Radiant Garden

Radiant Garden, also known as The Radiant Garden, is an explorable world in Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. It is also featured in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III, although only in cutscenes. Radiant Garden is the home world of many Final Fantasy characters within the series, as well as the original home world of Kairi, Ansem the Wise, and many of the members of Organization XIII's human forms.

A ruined incarnation of this world appears in , Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts coded, under the name "Hollow Bastion", consisting primarily of the castle that lies in the center of the world, with the areas outside mostly destroyed. Even after its restoration, it continues to go by this name until the events of Kingdom Hearts II.

After the world was reduced to just the castle, following an assault by the Heartless, it is called simply "Hollow Bastion". It regains its name in Kingdom Hearts II after Tron finds a record of its former glory in the computer's database and shows everyone how the town used to look, causing everyone from the Radiant Garden to remember its name. This world is run by Ansem the Wise and the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee in Kingdom Hearts II. As the ruined Hollow Bastion, the world is controlled by Maleficent.

In Kingdom Hearts II, the Radiant Garden plays a similar role to Traverse Town from Kingdom Hearts, as a sort of "home base" for Sora before his return to the Destiny Islands.

Development
Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, Cloud, Tifa, and Cid were originally set to appear in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep but were removed from the game because, according to Nomura, there were too many plot lines already, and it would have gotten confusing.

Pre-release screenshots and trailers for Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep showed Terra conversing with and carrying Ventus in The Great Maw. However, this area wasn't included in the final game and the scene was moved to the Land of Departure.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
The Chūō Hiroba (中央広場) is a square located in the middle of the world. Going northwest will take the protagonist to the Teien (庭園). Going east, the protagonist will find a flight of stairs leading to the Shōmen Tobira Kuchi (正面扉口). Another flight of stairs going up will take the protagonist to Hollow Bastion. Back from the square, going east takes the protagonist to the Jūtakugai (住宅街). From here, the protagonist can access Mārin no Ie (マーリンの家).

Once the protagonist leaves the Castle Town, there is a path that will lead them to the Funsui Hiroba (噴水広場). The upper section (not the middle) of this place is the Suiro (水路), Radiant Garden's irrigation system. Past this place is the world's Dōryoku-ro (動力炉).

The Central Square has another door, past two flights of stairs, one on either side, which will take the protagonist to the Entoransu (エントランス). Past that are the Jōgai Teien (城外庭園). There is a secret door in the middle of this place, which leads to the Jōka Shisetsu (浄化施設), which is situated below the gardens.

The Town
Sora first arrives in the Radiant Garden (still known as Hollow Bastion at the time) at the Shōten Machi (商店街) which houses the world's Moogle shop, as well as Scrooge McDuck and the accessory, weapon, and items shops of his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Down the stairs past the item shop is the Jūtakugai (住宅街), a residential area where Mārin no Ie (マーリンの家) is located. It's also the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee's base of operations and leads to the world 100 Acre Wood.

Continuing on, leads the Jōheki Hiroba (城壁広場) which allows a look of Villain's Vale and access to the Kensetsu-chū Tsūro (建設中通路). After the events of the first journey to Space Paranoids, the layout of the Bailey is altered; the outer wall of the city has broken down, and the Jōmon Mae (城門前) can be accessed through the Bailey. The Restoration Site contains the equipment used to restore the city. It is also changed after the first visit to Space Paranoids, which allows access to two new treasures. At the end of the Restoration Site is the entrance to the castle, Hollow Bastion.

Outside of the Town
If the protagonist goes to the Castle Gate from the Bailey, there is an old gate similar to the one in Kingdom Hearts. From the Castle Gate, the protagonist will reach the long and winding Tanima no Michi (谷間の道) that eventually leads to the Kesshō no Hazama (結晶の狭間), a small cave-like area with glowing crystals. This leads to Dai Keikoku (大渓谷), a large area where the Battle of the 1000 Heartless is fought. The next and last area is the Yami no Fuchi (闇の淵), where Sora and his friends encounter Xemnas, Saïx, Axel, and Maleficent.

Villain's Vale
The Bailey has a good view of the Viran Toride (ヴィラン砦) which is an unreachable area in Kingdom Hearts II. Villain's Vale contains a room inside, also known as Villain's Vale (ヴィラン砦の一室), which acts as a base of operations for Maleficent and her forces of darkness. The Vale contains a small, ramshackle set of towers arranged in a castle configuration, rising from a pile of ruined masonry and machinery. After discovering that Maleficent had been defeated, Pete showed up here to see if it was true. He found an empty fortress, but was soon greeted by a resurrected Maleficent.

When Sora and co. first arrive in Hollow Bastion, at the base of the Vale is a swarm of Shadow Heartless. Leon and the rest of the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee wish to restore the city, but first need to get rid of the Heartless. After the Battle of the 1000 Heartless, the base of the Vale is no longer surrounded by Heartless. The Heartless were amassed together by Maleficent and Pete for their army and then used to attack Hollow Bastion. The Heartless, however, sided with Organization XIII and did not finish attacking the city.

Villain's Vale appears in several flashbacks seen in Timeless River. As Maleficent treats Pete badly after his failure, the latter begins wishing he could return to the old days when he captained the Steamboat Willie. In response, the worlds gave Pete a doorway to his past to atone for his mistakes. He shows the door to Maleficent, who orders him to go to the past and destroy the Cornerstone of Light so that they may take control of Disney Castle in the present. After losing Hollow Bastion to the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, she deems the crumbling fortress unworthy, and begins searching for a new, grander castle in which to rule, setting her sights on both Disney Castle and the Castle That Never Was.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Radiant Garden, once known as the "city of light", was a beautiful city of gardens and fountains that lay below Hollow Bastion, a glorious castle kept by a loving king, Ansem the Wise, and his apprentices. Much of the history of the castle is unknown, other than that Ansem ruled from it. The three Keyblade wielders, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, all arrive in the town at roughly the same time.

Terra arrives here looking for Vanitas, but only finds a swarm of Unversed in the town center. He then sees Master Xehanort walking down a street and follows him. Along the way he picks up Pooh's storybook dropped by the wizard Merlin and then sees a large Unversed fly towards a mining area outside town.

Aqua arrives here shortly after Terra's arrival. She first meets Scrooge McDuck, who says he saw someone heading towards the castle. She runs to the castle, where she meets a young Kairi being attacked by the Unversed. Mickey then appears from the sky and the two protect the young girl together. They also sense the pure light from Kairi, but Mickey is called away by his Star Shard immediately after he proposes that he and Aqua team up. Kairi offers Aqua flowers as thanks for helping her, and Aqua places a spell on Kairi in order to protect her light should it ever be threatened. Kairi's Grandma arrives and tells her story of the origin of light to Kairi as they head home. Aqua then sees a giant Unversed and chases it through town.

Ven, meanwhile appeared in Radiant Garden after Mickey's Star Fragment sent him there, however, he sees Mickey walking towards the castle and follows him to the front doors, but the guards, Dilan and Aeleus prevent his entrance. A giant Unversed appears, causing Ven to chase after it. The guards prepare to follow, but are reprimanded by Even, who says that the boy can take care of himself and also senses that Ven has no darkness in his heart, or rather it was taken out. In the town square, Ven defends Scrooge McDuck from the Unversed so the mister offers him three lifetime passports to Disney Town. Ven thanks him and runs after the Unversed, meeting Merlin along the way.

All three heroes arrive at the same place by chasing their respective Unversed. They are surprised to see each other, but first defeat the Trinity Armor that forms. They fight together and win. Ven shares his tickets to Disney Town with his friends. Ven tells of his journey and how he even defeated a masked boy who bad mouthed Terra. Terra knows this is Vanitas and bids him to go home with Aqua. Aqua wonders if Terra has gotten too close to the darkness. Terra is insulted and feels that Eraqus sent her to spy on him. As Terra leaves to follow his own path, Ven displays disbelief to Aqua's claims and goes after Terra, but not before telling a disheartened Aqua that she has changed.

Terra enters the lower portions of the castle where he meets Braig, who openly tells him that he has captured Master Xehanort. Terra goes further into the castle to find the last person he trusts, but is approached again by Braig who wants the Keyblade for himself. The two battle, with the captured Xehanort imploring Terra to give into his darkness. Terra eventually does so, and shoots a Dark Firaga at Braig's face, giving him the scars he appears with later and blinding one of his eyes. Terra and Xehanort form a pact to work together to destroy Vanitas. Terra then prepares to leave, even after Ven wants to come with him.

Aqua, meanwhile, left towards the town square, meeting Merlin on the way. In the town square, she meets Vanitas, who taunts her by inquiring about Ventus and then attacks. Aqua wins the battle, but Vanitas escapes, complementing her on her skill, and making an ambiguous comment that she'll be his "Plan B" and finishes by telling her only to get stronger. Ven then arrives, wanting to go with her as well, but Aqua declines and tells him just to go home, she then leaves.

Ven, after the battle with the Trinity Armor, passes by young Ienzo, being attacked by Unversed. He helps the boy as Even arrives. The scientist thanks Ven for rescuing the orphan, and also notes that they may be connected in the future. He plays with Terra's old wooden Keyblade, but drops in front of two teenagers, Lea and Isa. Lea challenges Ven, but loses embarrassingly. Isa says it is time that they left, with Lea saying that he and Ven will meet again someday because they are friends now. Isa has no clue as to why Lea is so friendly, but Lea responds he wants to be a part of many people's memories so that he can live forever in the memories of all the people he meets. The two look towards the castle, silently getting ready to do something, they then leave. Reminded of his friends, Ven leaves for new worlds.

In the last chapter, Aqua comes to Radiant Garden looking for Terra after creating Castle Oblivion. She finds Terra, however possessed by Master Xehanort's dark heart. Aqua struggles when he tries to strangle her, but she tries to make him remember his true self. Terra cannot overpower Xehanort's heart, leaving Aqua no choice but to battle her friend. Terra awakens the darkness in his heart in the form of Xehanort's guardian. However Aqua proves victorious, and Terra tries to release the darkness in his heart by sending himself to the Realm of Darkness. Aqua jumps in after him wearing her armor as protection. Unfortunately, Aqua realizes cannot save both of them, so she gives Terra her armor and Keyblade to protect him, and sends him back to the Realm of Light, while she stays in the darkness.

Terra's unconscious body is found in Radiant Garden hereafter by Braig, who brings Ansem the Wise and Dilan to retrieve the stranger. Terra can only remember the name, Xehanort, causing Braig to smile deviously. They also find Aqua's armor and Keyblade although they are unsure of what it is. Later, Terra, now using the name "Xehanort", has become Ansem's apprentice, and making an ally in Braig. Ansem and Ienzo then walk by, catching the boy's attention and the scientist's suspicion.

During the end credits, Lea and Isa are seen getting thrown out of the castle by Dilan and Aeleus. Later, Lea buys two sticks of sea salt ice cream from Scrooge McDuck and shares it with Isa. Kairi is also seen picking flowers and gazing up at the sky above her, while her necklace faintly glows.

Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts
A year after the battle at the Keyblade Graveyard, Xehanort and the other apprentices overthrow Ansem, and remodel the castle to include mechanical components. The result is a twisted bastion; half beautiful castle, half distorted factory. Maleficent invades Hollow Bastion's world with her Heartless shortly afterwards. Some residents manage to escape, many of whom end up in Traverse Town. However, Kairi is sent into the "oceans of the worlds" by Xehanort and ends up in Destiny Islands, partly due to the spell Aqua put on her necklace. During her reign in the castle as one of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness's unwilling minions, it is probable that Maleficent either creates or remodels the castle's keep, which has decorations and models of roses and her thorned plants.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Following their adventure in Castle Oblivion, Riku and Mickey Mouse walk through the Great Maw of Radiant Garden. Riku briefly stops and kneels down, prompting concern from Mickey, but Riku quickly stands up and they continue walking.

Kingdom Hearts II
Sora and his friends reunite with Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid, who have started the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, an organization attempting to rebuild the world that they once lived in. After reuniting with Merlin as well, Leon makes Sora, Donald, and Goofy honorary members of the committee and takes them to view the restoration work on the Bailey. There, after a surprise attack, the party has their first real encounter with Organization XIII in the form of taunts and cryptic messages. After unlocking the pathway to other worlds via his committee card, Sora heads out to search for King Mickey and Riku.

The party returns briefly to visit and assist Merlin, who has found Pooh's book, the entrance to the 100 Acre Wood. However, a raid by Heartless damages the book when they try to steal it from Sora's group, leading to Pooh's amnesia and the search for the book's Torn Pages.

When the party is called again to Hollow Bastion, they reunite with Cloud, who vows to go after Sephiroth. They then are sent by Cid and Merlin to assist Leon in the Bastion itself; along the way, they meet the Gullwings for the first time. After reaching the Bastion, they first see Ansem's study and are introduced to his seemingly malfunctioning computer system after a brief encounter with Tifa. After an unplanned trip to the Space Paranoids courtesy of Stitch, they finally meet with the King in Ansem's study, who promises to talk after they finish helping Tron. Sora and his party copy Tron's scrambled data, finding out about Ansem the Wise.

Mickey explains about Ansem the Wise, his impostor, and the Heartless and Nobodies that resulted, most notably Xemnas. While he explains many things to them, Sora learns that the King can't tell him about Riku. He charges them to go find the missing Riku and Kairi, but there is a sudden explosion outside the Bastion. Heartless and Nobodies begin pouring through a hole blown in the outer wall. Sora's party encounter Maleficent, who orders her Heartless to attack, and the Gullwings, who they trick into joining Leon's side. They also find Sephiroth, looking to fight Cloud.

The party makes their way to the Bailey, where they witness the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, the Gullwings, Cloud, and Tifa's attempts to stop the Heartless, as well as an encounter between Cloud and Sephiroth. Mickey orders them to find Riku and Kairi instead of fighting the Heartless, but Sora refuses and leaps into the fray, joined by Donald and Goofy. Their first encounter is with Demyx, who attempts to eliminate Sora again. They defeat Demyx, and Mickey catches up with them and admits his earlier decision was hasty. An explosion caused by a Heartless causes a boulder to fly at Mickey, but Goofy takes the blow instead and is seemingly killed. Spurred on by his sacrifice, the three jump into the battle, assisted by the other residents of Hollow Bastion. After a short time, it is revealed that Goofy is alright and reunites with them. Together, they work to halt the Heartless invasion.

They are triumphant in the end, but are confronted by Xemnas and Saïx who reveals, with help from Axel, Organization XIII's master plot. Maleficent appears and attempts to claim Kingdom Hearts for her own. She helps Sora escape so he can help her find a way to get rid of the Nobodies by sending him and his friends into the Realm of Darkness. There, they find the two clues needed to unlock the identity of Roxas, as well as the way to unlock the second set of adventures in each World.

On the third and final main visit to Hollow Bastion, the Master Control Program has taken over Cid and Ansem the Wise's computers, causing the claymores in Hollow Bastion to malfunction and attack the residents. Sora, Donald, and Goofy go into Space Paranoids to contact Tron while Cid works on a program to delete the MCP. When downloaded into the Space Paranoids, the party is able to retake control of Hollow Bastion's computers and restore order. In addition, Tron finds information on Ansem's data of Hollow Bastion's existence before the Heartless came, then reveals it to all residents, reminding everyone its true name and nature: the Radiant Garden.

Optionally, Sora and co. find and fight Sephiroth at Villain's Vale after Radiant Garden's chaotic situation is solved. If he is proven victorious, Sephiroth tells him to find Cloud so that they may finish everything once and for all. Cloud and Sephiroth emit in a great battle until Tifa arrives and renews his light, giving him the strength to fight Sephiroth. Cloud and Sephiroth disappear to once again finish their battle. Tifa gives Sora the Fenrir Keychain as token for her gratitude for helping her and Cloud.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Following the demise of Organization XIII, Lea wakes up in the computer room and notices that he has reverted to his original human form. He ventures into Ansem's study, where he finds Dilan, Even, Aeleus, and a now-adult Ienzo. They also take note that Braig and Isa are mysteriously missing, prompting Lea to decide to go and search for them.

After Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery exam, Lea returns to Radiant Garden.

Kingdom Hearts III
By this time, Radiant Garden has been completely rebuilt to its former glory.

While following Aqua's trail, Mickey Mouse and Riku travel to Radiant Garden and are led by Dilan to the Central Square where Aqua was last seen in the Realm of Light. Mickey recounts the events of her final moments, and explains that Terra is under Xehanort's control. He then recounts how both Ansem, Seeker of Darkness and Xemnas had each been fulfilling a part of Master Xehanort's plan; though both were thwarted, Young Xehanort had secretly been traveling through time to collect members for a new Organization. They receive a call from Sora, who wonders about how to restore Roxas; Riku mentions the replicas, promising to ask Ienzo about them. Riku and the King ask Ienzo, but learn the only person who would have in-depth knowledge about this, Even has vanished from Radiant Garden. The King concludes that he was taken by the Organization to help fill out their ranks.

Vexen meets with Demyx the night before the second Keyblade War, asking him to deliver a blank replica for Roxas and Ansem the Wise to Ienzo. Demyx complies, with Ansem having a heartfelt reunion with a remorseful Ienzo. Together, they prep the replica with Roxas's data, which is soon called the to the Keyblade Graveyard by Roxas's heart. Riku brings a blank replica formerly used by Dark Riku to Ansem the Wise, who uses his data on Naminé to prep the replica for her heart. Riku returns to pick up the newly revived Naminé for a celebration on Destiny Islands.

One year later, following Sora's disappearance, Riku visits the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee for any leads on Sora's whereabouts. There, Cid reveals that he has reconstructed data on the real Organization XIII and sends out a data copy of Sora to battle the Organization's data in order to find any clues. The ensuing battles yield no results, but the Fairy Godmother arrives, having been sent by Yen Sid and Merlin to look through Riku's dreams.

Kingdom Hearts χ
Radiant Garden appears in the game's opening where Kairi's Grandma tells Kairi the story of the age of fairy tales and the ancient Keyblade War.

Trivia

 * In Kingdom Hearts II, the hidden message behind the painting in Ansem's study reads "TRON DOOR TO DARKNESS". In Dream Drop Distance, however, it instead reads "TORON DOOR TO DARKNESS", using the Japanese romanization of Tron's name likely by mistake.