Editing Kingdom Hearts (series)

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{{nihongo|'''''Kingdom Hearts'''''|キングダムハーツ|Kingudamu Hātsu}}, officially stylized as '''''KINGDOM HEARTS''''', is an {{w|Action role-playing game|action role-playing game}} series developed and published by {{w|Square Enix}}, formerly {{w|Square (video game company)|Square}}. It is a collaboration between Square Enix and {{w|Disney Interactive Studios}} under the direction of {{w|Tetsuya Nomura}}. ''Kingdom Hearts'' is  a crossover between Square Enix and Disney properties based in a fictional universe.

The series consists of numerous entries across different video game platforms, with almost every game being re-released in a set of compilations on the PlayStation 3 and later the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and on PC. Many games have received enhanced ports with the subtitle "Final Mix", while others have gotten full-scale remakes. Although the bulk of the series can be played in these modern compilations, a few games are adapted into cutscene movies instead, and others remain exclusive to mobile devices. There are currently 13 main installments (bolded in the "Games" section below, although note that the [[Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover|ninth]] is a movie).

The plot of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is focused on the conflict between [[light]] and [[darkness]], and it is split up into three phases. The story revolves around the main character [[Sora]] and his friends, their encounters with Disney and Square Enix characters in their worlds, and their clashes with the primary antagonist [[Xehanort]] and other forces of darkness.

There have been several types of merchandise released along with the games, including soundtracks, figurines, companion books, and a [[Kingdom Hearts Trading Card Game|trading card game]]. In addition, the games have been adapted into a {{c|Kingdom Hearts series|manga|manga series}} and {{c|Kingdom Hearts|novels|novels}}.

Most of the games in the series have been both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, though each installment has seen varying levels of success. As of March 2022, the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series has shipped over 36 million copies worldwide.<ref>[https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/library/pdf/ar_2022en.pdf Square Enix 2022 Annual Report]: "The series is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has shipped over 36 million units worldwide."</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Tetsuya Nomura.png|thumb|150px|left|Tetsuya Nomura, the creator and director of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series.]]
''Kingdom Hearts'' features a mixture of familiar Disney and Square Enix characters as well as original characters designed and created by Tetsuya Nomura. There is a variety of worlds from {{w|Disney}} and {{w|Pixar}} films, along with characters from Square Enix franchises including ''{{w|Final Fantasy}}'', ''{{w|The World Ends with You}}'', and ''{{w|Einhänder}}''. In addition, the series includes many locations unique to the ''Kingdom Hearts'' franchise.

The playable character will visit these worlds and interact with these characters, typically protecting them from enemies along the way. Often, their actions in these worlds closely follow the stories of the original Disney film, but some worlds have original stories based on the Disney setting instead. In addition, some shorter installments in the series focus almost entirely on original ''Kingdom Hearts'' worlds and characters, such as ''[[Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''.
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===Creation and influence===
[[File:Sora, Riku, and Kairi (Concept Art).png|thumb|250px|Early sketch of Riku, Sora, and Kairi.]]
The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is directed by Tetsuya Nomura, who also works as the character designer of the games. Nomura has stated that unlike working with ''Final Fantasy'' characters, keeping the main character Sora alive and interesting over multiple games is a challenge. He has also noted that, although many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story – and, despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics. Even though Disney gave Nomura considerable freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds. When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting.

The inclusion of specific ''Final Fantasy'' characters was based on the opinions of fans and the development staff. Another criteria for inclusion was whether the staff felt the characters would fit into the storyline and in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' universe. Initially, Nomura was hesitant to use characters he did not design, because he was unfamiliar with the background work of such characters. For ''Kingdom Hearts II'', he changed his mind after receiving pressure from his staff.

Throughout the development of the games, Nomura has often left certain events and connections between characters unexplained until the release of future games, as he feels that games should have room for fans to speculate and use their imagination. He stated that with speculation, even though a game gets old, people can still be happy with it.
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===Gameplay===
[[File:Firaga KH.gif|thumb|250px|left|Keyblade wielders are able to fight using various spells inspired by the ''Final Fantasy'' series, such as "Firaga".]]
The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series contains both 3rd-person fighting and role-playing game elements. The games are driven by a linear progression to the next story event, usually told in the form of a cutscene, though there are numerous side quests available that provide bonus benefits to the characters. The games are influenced by the design of the ''Final Fantasy'' series, carrying over many gameplay elements into a new action-based, hack-and-slash system. Typically, combat occurs in real-time, allowing the player to engage the enemy directly.

Like many traditional role-playing games, character progression in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is determined by an experience point system, rewarding the player for defeating enemies with stronger attributes and new abilities. Characters can also be made more powerful through equipping different weapons, armor, and accessories. New equipment can be earned through exploration and story progression, purchased from a shop, or crafted with [[synthesis]].

Typically, the games are structured into a set of worlds, being analogous to different levels. The gameplay in each world primarily centers around defeating enemies and completing linear objectives. In some games, travel between each level is automatic; in others, going to a new world is done through a [[mini-game]], such as the [[Gummi Ship]] or [[Dive Mode]]. Mini-games like these are an important part of the gameplay in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series; nearly every installment features a wide array of mini-games, with many being required for story  progression.

There are many allies that aid the playable characters. Typically, the allies rely fully on A.I. controls, with later entries allowing for limited customization of their behavior. In addition to accruing [[party member]]s, allies can be called into battle through the [[Summon]] system. Alternatively, the player can temporarily expand the main playable character's array of abilities through use of [[Drive Form]]s, [[Dimension Link]]s, or the [[Link System]].

Another recurring element of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is the [[Report]]. It records information about the characters, story, and enemies, as well as providing simple hints, tracking progress through mini-games and side quests, and recording various other gameplay statistics.

Some entries in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series have a specialized or alternative battle system. ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'', and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' all use the [[Deck Command]] system, placing all abilities other than basic movement and attacks into a customizable "deck". ''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]'' uses a {{c|Card|com|card-based}} combat system, while levels and abilities in ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'' are handled through the [[Panel System]]. The games in the [[χ series]] use Cards and {{c|Medal|ucx}}s for combat, with actions being performed purely through menu selection instead of moving the character in the environment. Finally, ''[[Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory]]'' features rhythm-based gameplay instead of traditional combat.

Overall, the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is designed as a single-player experience, although ancillary multiplayer modes or features are included in ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'', ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'', ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', ''Kingdom Hearts Union χ'', and ''Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory''.

===E/E10+ rating===
The ''Kingdom Hearts'' series keeps a majority of its content "child-friendly", maintaining Disney's values. It refrains from using profanity and making sexual references, as well as from dressing its female characters in revealing outfits. Death and suicide are also not treated realistically in the series, often with characters disappearing or dying off-screen.

There are only a few instances in the entire series where these rules are broken:
*In ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'', Axel uses the words "hell" and "damn".
*The main reason ''Kingdom Hearts II'' received an E10+ rating was the appearance of blood and alcohol in [[Port Royal]].
*Axel uses the word "damn" in conversation with Saïx in ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''.
*In ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', Maleficent uses the word "Hell" (albeit referring to the plane of afterlife) before facing Aqua and [[Prince Phillip]] in battle.
*"Hell" is again used in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' by [[Sam Flynn]] when he argues with his father, [[Kevin Flynn]], in one of the game's flashback sequences.
*In ''Kingdom Hearts III'', red wine (an alcoholic beverage) is referenced in [[Le Grand Bistrot]]'s descriptions for [[Eel Matelote]] and [[Beef_Bourguignon]]. The design of the [[Grand Chef]] Keyblade also incorporates wine bottles.
*The field theme for [[Beast's Castle]], debuting in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', is named "[[Waltz of the Damned]]" (although the title itself would not be visible in a game until ''Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory'').

==Games==
There are thirteen main installments in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. The games are not always released in chronological order with respect to the story; for a chronological list of ''Kingdom Hearts'' installments, see the [[/Timeline|timeline]].

The main games of the series and their remasters, remakes, and companion releases, along with their original release dates follow:
#'''''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''''' (2002)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Final Mix]]'' (2002)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]''''' (2004)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories]]'' (2007)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''''' (2005)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'' (2007)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''''' (2009)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''''' (2009–2010)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' (2010)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''''' (2010)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]'' (2011)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''''' (2012)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD]]'' (2017)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''''' (2013-2016)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts Union χ]]'' (2015-2021)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover]]''''' (2017)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-]]''''' (2017)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''''' (2019)
#*''[[Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind]]'' (2020)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Dark Road]]''''' (2020-2022)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory]]''''' (2020)
#'''''[[Kingdom Hearts IV]]''''' (TBA)

===HD collections===
All titles of the Dark Seeker Saga are collected in some form between five releases:
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX]]'' (2013), including HD remasters of
**''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix''
**''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories''
**all ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' cutscenes
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]'' (2014), including HD remasters of
**''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix''
**''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix''
**all ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' cutscenes
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue]]'' (2017), a compilation introducing
**''Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD'', an HD remaster of ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''
**''Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover'', an HD theater video that ties in the events from ''Kingdom Hearts χ''
**''Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-'', an original short game
*''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX]]'' (2017), including
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX''
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX''
**a theater mode for ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'' (DLC)
**an additional scene for ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' (DLC)
*''[[Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far]]'' (2018)
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX''
**''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package]]'' (2019)
**''Kingdom Hearts The Story So Far''
***''Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX''
***''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue''
**''Kingdom Hearts III''

===Spin-offs===
One full ''Kingdom Hearts'' game was produced independently of Square Enix's development process. It is not considered canon.
*''[[Kingdom Hearts (V CAST)]]''

There were two mobile distribution services for ''Kingdom Hearts'' media. They hosted both canon applications<!--KH coded is part of KH Mobile--> and non-narrative downloadables.
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Customize]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Mobile]]''

There are several smaller games made to promote or act as a companion to main entries in the series. These titles do not feature any story development and are not considered canon.
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Magical Puzzle Clash]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Digital Painter]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Gummiship Studio]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Collaboration: Gummi Ship Campaign]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts VR Experience]]''

===Cancelled Titles===
There are two titles that were once in development but cancelled due to varying circumstances.
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Fragmented Keys]]''
*''[[Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link]]''

==Phases==
The chronology of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series is separated into three phases, according to series director Tetsuya Nomura.
*The ''[[χ series]]'' is set in the ancient past, long before the adventures of Sora. It consists of ''Kingdom Hearts χ'' and its related titles.
*The ''[[Dark Seeker Saga]]'', or the ''1st Phase'', portrays the conflict against Master Xehanort and his various incarnations. It spans all other titles from ''Kingdom Hearts'' to ''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind''.
*The ''[[Lost Master Arc]]'', or the ''2nd Phase'' began with the {{c|Secret Episode|3rm}} of ''Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind'' and will contain future titles of the series.

==Story==
===Before the Age of Fairytales===
Long ago, an endless war is waged by the physical manifestations of seven lights and thirteen darknesses. Eventually, the darknesses discard their physical forms to become a [[Darkness (character)|single entity]], but its will could not be maintained. In order to expand and propagate its numbers, the Darkness entity begins to corrupt people's hearts and create the first [[Pureblood Heartless]]. [[The Master of Masters]] and other Keyblade wielders begin to fight against the Heartless.

===The Age of Fairytales===
In the "age of fairytales", the Master trains six apprentices of his own: [[Ira]], [[Aced]], [[Invi]], [[Gula]], [[Ava]] and [[Luxu]]. Through the power of his [[Gazing Eye]], which allows him to see into the future, the Master creates the [[Book of Prophecies]] and gives his apprentices a copy of the book. Upon reading it, they are horrified by the last entry about the world being consumed by Darkness. To prepare the apprentices for the impending [[Keyblade War]], the Master assigns each of them a role: Ira as the leader of the [[foreteller]]s; Aced as Ira's right hand man; Invi to act as a mediator between them; Gula to discover the traitor among the foretellers; and Ava to create another group of devoid [[Union]]s called the [[Dandelions]]. Luxu, who is not given a copy of the book, is tasked with guarding the [[Black Box]], taking the [[No Name]] Keyblade to record and watch everything unfold between the others, and passing it along to his eventual students. 

Before he disappears, the Master creates the first Spirit Dream Eater [[Chirithy]] to help in the foretellers' endeavors, warning that if a wielder's heart is corrupted by darkness or disappears, so will their Chirithy's. When the day comes for the foretellers to take their roles, they form their own unique Unions and fill their ranks with Keyblade wielders. One of those wielders, {{c|Player|KHx}}, befriends a boy with ever-growing curiosity named [[Ephemer]] who wonders about the mysteries of the world. Over time, there is a rift between the foretellers and their Unions as darkness spreads across the world.

In accordance with her role, Ava selects five people from the Dandelions, including Ephemer, to act as Union leaders after Keyblade War in a new world. Providing him with a [[rulebook]], Ava informs Ephemer that the new Union leaders must erase the memories of the Keyblade War from their fellow Dandelions and avoid any possible connections between the two worlds, thus the truth about the war must be kept a secret among the new Union leaders. Accepting this task, Ephemer is then sent to another realm. Through his dreams, Ephemer contacts another Keyblade wielder named [[Skuld]] so she could warn Player of the war. 

The two begin to search for Ephemer and meet Ava, who informs them of Ephemer's situation and extends an invitation to to begin the Union leaders. While Skuld accepts the role, Player declines, refusing to abandon the other wielders. Unfortunately, Player is drawn into the fight by the Nightmare Chirithy, who claims that it was responsible for the turmoil and has been sowing seeds of darkness in the Unions. After being defeated, the Nightmare Chirithy states that they will meet in another dream. 

Disheartened, Player fights in the war against the foretellers and countless wielders until they are the last survivor. Stranded alone in the wasteland now known as the [[Keyblade Graveyard]], an unconscious Player is found by their Chirithy, Ephemer, and Skuld. As they depart for the new world, Player's memories of the tragedy are erased alongside the rest of the Dandelions, with the exception of the five chosen Keyblade wielders by Ava to become the new Union leaders.

===The New World and the Encroaching Darkness===
After the war, the duty of preserving light is passed down to Ephemer, Skuld, [[Brain]], [[Lauriam]], and [[Ventus]]. They decide to combine the Unions and create new spirit Dream Eaters called [[Pet]]s to aid Keyblade wielders. As darkness begins to spread across the worlds, accompanied by strange glitches, Lauriam notices his younger sister, [[Strelitzia]], is missing. The Union leaders discover that they swapped the real world for a data version of Daybreak Town and the glitches are a result of another world trying to connect with theirs. While fighting against the Darklings, Ephemer and Player learn that the Darklings are searching for someone.

With the help of another Keyblade wielder, [[Elrena]], Lauriam learns that Strelitzia had a great admiration for another Keyblade wielder, who she tried to save from the Keyblade War. Realizing that Strelitzia was looking for Player, Ephemer introduces Lauriam to them, but Player informs him they never met her. Meanwhile, Brain finds a note inside his copy of Book of Prophecies, informing him that Strelitzia is the missing Union leader and that there is an imposter in their ranks. Gathering Ephemer, Ventus, and Skuld, Brain deduces that Ventus is the imposter. With his comrades' assistance, Ventus recalls meeting Ava inside an abandoned building, leaving together for Daybreak Town's clock tower, and witnessing Strelitzia's death.

Elsewhere, Lauriam is unable to stop [[Maleficent]], who is guided by the Darkness entity, from escaping in one of the [[lifeboat]]s, triggering the beginning of the world's destruction. 

While Brain, Ephemer, and Skuld try to figure out Darkness's motive, the constant strain of remembering what happened to Strelitzia puts Ventus to sleep in his room. Through his dreams, Ventus remembers that Darkness struck Strelitzia down. Awakened, Ventus informs the Union leaders of his role in Strelitzia's death. Overhearing Ventus's confession, a furious Lauriam confronts Ventus, but Ventus falls unconscious, prompting the Darkness entity to emerge from him.

After the Union leaders are defeated in a fight against the Darkness entity, the entity reveals that it hid inside Ventus because it was written in the Book of Prophecies by the Master, and that it and the Master were friends. Darkness plans to expand its numbers by infecting the hearts of others, producing Heartless to increase their ranks and shrouding countless worlds with darkness. The Union leaders try to fight Darkness, but they are unable to destroy the entity as it has no physical form. Ventus awakens and uses the light within him to dispel Darkness. However, Ventus is rendered unconscious afterwards.

While the Union leaders ponder the Darkness entity's words, Lauriam is alerted with news that his sister is alive by Elrena, as her Chirithy saw her with someone in a [[black coat]]. The Union leaders discover that the world is collapsing and only five lifeboats are available. As they are short on time, the Union leaders decide to separate: Brain heads to the real world with Lauriam, Elrena, and Ventus, while Ephemer, Skuld, and Player watch over the Dandelions. Before leaving, he passes on his [[Master's Defender]] Keyblade and the Book of Prophecies to Ephemer. 

In the real world, Brain fails to find a solution to save everyone in the data world, so he sends Lauriam, Elrena, and Ventus into the future. Afterwards, he meets Luxu, who warns him that the Ark is incomplete and provides him with instructions on how to use it.

Meanwhile, Ephemer, Skuld and Player are attacked by the remaining willful darknesses. In an effort to save their friends, Player pretends to be controlled by them and attacks Skuld and Ephemer, forcing Ephemer to send them through a gate along with the remaining darknesses. Inside, Player reveals their deception and seals the gate, trapping the darknesses with them. They reunite with their Chirithy one more time, enveloped in light.

As the two lifeboats appear, Ephemer and Skuld head for the real world, only to find themselves alone. Checking on the condition outside, they see the world is being destroyed and, like the others, they attempt to leave for the future as the tower crumbles around them.

After the destruction, the friends are separated. Ephemer wakes in a Daybreak Town left underwater, Lauriam in a field of flowers. Elrena remains unconscious on a stormy mountain, Ventus is found the same in the [[Badlands]] by an unknown person. Skuld is missing. As for Player, they see the sleeping Dandelions and their hearts being given to their Chirithys. Player's Chirithy explains their other purpose: when their wielder sleeps, they assume another form to protect their hearts, turning into the Dream Eaters that occupy the Sleeping Worlds. However, the Dream Eater gives its friend a choice: to sleep or reincarnate as a new heart. Glimpsing the future, Player decides to reincarnate, saying good night to their Chirithy. Luxu is seen walking through the Keyblade Graveyard with the Black Box and No Name Keyblade, revealing Brain's face.

Meanwhile, Brain wakes in an unknown town and meets [[Sigurd]], who explains that he is the only one that made it to this time. Before leaving for his group's headquarters, Sigurd takes Brain to the fountain square to explain that he is in [[Scala ad Caelum]], and shows him a statue of the town's founder and first Keyblade master. Brain is happy to see that it is his old friend Ephemer.  

Over time, the Player's heart merges with that of a cloaked figure.

===Xehanort's Path as a Keyblade Wielder of light and a Dark Seeker===
In their elderly years, the cloaked figure spirited a descendent of Ephemer named [[Xehanort]] to the [[Destiny Islands]] to protect him from the Darknesses, believing him to be the "Child of Destiny". As a child, Xehanort was told stories about his lineage and his destiny as the "Child of Destiny" who would one day leave the islands when he was strong enough. Due to his strong connection growing up he sampled through dreams his caretaker's memories of the Keyblade War, seeing people and worlds he didn't know but wanted to meet. As Xehanort grew, the cloaked figure faded into the afterlife, knowing they repaid their debt to Ephemer and the world was in good hands.

Xehanort's dreams continued, and he began to view the islands as small and uneventful, wanting to explore the worlds beyond. One day, he was visited by [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness]], his Heartless from the future, who offered him a way off the island and Xehanort accepted. Getting his first taste of darkness his heart being affected by powerful negative emotions despite being horrified he was fascinated aware that his heart could still feel. He also believed that with a strong enough heart darkness could be channeled and controlled.

Returning to Scala ad Caelum he was taken in by [[Keyblade Master]] [[Odin]], becoming his seventh apprentice. Through his training, Xehanort eventually came to see his fellow pupil [[Eraqus]] as a brother and as their favorite pastime the two often played a chess game called [[Alba & Ater]]. Then Xehanort and his fellow classmates were taught the ways of the Keyblade and their role as Keyblade wielders was to protect the worlds of light from darkness. However, he was unsatisfied with this ideal so he often visited other worlds without permission to learn more. To protect himself from the darkness between worlds during his travels, he was gifted [[Keyblade Armor]].

Then, one day Xehanort and his classmates were informed by Master Odin that the upperclassmen of Keyblade wielders were missing, including Baldr's sister, Hoder. In an effort to find them they split up into two groups to search the worlds with him, Eraqus and another apprentice, heading to Agrabah once there he realized that the world was still rebuilding from the destruction of the Keyblade War, as no humans were here. Then moved onto Wonderland, where they avoided the insanity of the Queen of Hearts, but Xehanort wondered if slaying those controlled by darkness was needed to protect the world. As they continued to travel the worlds the way they were to be protected differed among some of their upper classmates especially Vadir whose grief made him seek Kingdom Hearts to purge the Darkness but didn't follow through. But just like Union Leaders they were deceived by a Willful Darkness that sowed the seeds of sadness and pain first killing Hoder, then using Baldr as a vessel to strike down everyone else by the end Xehanort and Eraqus were all that survived or so they thought as Bragi was taken as Luxu's next vessel. 

Xehanort was visiting the graves of his many fallen comrades believing their demise was his fault until Eraqus told him otherwise. Then, he planned to go out into the worlds to learn more before their Mark of Mastery exam and was told by his comrade to return before the exam. Returning to Wonderland, Xehanort found that time barely passed since his first visit. Still seeing the Queen of Hearts being influenced by darkness, her willingly approached her.  

During his travels, Xehanort returned to Destiny Islands and reunited with his future Heartless, who gave him the power to time travel to gather 12 other incarnations of himself for the [[Real Organization XIII]]. After doing so as "[[Young Xehanort]]", he returned to his time, but forgot about his experiences from the future, while the memories were etched into his heart. With the exam drawing closer, Xehanort saw to travel again seeing darkness as something the worlds need, wanting to be on par with Eraqus and wishing of the world's equal balance. Traveling he met the Master of Masters, gained the black coat and believed that the worlds were under a "false light" wanting to change it overtime he possessed true strength over the darkness no longer needing his coat or armor.

Eventually, Eraqus and Xehanort became Keyblade Masters; while Eraqus became Odin's successor, Xehanort wandered the worlds. Gaining vast knowledge and in the midst of trying to unravel the mysteries of the Keyblades, the war and more Xehanort became obsessed. Diving deeper he came across something called the [[χ-blade]] and wanted to reenact the Keyblade War to forge it, to obtain the power of Kingdom Hearts so that he may create a balanced world. However, Xehanort grew very old, and devised a plan to use his Keyblade to extract his own heart and transfer it to a younger body to prolong his life until his ambitions were fulfilled. So he discussed his ideas about the Keyblade War with Eraqus, but when his comrade refused he continued on his own.

Still seeking his answers to the mysterious people in his dreams as an elderly man he returned to the Magic Mirror in the Dwarf Woodlands for answers revealing how he found his pupil Ventus and trained him to use as a vessel in the Badlands but when Ventus refused to use the darkness inside of him the elderly master extracted it out of him creating [[Vanitas]] who is an ancient willful Darkness. With Ventus' condition Xehanort brought him to Destiny Islands so he could die in peace however Ven's heart comes across the heart of a new born [[Sora]] seeing that the merge allowed Ventus to live Xehanort continued to use him to forge the legendary blade and looked for a new vessel for his body and brought his comatose pupil to train under his old friend Master Eraqus.

===Xehanort's Quest and The Origins of Sora===
Three Keyblade apprentices, [[Terra]], [[Aqua]], and Ventus, train under Eraqus to become Keyblade Masters. However, one day, a Keyblade Master, Master Xehanort, mysteriously disappears, and at the same time, a vicious species known as the [[Unversed]] begin spreading throughout the worlds. Terra is sent to defeat the Unversed and locate Master Xehanort. Ventus is goaded into following Terra by Master Xehanort's enigmatic apprentice, Vanitas, and Aqua is instructed by Master Eraqus to bring Ventus back home and keep an eye on Terra. Along the way, Terra slowly begins to lose control in the darkness inside his heart, but finds solace with Master Xehanort, who appears to understand him. 

Terra crosses paths with a young boy named [[Riku]] and [[Bequeathing|chooses him as his successor]]. While in Radiant Garden, Aqua comes across her own successor [[Kairi]] and Ventus befriends fellow Keyblade apprentice, [[Mickey Mouse]], and crosses paths  with Vanitas several times learning what Xehanort did to him, what Vanitas and of Xehanort's plans to use him and Vanitas 
as part of his plan to forge the legendary χ-blade, capable of unlocking Kingdom Hearts itself. Ventus confronts Master Eraqus about this, who attempts to destroy him to stop the χ-blade's creation, but falls at the hands of Terra and Master Xehanort, the latter whom reveals his true intentions afterward. 

Terra, Aqua and Ventus eventually battle both Master Xehanort and Vanitas in the [[Keyblade Graveyard]], where they each meet their fates: Terra is possessed by Master Xehanort and transformed into [[Terra-Xehanort|the new Xehanort]], but the new Xehanort is defeated by the [[Lingering Will]], Terra's armor animated by his lost mind; Ventus is possessed by Vanitas, but he, Mickey and Aqua fight Vanitas together, Ventus mentally, and Aqua and Mickey physically, but though they manage to destroy Vanitas, the χ-blade and wipe the Unversed from existence, Ventus's heart is damaged and eventually makes contact with the heart of a young boy named [[Sora]] again, merging with it; Aqua places Ventus's now-comatose body to rest inside Castle Oblivion, and while looking for Terra, finds Xehanort in the [[Radiant Garden]], where he was sent following the χ-blade's destruction, and battles him in an attempt to rescue Terra. During the ensuing fight, Terra temporarily regains control of his body, but Master Xehanort quickly retakes control and attempts to force Terra's heart out of the body, but darkness spills forth and Xehanort starts to vanish.

As Xehanort begins to sink into the Realm of Darkness, Aqua follows and sacrifices her armor and Keyblade to save Terra's body while she remains in the darkness. Xehanort, now with amnesia, is found by the sage king of Radiant Garden, [[Ansem the Wise]], and taken in as his apprentice. Mickey passes his Mark of Mastery Exam under his master, [[Yen Sid]], and is awarded the title of Keyblade Master. Inside Xehanort, Terra continues to counter him, vowing not to stop until he has foiled Master Xehanort and expelled him from his body.

===The Great Danger That is to Come===
During his apprenticeship with Ansem, Xehanort became one of his test subjects so he could recover his memory and so Ansem could 
learn more about the Darkness in an effort to defend his world but as the experiments continued Ansem worried about his amnesic apprentice's well being. Then, a lab was made below the castle for further study similar to Xehanort, Ansem had another subject an imprisoned amnesiac girl known as [[Subject X]]. Believing she disappeared due to the experiments snowballing out of control he ordered them to cease unknown to either that Braig secretly released her. Then he sank into despair over his error in experimenting on Xehanort.

Sometime later Xehanort opened the door in Ansem's basement, despite making [[Gummi Ship]] travel possible, Ansem worried about the world's stability. Soon he met King Mickey Mouse and they became great friends, conversing over many subjects, and finding solace in their companionship. Then, seeing Xehanort had continued the experiments in secret, accidentally creating the emblem Heartless Ansem forbade an further experimentation with the Heartless as they threatened the world's stability even more. Then, he accepted new apprentices [[Isa]] and [[Lea]] more devastating Ansem discovered the Ansem Reports, penned under his name, but written by Xehanort. He began to see that the damage he caused had become irreversible. To stop his interference, Ansem was sent to the [[Dark Realm]] by his apprentices allowing Radiant Garden to fall into darkness continuing on Xehanort sent a young Kairi into the other worlds in attempt to find a keyblade wielder believing she was a [[Princess of Heart]]. Some time after, Xehanort began to reclaim his memories and his ability to use the Keyblade. Then, turning the blade on himself and apprentices he created their heartless and most of the Nobodies to form the original [[Organization XIII]]. With his body temporarily gone, his desire to forge the χ-blade and claim Kingdom Hearts lived on his Heartless, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, and his Nobody, Xemnas.

===Aqua and Mickey's Adventure Through the Dark Realm===
After Aqua fell into the realm of darkness to save Terra, she travels through the realm and is shocked to notice the remnants of previous worlds were already there. Aware that something is wrong in the realm of light, Aqua continues to fight her way through hordes of countless Heartless, and soon comes across apparitions of Terra and Ventus. Upon finding them, she learns from Terra that he still has ties to the darkness and that Xehanort is looking for Ventus, but Aqua assures him their comrade is safe. Eventually, she's reunited with Mickey who informs her that she's been missing from the realm of light for a decade. Mickey explains that he's there to find a Keyblade from the realm of darkness that'll help in closing the Door to Darkness, thus stopping the Heartless threat. Soon the two make their way to the remains of Destiny Islands where Aqua is reminded of her encounter with two boys that lived there, Sora and Riku. Mickey informs that the two boys are doing well and that they're helping in closing the door. Soon after Mickey's acquired the necessary Keyblade he and Aqua are separated as she's taken away by a [[Demon Tide]]. She defeats the swarm of Shadows but are left wandering the Dark Realm alone once more.

===Sora's Journey Begins===
Ten years later, the story focus shifts to Sora, Riku, and their friend, Kairi. The first game shows how Sora is separated from his friends when their world, [[Destiny Islands]], is invaded by creatures known as the [[Heartless]]. During the invasion, Sora obtains the Keyblade, as Ventus's heart is still within him. Soon after finding himself in [[Traverse Town]], Sora meets [[Donald Duck]] and [[Goofy]], two emissaries from [[Disney Castle]] searching for the "key" per instructions from Mickey, their King. The three band together and travel to different Disney-themed worlds, sealing the Keyholes to the hearts of the worlds to prevent more Heartless invasions. 

Along the way, they encounter a group of Disney villains, led by Maleficent, who is controlling the Heartless. Though they eventually defeat Maleficent, the three discover that Ansem, who has apparently succumbed to the darkness, is the true mastermind. Ansem's plan is to open the door to "Kingdom Hearts", a door which holds the hearts of all worlds, in the hopes of attaining eternal darkness. Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeat Ansem, and seal the door with the help of Riku and King Mickey on the other side of the door.

After sealing the door to Kingdom Hearts, Sora, Donald, and Goofy begin searching for Riku and King Mickey, finding themselves heading towards a mysterious fortress called [[Castle Oblivion]]. Upon entering the fortress, they begin to lose their memories. The three encounter a group of dark hooded villains ([[Marluxia]], [[Larxene]], [[Axel]], and [[Vexen]]), part of a mysterious Organization. In the castle, Sora learns his memories have been manipulated by a girl named [[Naminé]] who was being held captive by the Organization. Sora, Donald and Goofy fight their way through Castle Oblivion and eventually encounter and destroy Marluxia, the lord of the castle, thus freeing Naminé from his grip.

To allow them to regain their memories, Naminé puts Sora, Donald, and Goofy to sleep for a year; in the process, they must lose the memories of their experience in Castle Oblivion. At the same time, Riku finds himself in the basement of the castle and begins traveling to the first floor with the aid of King Mickey. Riku fights both the Organization's members ([[Vexen]], [[Lexaeus]], and [[Zexion]]) and the darkness in his heart, particularly the remains of Ansem, learning to accept his dual nature between light and dark. Allying himself with the mysterious DiZ, Riku aids him in keeping Sora and Naminé until the former is awaken. However a snag in the plan over the year forces Riku to go after a young man named [[Roxas]], the thirteenth member of the Organization to enable Sora's reawakening. Roxas, who had defected from the Organization earlier on after doubting their true motives and desiring to meet Sora in person, encounters Riku and defeats him easily at first, but Riku succumbs to the Darkness inside him and takes on the appearance of Ansem. With his newfound power, Riku subdues Roxas and takes him to DiZ, but the ordeal leaves him stuck in Ansem's form. With their plan successful, DiZ orders Riku to eliminate Naminé, but Riku refuses, and instead lets Naminé go with Axel, who turned on Marluxia and chose to aid Sora in Castle Oblivion and who was Roxas's best friend.

===Xehanort Revealed===
Seven days after Riku's success, Sora, Donald, and Goofy awaken in [[Twilight Town]], with no memory of their time at Castle Oblivion, and resume their search for Riku and King Mickey. They learn of the [[Nobody|Nobodies]] and are re-familiarized with their leaders, [[Organization XIII]] ([[Xemnas]], [[Xigbar]], [[Xaldin]], [[Saïx]], [[Luxord]], and [[Demyx]]). Afterwards, Maleficent is resurrected and joins with [[Pete]], another Disney villain, to find a new base of operations before resuming her quest for power and revenge on Sora. Sora once again travels to many Disney-themed worlds and resolves the troubles caused by not just Maleficent and Pete, but also Organization XIII whose members refer to him as Roxas. Meanwhile, Kairi is kidnapped by the Organization. They meet King Mickey, who reveals that the "Ansem" Sora defeated was actually the [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness|Heartless of Xehanort]], who, sometime after being found by Ansem, betrayed his master and stole his name, and since then, Ansem the Wise has been missing. Furthermore, they learn that Xemnas, the leader of the Organization, is the Nobody of Xehanort.

The three arrive at the headquarters of Organization XIII, [[The World That Never Was]], with their own artificial Kingdom Hearts looming overhead, crafted from all the Heartless Sora has defeated, with Sora defeating all the Organization members as he is finally reunited with Kairi and Riku, who reveals Roxas as Sora's Nobody (as well as Naminé as the Nobody of Kairi) that he captured by willingly assuming the form of Ansem so that Roxas could be defeated and absorbed back into Sora. While this occurs, Mickey finds DiZ, revealed to be a disguised Ansem the Wise, with a device to digitize some of Kingdom Hearts' power; as the others arrive, the system overload causes the machine to explode with Ansem consumed in the blast, apparently killing him, with Riku restored to his original state. At the top of the castle, Sora and his friends battle Xemnas, who uses the remnants of Kingdom Hearts to fight them. Refusing to accept defeat, Xemnas separates Sora and Riku from the others to fight them in a final battle that ends with his demise. Though trapped on the other side, Sora and Riku are able to return to their world, via the Door to Light, which was mysteriously triggered from Sora's heart.

===The Key that Connects Everything===
With the threat of the Heartless and Nobodies apparently over, Mickey, Donald and Goofy return to Disney Castle, where they stumble across a mysterious message written in [[Jiminy Cricket]]'s [[Jiminy's Journal|Journal]], "''We must return to free them from their torment''". Mickey digitizes the journal and creates a [[Data-Sora|Sora made from Data]] to uncover the mystery. Following the journal's debugging, Mickey and Data-Sora find the source of the sentence: it was a message from Naminé, who integrated a data version of herself into the journal to inform Sora that he is the "Key that connects everything", and it is his duty to save those connected to his heart from their suffering, namely the real Naminé, Roxas, [[Xion]] (a replica of Roxas created by Xemnas as a fail safe in case Roxas or Sora proved useless to the Organization), and Axel, as well as Terra, Aqua and Ventus. Mickey sends Sora a bottled letter about this.

Back in the Realm of Darkness, Aqua stumbles across Ansem, who survived the explosion of the Kingdom Hearts Encoder, which sent him there. Ansem, with few of his memories remaining, fills Aqua in about his experiences with Sora, which brings Aqua to tears of joy, knowing Sora will come and rescue her and her friends. On Destiny Islands, Sora makes the decision to venture out to find and rescue his predecessors from their fates. 

However, after successfully locating Aqua and Ventus's heart (thus leaving only Terra to be found), Mickey also receives the shocking news from Yen Sid that the destruction of Ansem and Xemnas has led to the return of Xehanort, and this will eventually bring back Master Xehanort. Seeing as Mickey alone is not enough to defeat what is not "a single one of [Xehanort]", Yen Sid orders Mickey to summon Sora and Riku to him to undertake a Mark of Mastery Exam to properly prepare them for their imminent clash with Master Xehanort.

===The Return of Master Xehanort===
Sora and Riku answer Yen Sid's call and he explains to them the details concerning Master Xehanort's rise and fall into darkness. Though Sora initially believes himself to be capable of beating Master Xehanort without becoming a Master, Riku readily agrees, in order to prove himself worthy of wielding the Keyblade, which makes Sora accept as well. Yen Sid assigns them to enter the [[Sleeping Worlds]], where they are to locate and awaken seven worlds which were revived following Ansem's defeat but remained submerged in sleep, and in the process unlock the Keyhole of Sleep. If they are successful, they will be deemed Keyblade Masters.

But along the way, Sora and Riku become separated and each end up encountering a mysterious young man in a black coat with ties to Master Xehanort and accompanied by Ansem, Xemnas and Vanitas, whom they believed to have been defeated long ago. Ultimately, Sora's journey leads him to the World That Never Was instead of the Realm of Light, where he meets up with Xigbar and the young man himself, who reveals that he is actually [[Young Xehanort|Master Xehanort in his youth from the past]], who was paid a visit via time travel by the disembodied Ansem, who sent him on a mission to travel to different periods of time to gather various incarnations of Xehanort to build the real [[Organization XIII]]. Sora fights his way to the castle, but is intercepted by Xemnas and ends up with his heart damaged, whereupon he falls into a coma and is taken to the castle by Young Xehanort.

Riku tracks Sora to the World That Never Was and finds him in the castle, where he battles and manages to defeat Young Xehanort with help from Mickey. Following the fight, Master Xehanort is finally revived, and reveals his true intentions: following his failure to use the χ-blade to summon Kingdom Hearts by pitting a heart of pure light against a heart of pure darkness, he has learned an alternate way of creating the χ-blade, since years before, after the Keyblade War, the χ-blade was shattered into thirteen darknesses and seven lights, and if Master Xehanort creates an Organization out of thirteen incarnations of himself, he will be able to recreate the χ-blade and start another Keyblade War. As Master Xehanort moves in to turn Sora into the thirteenth and final vessel for the Organization, Lea, Donald and Goofy arrive to aid Riku and Mickey, and Master Xehanort is forced to retreat with Young Xehanort, Ansem, Xemnas, Xigbar, Saïx, and his other six hooded vessels.

Riku brings Sora's comatose body back to Yen Sid, where he dives into Sora's [[Dive to the Heart]] and collects the fragments of Sora's shattered heart, in the process battling a corrupted Sora himself and winning. Riku succeeds in waking Sora up, but Yen Sid only names Riku as a Keyblade Master for his efforts. Sora, undaunted by his failure, congratulates Riku and immediately after Lea shocks everybody present by summoning his own Keyblade, something he had only recently mastered and was unable to use against the Organization. After this, Sora departs again to train alone, not having been able to properly resist darkness.

With the knowledge of Master Xehanort's plans, Yen Sid orders Riku to bring Kairi to him so that she may undergo training with her Keyblade and become their seventh light to counter Master Xehanort's Organization XIII.

===The Final Showdown===
In order to thwart Master Xehanort's plans, Sora, Donald and Goofy embark on a quest to find Seven Guardians of Light and the "Key to Return Hearts", while Riku and Mickey search for previous Keyblade wielders.
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==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.kingdomhearts.com/home/us/ Official US website]
*[https://www.jp.square-enix.com/kingdom/ Official JP website]
*[https://www.kingdomhearts.com/home/gb/ Official EU website]

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[[Category:Games]]
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