The World That Never Was

The World That Never Was is a world featured in Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

The world of Organization XIII, it is home to a seemingly endless supply of Heartless and Nobodies. The Heartless seem to spawn more here due to how close The World That Never Was is to the darkness of Kingdom Hearts. The Organization rules the city below from their massive castle.

Kingdom Hearts II
The World That Never Was is a world located in the Realm Between, and serves as Organization XIII's stronghold. It's separated into two parts, the expansive Dark City filled with vacant buildings and neon signs, and the contrasting white and massive Castle That Never Was which floats weightlessly above the city, with Kingdom Hearts at its peak.

Arriving from the Betwixt and Between, Sora and party find themselves at the Hazama ni Tsunagaru Roji (狭間につながる路地), where the first save point of the world can be found. Exiting the alley leads to the Danpen o Tsumugu Michi (断片を紡ぐ道), a long series of winding streets. Hordes of Shadows appear here, but in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, they're replaced with Nobodies. Following the Fragment Crossing is the Kioku no Matenrō (記憶の摩天楼), an imposingly tall building - filled with television screens at the top - which presides over the city. In the right corner of the plaza is a wrecked truck, flipped on its side, while in the left corner is a road leading up to the Zetsubō o Nozomu Dangai (絶望を望む断崖). A save point can be found there near the edge of a gigantic crater, in which the world's castle hovers above.

Through a path created by the Keyblade, the castle can be entered at its bottom floor, named Kyomu e no Sasoi (虚無への誘い). From here the Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira (歪みを貫く柱) is entered, which is a giant elevator that'll transport the group up to Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho (黄昏から望む場所), which is a small stairway located inside a huge and hollow part of the castle. Massive windows in the shape of the Nobody insignia are found here, with a great view of the city outside. Below is what looks like an endless pit. Sora can meet a Moogle here and synthesize new items before heading to the next part of the castle. Following Twilight's View is the Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan (虚ろなる旋律の空間), which is composed of a large platform over an indefinite abyss, with a recessed second floor accessible via Naught's Skyway and multiple high balconies overlooking the room. The domed glass ceiling provides a view of the castle's highest tower. This is also where Xigbar is fought and defeated. The aforementioned Kokū o Tadoru Michi (虚空を辿る道) is what connects the Hall of Empty Melodies' two floors, and is a small outside path in a high section of the castle. It overlooks the eerie red-tinged clouds of the city far below.

Continuing on from Hall of Empty Melodies' second floor leads to Sonzai no Akashi (存在の証), a smaller area with white, pink, and light-blue pipes shaped like thorns piercing out from the room's exit. It initially contained twelve portals, though nine of them have been destroyed, making the area almost resemble a graveyard instead. The portals are arranged by the rank of each member from left to right then top to bottom, with digital panels on the floor in front of the portals, acting as epitaphs depicting the member's title and weapon. Demyx's portal is incorrectly numbered as XI instead of IX. The digital panels indicated whether a member is still alive or not, with Roxas's panel, in the end, being the only one which remains active as he's a part of Sora. Luxord's portal leads to Konton no Hazama (混沌の狭間), a downwards sloped area with a steep drop at the end. The top of the area can be partially seen later on from Naught's Approach. The next portal leads to Madowashi no Kūkan (惑わしの空間), a large chamber with a clear view of the Kingdom Hearts moon, and appears to be where Saïx spends a large amount of his time. Defeating Luxord and Saïx allows access to Kokū o Mezasu Michi (虚空を目指す道), an exterior passage which leads to Xemnas's tower. Eerie red and blue vapors leak out from the castle's next room, the Hakai to Sōzō no Kairō (破壊と創造の回廊), which is one of the biggest areas within the castle, with several platforms floating in the air. Invisible paths can be used to reach each platform and eventually navigate towards the exit. The room is filled with swirling red and blue smoke, with some collecting in a spiral at the top of the chamber. There are also numerous windows at the sides of the room, and neon lime colored bars of light hanging across the air.

Deep inside the castle is also the Muon no Rōgoku (無音の牢獄), a small and purple cell used by Saïx to imprison Kairi and Pluto. The area only appears in cutscene. Another cutscene exclusive area is Kyomu ga Tsudou Basho (虚無が集う場所), a circular room containing throne-like chairs ranging in height, where the members of Organization XIII gather to discuss developments, and for Xemnas to give out orders. There are thirteen throne-like pillars for each of the members, with Xemnas' chair being the tallest one.

At the end of the Ruin and Creation's Passage is a pathway leading to the top of the castle, the Kokū no Saidan (虚空の祭壇). The alter is a giant tower peering out of castle, with Kingdom Hearts radiating in front of it. The Dark City below is impossible to see from here due to all the swirling smoke leaking from previous area. During his first fight against Xemnas, Sora is transported to Kioku no Yugami (記憶の歪み), which is platform in the middle of nowhere with a strange and wavering illusion of the Memory's Skyscraper. Returning to the alter, there's now a huge door which can be used to access Kingdom Hearts.

Entering Kingdom Hearts leads the party to The World of Nothing. The first area they arrive at is called Biru Gai (ビル街), which is a passageway resembling the Dark City where skyscrapers suddenly erupt from the ground in order to repel Sora. Powering through a tunnel at the end leads to the next area where Xemnas' colossal Dragon Ship can be seen from the distance. From here, Sora can ascend the falling skyscrapers, eventually leading him to the Dragon Ship's massive cannons at Yunitto Hōshin-bu (ユニット砲身部). Once the cannons are destroyed, Sora swings his way up to the ship's Energy Core, which is kept in a room appropriately named Enerugī Koa Mae (エネルギーコア前). After disabling the ship's energy core, he ascends to Zemunasu (Doragon) Tōbu (ゼムナス（ドラゴン）頭部), where Xemnas sits in his Keyblade Armor, enthroned in a chamber atop the Dragon Ship's head, equipped with several of the deceased Organization members' weapons.

Sora and Riku battle Xemnas's Dragon Ship from their Sidecar Glider in the Sky (空中). Afterwards, they face Xemnas once more in his Keyblade Armor, in an area called Within Xemnas (Dragon)'s Barrier (ゼムナス（ドラゴン）の結界内)

After completely destroying the gigantic Nobody, Sora and Riku find themselves inside a nearly-empty void of shifting greys and whites, the World of Nothing (謎の空間最奥部), where Xemnas is fought for the last time.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, The World That Never Was serves as the game's hub world. The world's main room is the Yami to Hikari o Tsumugu Niwa (闇と光を紡ぐ庭), which serves as a lounge for the Organization's members, as well as the place where they'll receive their mission briefings from Saïx. The room is wedge-shaped with one wall being just a giant window, out of which Kingdom Hearts can eventually be seen floating in the distance. The room has couches and tables spread around it, and Organization members are often seen lounging about between missions. There is also a Moogle here wearing a Black Coat, whom offers Roxas to synthesize panels as well as using the gained heart points to shop.

The castle is shown to have a large computer room which seems to contain information regarding all the various Organization XIII related projects, including the Replica Program and Castle Oblivion. The castle also contains a library filled with literature on various subjects. In here, Axel finds a book titled "The Truth about Naminé," authored by Vexen. All of the members have individual bedrooms across the castle, which are white with metal-like walls and lots of pipes across them. There's a single bed with the headboard in the shape of the Nobodies' symbol, and a window showing the heart-shaped moon of Kingdom Hearts. The Organization often gather at the Entaku (円卓) to discuss plans and other developments. Each member has a throne-like chair at top of a pillar here, except for Xion. These pillars can move up or down at the user's, or at the leader's will, though they all keep their thrones below Xemnas out of respect. The remaining members also gather at the Altar of Naught on the ninety-third day, to watch as Kingdom Hearts finally takes form.

The Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan (虚ろなる旋律の空間) is accessed during a few of the missions, and serve as a training ground for Roxas. When Roxas decides to leave the Organization he'll begins his escape at top of the second floor located here, and quickly reaches the lower floor by running through Kokū o Tadoru Michi (虚空を辿る道). Leaving the hall Roxas briefly enters Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho (黄昏から望む場所) before entering the elevator at Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira (歪みを貫く柱). Taking the elevator to the bottom takes Roxas to Kyomu e no Sasoi (虚無への誘い), where he battles Saïx before finally making his escape.

When Roxas returns to face Xemnas, he arrives at the Danpen o Tsumugu Michi (断片を紡ぐ道), where he's attacked by a horde of Neoshadows. He eventually makes it to the Kioku no Matenrō (記憶の摩天楼), where he's confronted by Riku.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, only Memory's Skyscraper, the Brink of Despair, and the real Castle That Never Was are visited in the Realm Between, while the rest of the areas appear within a dream version of the world. The dream version of The World that Never Was' Dark City appears a lot more contorted and ethereal than the city initially appeared in Kingdom Hearts II, much similar to The World of Nothing within Kingdom Hearts.

Sora first arrives at the Memory Skyscraper, but is quickly sent to sleep and eventually wake up at the Yumesakai no Gairo (夢境の街路). The place is a large urban area beginning with an enclosed alley featuring a save point and a Moogle Shop hologram. Up a long flight of stairs lies a piece of a destroyed building, blocking the path into the city that must be scaled to advance. Beyond is an area of twisting alleys surrounded by skyscrapers that can be scaled with Flowmotion. Several buildings are adorned in blue stripes with a geometric pattern and when stood upon, they rapidly elevate, throwing Sora into the air. Perhaps the most notable feature of this area is a stream of blue-green mist that falls from the roof of a massive tower extremely similar to the Memory's Skyscraper. The Castle that Never Was can be seen from this area, but instead of floating above a giant crater, it floats above several tall buildings. The next area is the Yugami ni Michita Machi (歪みに満ちた街), which seems to emerge from a strange canyon. Thea area is similar to the previous one, though many of the buildings float of their own accord. Beyond several overturned buildings, a path of broken pavement and destroyed buildings form an upward spiral, and neon strips and signs on the buildings can be traversed with Flowmotion. Several floating buildings marked with red symbols will hurtle towards Sora and must be destroyed with Reality Shift to avoid damage. Pressing on leads to the Kyōmu no Shin'en (凶夢の深淵) which features a large open plaza surrounded by three skyscrapers, with a crashed truck blocking access to a side-street. The fourth side drops off to an abyss that is spanned by floating skyscrapers laid on their sides, forming a mostly straight path between two cliffs, and leads toward what appears to be the bottom of the Castle That Never Was. The end of the area is where Sora fights Xemnas.

Riku arrives at the Gensō no Hajimari (幻想のはじまり), one of the lowest known areas of the Castle That Never Was, situated just inside the large spinning ring at the base of the castle. It is comprised of four hallways connecting to a circular central chamber, two connecting at the ground floor, two high above. In the central chamber rests an energy beam housed in an impenetrable shield that'll damage Riku; destroying it creates a walkway to the upper levels. Next area is the Genwaku no Horō (幻惑の歩廊), which initially appears as a shifting maze. Scattered throughout the maze are devices which can be destroyed with a Reality Shift. Once disabled, the layout of the area changes, with new pathways opening up leading to the next device. Once three devices have been destroyed, the maze disappears entirely and reveals the area to be a long, straight bridge leading from the outer edge of the castle to the castle itself, across the open crater beneath it.

Passing through the Walk of Delusions lead to Kyojitsu o Tsumugu Kairō (虚実を紡ぐ回廊), a large open-air level at the top of the castle's spinning ring, giving a view of the mechanism that spins it. It consists of several high-walled passages and thick metal pipes. Along one passage, beams of purple energy move back and forth that damage any enemy who crosses them. Near the end of the area is a large circular platform where many enemies spawn. After a flight of stairs, there is a lift that'll take Riku to the Konton o Miorosu Basho (混沌を見下ろす場所). The area is primarily a large and slightly curved balcony. By using Flowmotion Riku can traverse the massive pipes attached to the walls, which will eventually take him through several smaller balconies. At the last balcony is a narrow bridge connecting to a multi-turreted tower, where Riku fights the Anti Black Coat Nightmare. This tower can be seen from afar, and is located on the castle's left side.

After defeating Anti Black Coat, Riku will be summoned by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness to Yami e no Sasoi (闇への誘い) to battle. The area is a dark arena with a spiraling violet vortex below, and streams of darkness rising around the central area. A platform may appear if Riku uses Reality Shift on Ansem. After the first battle, Riku is further brought to the Yami no Hate (闇の果て), which is a long corridor-like arena with huge dark pillars on each side, resembling the ones found in the Realm of Darkness. At the end of the room is a violet spiral where Ansem resides within a transformed Dark Figure. During their second battle, Ansem can manipulate the space within the area at will, by either stretching it to send Riku to the back or by compressing it to pull him forward.

After the battles against Ansem, Riku arrives back in the real The World That Never Was at the Kioku no Matenrō (記憶の摩天楼). From here he can either teleport back to Verge of Chaos via Link Portal, or press onwards to the lit. "Cliff of Despair's Desire" (絶望を望む断崖), where he'll meet a Komory Bat granting access to the real Castle That Never Was. Riku then finds himself at the Where Nothing Gathers, before he's attacked by Young Xehanort, who pulls him away to the Toki no Saidan (時の祭壇). Thesanctum is a large circular arena with several cogs and clockwork devices integrated below the floor as well as atop pillars on either side of the battlefield, and is surrounded by six different colored hourglasses. The area as a whole resembles a fractured. Peculiarly, at certain times during battle, the poles sticking out of the ground cannot have Flowmotion used on them. Beneath the glass is a red Nobody insignia.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
When Roxas abandons the Organization, he wanders for a short time through the streets of the Dark City. Here, outside one of the many locked stores, Roxas meets Axel, who tries to stop him from leaving, warning that the Organization would destroy him. Roxas leaves a saddened Axel behind, and continues along the streets to Memory's Skyscraper.

After defeating Xion, Roxas returns to the city, hoping to engage Xemnas and the other Organization XIII members. Instead, he discovers multitudes of Heartless, sent to attack the Keyblade wielder. Roxas fends off the hordes of Neoshadow Heartless, but is ultimately outnumbered. Riku appears from atop a skyscraper, and assists Roxas in slaying the Heartless using Roxas's Oblivion Keyblade.

The two then turn on each other. Roxas nearly defeats Riku, who had not yet mastered himself or control of the Keyblade. In desperation, Riku releases the darkness in his heart, assuming the form of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, with his guardian, and subdues Roxas. DiZ promptly arrives to find Riku-Ansem with his hood up. The two take Roxas back to their secret base in Twilight Town.

Kingdom Hearts II
Sora arrives in the Dark City, with the help of the Organization's traitor, Axel. Fighting their way through large numbers of Heartless, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey reach the center of the city, Memory's Skyscraper. Here, Samurai Nobodies materialize in front of Goofy and Donald. Roxas then appears, challenging Sora to a fight. The two disappear to duel on the Dive to the Heart. Sora defeats Roxas, who departs, calling Sora "a good other."

The group then continues on to the Castle That Never Was. They ascend through the many levels of the castle, meeting up with Riku and Kairi, and finishing off the remaining members of the Organization.

After the group runs into Ansem the Wise on one of the upper floors of the castle, he sacrifices his life in an attempt to destroy Xemnas's Kingdom Hearts, the blast returning Riku to his original form. The group make their way to the top floor, where they confront and defeat Xemnas, leader of Organization XIII.

During the extensive final battle with Xemnas, much of the Dark City and the Castle That Never Was is destroyed. Chunks of building are ripped up and thrown at Sora and Riku, and the main tower collapses off the castle. What ultimately happens to The World That Never Was following Xemnas's defeat remains unknown.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
After Sora and Riku successfully unlock all seven sleeping Keyholes, Sora arrives at The World That Never Was, where he is then greeted by Xigbar. Xigbar explains that the Real Organization XIII has been guiding the still-sleeping Sora through the Sleeping Worlds to The World That Never Was since his exam began, and that the Robed Figure was present the night when Destiny Islands was swallowed by darkness in order to be there when Sora entered the Sleeping Worlds. Xigbar then puts Sora into a second sleep.

Meanwhile, Riku arrives in the Castle That Never Was, wondering why he has not awoken yet with the exam supposed to be over. He travels through the castle to find Sora trapped in a sphere of darkness. Riku tries to awaken Sora, but the darkness around the sphere turns into the Anti Black Coat Nightmare, who Riku engages and defeats in battle. Riku is then swallowed by darkness and confronted by Ansem before he gets a chance to wake Sora.

The still-dreaming Sora sees illusions of Kairi, Riku, Aqua, and Terra, while Sora takes on Ventus's appearance. Upon the dream's end, Sora asks Xigbar whether everything he had seen was implanted by the Organization. Xigbar clarifies that the visions were a dream, as it was impossible for the Organization to insert false memories and visions into his head. Xigbar then leaves Sora to battle with Xemnas, whom Sora defeats. Sora proceeds to collapse from exhaustion, and is then consumed in darkness. Young Xehanort appears and reveals his plan to turn Sora into the thirteenth member of the true Organization. Sora falls unconscious shortly after and is then taken to Where Nothing Gathers.

Riku ultimately prevails against Ansem and travels to Where Nothing Gathers, where Riku finds the unconscious Sora. The cloaked members of the True Organization XIII materialize on the thrones, and Young Xehanort prepares himself to greet the recompleted Master Xehanort. King Mickey interrupts and freezes the group with Stopza, but Young Xehanort recovers and knocks him away, and summons a Keyblade to battle Riku. Riku defeats Young Xehanort just as Mickey's spell breaks, and Master Xehanort reforms.

Master Xehanort announces his plans to create the χ-blade again, after his experiment with Ventus and Vanitas proved a failure. Master Xehanort then prepares to turn Sora into his final vessel as Xemnas and Ansem restrain Riku and Mickey. However, Lea arrives and protects Sora from Xehanort's attack. Riku, Mickey, and Lea escape from The World That Never Was with the timely aid of Donald and Goofy. The members of the Organization then fade into darkness and return to their proper places in time.

Kingdom Hearts III
The World That Never Was appears in various flashbacks when Riku and Mickey recall their encounter with Xehanort at Where Nothing Gathers.

Notes and references
Illusiopolis Die Welt die niemals war