Parasite Cage

The Parasite Cage is an Emblem Heartless that is found in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. It is one of the bosses at Monstro.

Kingdom Hearts
The Parasite Cage was a Heartless sent into Monstro to find and capture the heart of Pinocchio (and possibly locate Monstro's). It captured the puppet when he ran away from Riku. However, before it could succeed in escaping, Riku, Sora, Donald, and Goofy battled it in Monstro's Bowels. Eventually the Parasite Cage spit out Pinocchio and climbed away into Monstro's depths. Despite being defeated, the Parasite Cage retained Pinocchio's heart.

Sora chased Riku into the Stomach, only to discover that the Parasite Cage had lodged itself there. With Pinocchio's heart, the Parasite Cage had increased in size, and had become much more powerful. Sora battled it one last time before it was finally destroyed.

Design
The Parasite Cage's main body is a large, magenta blob with glowing yellow eyes and thin, rounded teeth that resemble prison bars. This body rests on a flower-like base that is violet and aquamarine. A much smaller pink head rests on top of the main one. This second head sports a jagged mouth, glowing yellow eyes, two short, dark purple spikes under its mouth, and a curled, magenta antenna on its head. Two long, aquamarine tentacles sprout from either side of the second head and end in violet "hands" with three fingers, each with a dark purple spike on it. Its Heartless emblem is between its eyes.

In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, The Parasite Cage's main body is light orange, as is the antenna on the smaller head. The smaller head is light tan and the small spikes on it and its hands are blue. Its arms and base are pale green, its hands are yellow, and the flower-like section of the base is violet and lavender.

The Parasite Cage's name reflects its apparent great appetite and the fact that it is fought inside another living creature. "Cage" clearly references its mouth, which resemble prison cell bars, and its ability to capture opponents.

Abilities
The Parasite Cage mainly uses its tentacles to attack opponents. It attacks by swinging them or slamming them on the ground. It can trap enemies in the mouth on its body. It can also suck Monstro's stomach acid through its tentacles and spit it out through the top head.

First Incarnation
At the start, remain on your platform and lock on to the Cage’s head, shooting Fira or Gravity spells at it. Keep doing this until it’s beaten and escapes. If you need to recharge, either use an Ether or attack the head and cage with the Keyblade until you’ve regained enough of your MP. Riku will aid you in this battle. After winning, Goofy learns the Cheer ability.

Second Incarnation
This fight is much the same as the last one, but the Cage has developed a new poison breath attack. When the Cage gets tired and sags backward for a moment, it's mouth will open. Bash it with the Keyblade, and Try to execute a couple of flying combos during this time. When it recovers, return to your normal strategy of casting spells at the head. Eventually, it reverts to its old strategy, and the player can get closer to smash it with the Keyblade. After the battle is over, Sora and Donald will learn the Stop spell. The party is then automatically ejected from Monstro and returns to the Gummi Ship.

Attacks
Please note that the names of the attacks are conjectural, as they are never given.
 * First Time
 * Left Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its left appendage
 * Right Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its right appendage
 * Double Swing: In which the Parasite Cage connects its appendages and swings them in both directions, characterized for being its strongest attack


 * Second Time
 * Left Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its left appendage
 * Super Left Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its left appendage more powerfully (marked by the mandibles at the end shining at the height of swing)
 * Right Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its right appendage
 * Super Right Tentacle: In which the Parasite Cage swings its right appendage more powerfully (marked by the mandibles at the end shining at the height of swing)
 * Double Swing: In which the Parasite Cage connects its appendages and swings them in both directions, characterized for being one of its strongest attacks
 * Stomach Acid: In which the appendages' mandibles absorb stomach acid from Monstro's stomach and the head fired it as a poisonous gas; best avoided on the ground
 * Swing: In which the appendages mount themselves on the ground and the cage swings into the air; best avoided to the side

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
In both Sora's and Riku's battles with the Parasite Cage, there will be four revolving platforms, floating on digestive acids. Using the Gimmick Card will cause these four platforms to disappear, and a large one to appear in the center, close to the Parasite Cage.

Reverse/Rebirth
Since you obtain the Monstro world card within the first few stages of the game, defeating the Parasite Cage is a cinch. The only thing you need to do is successfully fill the Dark Points gauge bar up to 30 by breaking every single card. After that, whack the Parasite Cage with all you've got - simple attacks, sleights, everything! Also note that while Riku is in Dark Mode, HP orbs come out of the Parasite Cage with every attack, so it is easy to heal, and easy to stun the enemy.

Trivia

 * This is the only boss battle in Kingdom Hearts where Sora receives help from an ally not in the party.
 * Parasite Cage's appearance bears many similarities with the Prison Cage from Final Fantasy IX.