy’s voice more clearly, and an out-of-breath Kairi will notice the strong rustling of leaves around her, but you won’t see the characters. Your reward however will be that, as Kairi turns back around in the castle’s direction, the ghost of Player will traverse her and vanish into her heart. Kairi shivers, then you can walk or run normally again.
KAIRI
It does sound like Chirithy.
I wonder who they’re talking too.
THE RUSTLING FOREST – EDGE OF THE FOREST – TWILIGHT
When you return to the edge of the forest, night is falling.
Cross the small bridge over the stream and follow the winding path to access the main bridge to the castle.
ENCHANTED DOMINION – MAIN BRIDGE – NIGHTFALL
Kairi steps onto the bridge and stops, looking up. Three glowing colored lights are flying over the castle, showering glittering powder upon it—one green, one red, one blue.
KAIRI (excited)
The three good fairies!
As she rushes forward, thorns suddenly grow around the bridge, closing behind her; Kairi runs towards the castle, turning around to look back. Aqua and Phillip rush forth, cutting through the thorns, and are stopped by a black dragon swooping down from the sky. The thorns close around them, blocking them from view, swallowing up the battle sounds and music. Kairi escapes unharmed, but she is trapped near the castle gate and can’t go back, as the thorns are in her way.
You may try to fire spells at the thorns, uselessly depleting your MP. The smaller shoots that have crept between you and the gate may be destroyed, but the ones behind you cannot.
[SHIFT] The camera centers on Kairi and you can hear battle lines from the BBS boss fight.
As you near the gate, Kairi looks up to the tower where Aurora was sleeping during the battle. She stops again, clenching her pendant.
KAIRI (thoughts)
I can feel your light.
She enters the Castle walls. The title art appears:
~THE SILENT CASTLE~
This is the main explorable part of the world—vast and modeled after the Disney motion picture visuals: courtyards and gardens with dormant fountains and ornamental ponds, surrounded by extinguished torches and dozens of sleeping NPCs.
THE SILENT CASTLE – COURTYARD – NIGHT
KAIRI (thoughts)
What’s happened here?
It’s like the castle is under a spell.
The environment is pretty dark as it is nighttime, but Kairi’s Dream Eater and her pendant emit a faint glow that lights the immediate surroundings. The night is clear, and starlight and moonlight shine down.
[SHIFT]:
The night lightens a little, as if time were turning back a bit.
FAUNA (off-screen voice)
Poor King Stefan and the Queen…
MERRIWEATHER (off-screen voice)
They’ll be heartbroken when they find out.
FLORA (off-screen voice)
They’re not going to. We’ll put them all to sleep, until Rose awakens.
The three good fairies, as tiny orbs of color, fly past Kairi. The camera follows them as they extinguish the torches near the ornamental pond and put the guards to sleep. Night returns to its previous shade, marking the end of the Shift. At the end of the scene, three tiny orbs of light follow you around—one blue, one green, one red—and cast more light. Kairi smiles.
The place is crawling with Nightmares. Shifting doesn’t change that anymore. A reaction command called “Joint Force” uses the power of the Good Fairies to launch orbs of magical light towards the enemies, stunning them and dealing damage. The Fairies also grant you Defense and Attack boosts.
Shifting next to NPCs lets you hear fun, mundane pieces of dialogues. Half of them are about the Princess finally returning, after sixteen years in exile. The evil fairy’s curse has been thwarted.
More significantly, near the STEPS of the castle itself, you can hear the following conversation:
??? (KING HUBERT)
H-Hurry, boy, hurry! Uh, change into something suitable.
Can't meet your future bride looking like that.
??? (PRINCE PHILLIP)
But I have met her, Father.
??? (KING HUBERT)
Yeah-- You have? Where?
??? (PRINCE PHILLIP)
Once upon a dream.
The glowing, golden ORB appears next to the FRONT DOORS.
Kairi stares at it.
KAIRI (cautiously, unsure)
Sora?
The orb slowly moves through the doors, into the castle.
THE SILENT CASTLE – THRONE HALL – NIGHT
The inside of the Silent Castle is a much bigger level to explore than the BBS castle. Like the courtyards, it is full of sleeping NPCs. Kairi can light the torches with Fire magic. The fire will sputter out when you change rooms, get too far, or spend too much time in the area. The tricks of light on the walls make the shadows look distorted as if underwater.
A MINSTREL’S LEGS stick out from under the BANQUET TABLE; you can hear HEAVY SNORING echoing strangely with NOISES MADE BY AN INSTRUMENT.
Shifting lets you hear chatting and arguing voices as you keep exploring the level:
KING HUBERT
Oh, now, come, man! Buck up! Battle's over! Girl's as good as here.
KING STEFAN
I'm sorry, Hubert, but after sixteen years... of worrying, never knowing--
KING HUBERT
The past! All in the past. Tonight, we toast the future... with something I've been saving for sixteen years. Here. To the future!
THE TWO KINGS SINGING
A toast to this night
The outlook is rosy
The future is bright
Our children will marry
Our kingdoms unite
Skumps! skumps!
Skumps!
-
KING HUBERT
Well, what do you think? Nothing elaborate, of course.
Forty bedrooms, dining hall. Honeymoon cottage, really.
KING STEFAN
You-- You mean, you're building it already?
KING HUBERT
Built, man! Finished! Lovebirds can move in tomorrow.
KING STEFAN
Tomorrow? But, Hubert, they're not even married yet.
KING HUBERT
Take care of that tonight. To the wedding!
KING STEFAN
Now hold on, Hubert. I haven't even seen my daughter yet, and you're taking her away from me.
KING HUBERT
Getting my Phillip, aren't you?
KING STEFAN
Yes, but--
KING HUBERT
To the wedding!
-
KING STEFAN
Now, be reasonable, Hubert. After all, Aurora knows nothing about all this.
KING HUBERT
Well?
KING STEFAN
Well, it-- it may come as quite a shock.
KING HUBERT
Shock? My Phillip, a shock? What's wrong with my Phillip?
KING STEFAN
Nothing, Hubert. I only meant--
KING HUBERT
Why doesn't your daughter like my son?
KING STEFAN
Now, now--
KING HUBERT
I'm not so sure... my son likes your daughter!
KING STEFAN
Now, see here.
-
KING STEFAN
Why, you, you unreasonable…
KING HUBERT
Huh? Who? Uh--
KING STEFAN
…pompous, blustering, old windbag!
KING HUBERT
Unreasonable, pompous-- On guard, sir!
KING STEFAN
I warn you, Hubert, this means war.
KING HUBERT
Forward! For honor!
KING STEFAN
For country!
If you are near the banquet table for these lines, the ghosts of the two kings fade into the scene—Hubert attacks Stefan, brandishing a fish as his sword, as Stefan shields himself with a dish plate. The fish flops down; the kings snap out of their argument and start laughing.
KING HUBERT
What's this all about, anyway?
King Hubert tucks the fish into his belt as if he were sheathing a sword.
KING STEFAN
(wiping a tear of laughter from his eye)
No-- Nothing, Hubert. Absolutely nothing!
The figures fade away.
Final bit of dialogue you can hear in the hall after this vision:
KING STEFAN
And as for grandchildren, I'll have the royal woodcarvers start on the cradle tomorrow!
KING HUBERT
Splendid! King-size, of course.
KING STEFAN
Certainly.
To the woodcarvers guild!
In-between bits of dialogue, Kairi can remark:
KAIRI
Was that Aurora’s father?
The “real” King Hubert, King Stefan, and the Queen are sleeping at the back of the throne room. As you try to get closer, a Nightmare version of the WHEEL MASTER appears.
[MID-BOSS: Take out the enemy!]
The Wheel Master is a pain in the ass—it is wicked fast and deals powerful blows; but it is a joy to smash into splinters. Make good use of the Heart of a Princess Shotlock and the power of the Fairies.
If you GAME OVER, you’ll get a choice to retry or not give up, like when Mickey appears to help you in KH2. Here, TERRA is the one to show up and help.
After the fight, SHIFT next to the kings and the queen:
Flora flies around their heads showering them in red sparks.
KING HUBERT (half-asleep)
Well, just been talking to Phillip. Seems he's fallen in love with some-- peasant girl.
FLORA (stops)
Peasant girl?
KING HUBERT
Yes? Yes?
FLORA (magicking his eyelid open with an upward flick of her wand)
The peasant girl? Who is she? Where did he meet her?
KING HUBERT
Uh, just some peasant girl he met--
FLORA
Where? Where?
KING HUBERT
Once upon a dream.
FLORA
Once upon a dre-- Rose! Prince Phillip! Oh! Oh! Come on. We've got to get back to the cottage.
The three fairies fly away. Kairi is left alone with her Dream Eater. Use the torches for more light, or stay in the semi-darkness.
The glowing orb reappears and leads you to the upper floors.
THE SILENT CASTLE – UPPER FLOORS – NIGHT
Hallways, balconies, and galleries, overlooking the gardens and the fields beyond.
SHIFT next to one of the back windows. The King and Queen appear, standing at the balcony, watching their baby girl be taken away by the Fairies in the GARDEN below. You may have visited that garden before entering the castle; when you did, the camera panned to that window, with Kairi looking up, then turning around to look at the small exit door through the fortification wall.
Watching the King and Queen, Kairi sheds a tear. She is holding her Keyblade, and therefore cannot bring her fist to her chest in her usual way. She tightens her grip on the handle, then dismisses the Keyblade and wipes the tear away.
KAIRI
Aurora…
She looks a little angry.
Climb some more stairs.
THE SILENT CASTLE – HALLWAY – NIGHT
Eventually, you get to the Hallway to AURORA’S ROOM. A chest under a tall, narrow stained-glass window contains a Chaos anklet, which grants the same Defense boost as the Good Fairies did, with Dark damage reduced by 25%.
THE SILENT CASTLE – AURORA’S ROOM – NIGHT
The room is very empty compared to the rest of the castle—no furniture, save for a dresser with a mirror, a tapestry on the wall depicting the King and Queen with a baby Aurora, and an empty bed with a pillow and blue cover. There is a SAVE POINT in the room, casting its green light on the walls and the floor.
After a few moments in the room, you hear a voice:
FLORA (memory voice)
Bolt the door, Merryweather. Fauna, pull the drapes. And now, dear, if you'll just sit here.
When you Shift in the room, you hear that same line, or another one:
FLORA (memory voice)
This one last gift, dear child, for thee, the symbol of thy royalty…
Shifting in front of the MIRROR triggers a scene:
Looking closer at the reflection, Kairi can see Aurora sleeping in the bed behind her. The way Kairi stands, she is hiding the left side of the bed. An off-screen voice sounds like it’s there, in the room.
CHIRITHY (off screen)
It looks like she’s in a deep sleep.
Kairi turns around and spots Chirithy perching on the balcony. CLOSE UP OF CHIRITHY, looking at the bed.
CHIRITHY (cont’d)
But I can still feel a light in that abyss.
It seems as though her heart isn’t sleeping.
The camera pans slowly to the bed and PLAYER appears, watching Aurora; as they open their mouth to speak the vision stops, and Kairi is back to being alone in the empty room.
KAIRI
Another Keyblade Wielder?
The door to the left is locked. Kairi gets frustrated. When you stand where Player was standing, something finally changes—the SOUND OF A DOOR UNLOCKING can be heard, and the glowing orb appears in the FIREPLACE, which has now opened into a SECRET PASSAGE to a dark stone corridor.
The door back to the rest of the castle is now locked. The door to the adjacent room is now ajar. When you enter it, the screen suddenly fades to black.
WRITTEN IN WHITE ACROSS THE SCREEN:
Do not limit memory to just one individual’s experiences from birth.
That is only the surface.
Fade back to normal. Kairi looks around her, but there’s no one or nothing to see. There is a Pomp and Circumstance card in the empty circular room, as well as three chests, containing healing items.
With the door out of the room locked, there is only one way forward.
THE SILENT CASTLE – SECRET STAIRS – NIGHT
The music changes, incorporating the “Maleficent’s evil spell” soprano voices and theme from the original Disney movie.
On the second set of stairs, Maleficent appears, making Kairi jump and summon her Keyblade right away.
MALEFICENT
Who are you?
KAIRI
Maleficent!
Kairi stays in her fighting stance, watchful.
MALEFICENT
Do not get in my way!
KAIRI
You’re the one that’s in my way!
Maleficent huffs and disappears in a flash of green light.
KAIRI
Huh?
Kairi looks around, surprised, letting her guard down a little.
But something shifts at her feet, from the darkness below the stairs. Tendrils of shadow creep up, forming a giant three-headed snake Nightmare, whose purple scaled body is covered in red and black thorns.
[BOSS-FIGHT: THORNED SNAKE NIGHTMARE]
[Battle theme: “The Deep End” – KH OST]
[Original boss design: KH Union X]
This first phase is a relatively quick and straightforward fight. The only difficulty comes from the narrow battle field, which makes it virtually impossible to dodge the giant snake's attacks. You can only block, and you need to jump high to get behind its back. The ceilings are high, and the Nightmare sometimes slithers up the walls, to blow fire at you.
At the end of the phase, a short scene shows Kairi slashing at the Nightmare diagonally, her body glowing in a golden aura as two female voices (her own and another’s) cry out:
KAIRI & PLAYER
Yaaa!
The Nightmare recoils up the walls and its necks split into three more heads; its body grows dragon front legs and Leviathan-like wings that have the texture of fins.
![[Tiamat by Yoshitaka Amano]](https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Tiamat?file=Tiamat.PNG){kind=link}
Battle theme: “Disappeared” – Kingdom Hearts
As the monster takes up all the space in the stairwell, the area shifts and changes into a large circular room with tall, lit, stained-glass windows—a mix of the Hollow Bastion Chapel and its SECRET AREA, remodeled to give it a Dive-to-the-Heart feel, with pipes running up the walls like vines.
.png){kind=link}
Kingdom Hearts – Secret Area
Final Fantasy XIII – Tesseract boss arena
Kingdom Hearts – Secret Area
There are twelve, vertical stained-glass windows around the room. Six of them have similar designs to the Stations of the old Princesses of Heart. Every other window represents a stormy ocean in Kairi’s own Station colors. The walls between the windows bear star-shaped engravings and the Book of Prophecy symbol. There is a slightly raised platform at the center of the room, decorated with five circles into which the Union animals are carved.
The enemy slithers along the ceiling and drops down to face Kairi, the six heads flashing three pairs of glowing red eyes and three of blue gazing eyes. Kairi looks determined. Zoom on Aurora’s window, then back to Kairi.
KAIRI
Give me strength!
[Boss fight: Defeat Anti-Tiamat!]
Take out one head after the other (the eyes will stop glowing); the final hit for each head is a reaction command based on one of the Princesses of Hearts. After each head is neutralized, the corresponding Princess’s window design changes to abstract patterns representing one of the New Princesses of Heart. A small thirteenth window, above the spot where the Chapel altar should have been, represents pieces of colored electric wires connecting with a small flash.
[Aim for the heart!]
If you die at any point of this fight, you get an automatic “second chance”. This time, it is a temporary Shift to VEN.
The seventh and final blow, dealt with a situation command, is a horizontal spinning slash across Tiamat’s body, seemingly severing torso from bottom. The Nightmare once again recoils to the ceiling, but it now turns into black clouds. The room shifts back to the former stairwell. As the dark clouds disperse, it starts raining. Kairi looks stunned. She looks up and around. The rain is pouring down from nowhere, but water starts rising, blocking the way back through the secret passage doorway, and filling up the sides of the stairs, forcing Kairi to climb up a few steps.
The battle music keeps playing.
KAIRI
What’s going on?
The glowing orb hovers higher up the stairs.
KAIRI (lost)
Rose?
BLACK SCREEN WITH A WRITTEN WHITE LINE:
Your memories brought forth this place... Here, you shall witness the entire truth.
THE SILENT CASTLE – SECRET STAIRS – NIGHT
The orb flies up the stairwell and disappears from view.
Back to Kairi. Run up the stairs. At the top, a plain wooden door blocks the way. Blast it open with a fire spell or shoulder.
THE SILENT CASTLE – TOWER ROOM – NIGHT
Inside the room is the glowing orb, nothing else. It hovers in the middle of the room, the only source of light. Kairi approaches cautiously, lowering then dismissing her Keyblade and holding out her left hand.
KAIRI
Is it you…?
Sora?
She steps closer as water creeps into the room; she’s walking across a thin layer of water, but does not react to it. She extends her hand to the glowing orb.
VOICES OF THE THREE FAIRIES
(distant, off screen, echoing)
Rose!
Kairi’s hand stays, but then she moves the final inch and touches the light.
A foaming wave of sea water storms in, snapping her out of her trance; she quickly turns around as it crashes through the open door, but it’s too fast and swallows her.
Kairi falls backwards into the floating pose of the Game Over screen, in complete darkness. No “try again” menu appears.
Kingdom Hearts III – Re:Mind
Fade to:
RADIANT GARDEN LAB – “REAL WORLD”
Kairi’s left arm slides off the edge of the stretcher as a continuous shrill sound pierces the room.
Ienzo drops his notepad, his eyes darting over the monitor in a panic.
IENZO
No!
On the monitor, Kairi’s pulse has flatlined.
Fade to black.
—
.
—
[Save your progress?]
[Yes] / [No]
—
[Obtained: Dragon Claw Keychain]
[Obtained: Seven Wishes]
—
END PART 1
—
.
Notes:
The two mysterious, unidentified lines are from Final Fantasy IX. Other lines are lifted from either Union X (translated by Goldpanner) or Sleeping Beauty. The "Memory Dive" environment is inspired by the Three Blessings sequence in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.
I am taking a break from posting so I can finish writing the second half of the script, and also go back to fix some things in Part 1 to make it more consistent. I have marked the story as complete for now, but I will resume posting here, so please subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2! It shouldn’t be more than a couple months.
Thank you for reading!
Writing soundtrack:
“Memoria” – FFIX OST – Nobuo Uematsu
“The Old Castle,” from Pictures at an Exhibition – Mussorgsky
"The Silent Forest" – Project Destati (Enchanted Dominion Field and Battle Theme cover)
PiliChain23 on Chapter 3 Wed 21 Apr 2021 09:43PM UTC
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Last Edited Thu 22 Apr 2021 12:29AM UTC
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