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 controls the world from the Castle That Never Was, a massive fortress that floats weightlessly over the expansive Dark City.

Kingdom Hearts II
The Hazama ni Tsunagaru Roji (狭間につながる路地) hides a portal to Betwixt and Between. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey used this portal to get into the world, thanks to Axel's sacrifice. The alley way connects to the main route that leads to the Castle That Never Was. The first Save Point of the world can be found here.

Exiting the alley leads to the Danpen o Tsumugu Michi (断片を紡ぐ道), a long series of winding streets that lead to Memory's Skyscraper. It is full of neon signs attached to vacant buildings as well as a power plant which seems to power some or all of the city. Many Shadow Heartless are here, but in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, they are eventually replaced with Nobodies. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey took this route on their way to the Castle That Never Was. Pluto also had an encounter with Axel here.

Following the Fragment Crossing is Kioku no Matenrō (記憶の摩天楼), an imposingly tall building that presides over Dark City, in a plaza near the cliffs surrounding the Castle That Never Was. At its feet lies a plaza staircase leading to glass doors, and on its face is a massive television screen, which displays memories of those nearby in Another side, Another story.... In the corner of the plaza is a wrecked truck, flipped on its side. During his battle with Xemnas, Sora was pulled into an area that included Memory's Skyscraper, called Memory's Contortion, in a battle similar to the one Roxas and Riku had. In Dream Drop Distance, Memory's Skyscraper is accessible only for Riku. However, this is where Sora first landed when he dived into this world before being put to sleep.

The left road behind Memory's Skyscraper leads to the Zetsubō o Nozomu Dangai (絶望を望む断崖), a cliff with a clear view of the hovering Castle That Never Was. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey arrive here and access the castle via a path using the Keyblade. It has the second Save Point of this world in Kingdom Hearts II.

Kyomu e no Sasoi (虚無への誘い) is one of the lowest known areas of the Castle That Never Was, acting as a sort of "basement". It appears to be the only entrance into the castle for people who are not members of the Organization. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey enter the castle here. They are soon attacked by Nobodies, but make it to the next area. It is also here where Roxas fights Saïx when leaving the Organization in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.

The castle contains a number of dungeons, such as the Muon no Rōgoku (無音の牢獄) that lies near one of its towers, which appearance corresponds to the one seen in the Verge of Chaos in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Oddly, the bars of the cells are far enough apart that a prisoner could easily just walk out between them. Saïx uses the cells to imprison Kairi and Pluto, informing them that they are being used as bait to force Sora to slay more Heartless. After he leaves, however, Naminé enters through a Corridor of Darkness to help them escape. In the  manga, Kairi escapes through the bars without help, but runs into Demyx as she and Pluto make their escape, and willingly returns to confinement out of pity when he begs her to keep him from being punished by Saïx.

Yugami no Tsuranuku Hashira (歪みを貫く柱) is an area of the Castle That Never Was that seems to be a giant elevator that ascends and descends without actually appearing to do anything. While inside, Sora, Donald, Goofy and Riku may be attacked by either Samurai or Dragoon Nobodies if going down to Nothing's Call or up to Twilight's View, respectively.

Tasogare kara Nozomu Basho (黄昏から望む場所) is a stairway leading to the next floor of the castle. Sora can meet a Moogle here and synthesize new items. According to a flashback in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, occurring at some point before Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Zexion and Xigbar discuss Xemnas's frequent visits to the Chamber of Repose and the discovery of Castle Oblivion here.

Utsuro-naru Senritsu no Kūkan (虚ろなる旋律の空間) is a large, two-part room sometimes used as a combat training station for the Organization. It 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. When Sora, Donald, and Goofy arrive, Saïx taunts them and sics a horde of Heartless upon them, but Riku and Kairi arrive in time to help fight the Heartless on the upper floor as Maleficent and Pete watch. Xigbar enters and challenges Sora himself, but is defeated just as Mickey and Ansem encounter the scene, and the two kings leave with full faith in Sora and his friends. Afterward, Sora's group sprints to the second floor via the skyway and are reunited with Riku and Kairi. Afterward, the room becomes a haunt for Sniper and Assassin.

Kokū o Tadoru Michi (虚空を辿る道) is a small outside path in a high section of the castle. It overlooks the eerie red-tinged clouds of Dark City. This is where Mickey finds DiZ, who is revealed to be Ansem the Wise, being attacked by Nobodies. After they are defeated, the two walk off with Ansem's encoding machine. Sora and his companions pass through here in order to find King Mickey and Ansem the Wise.

Sonzai no Akashi (存在の証) is a multi-tiered mock graveyard for the members of the Organization. It contains twelve, arranged by the rank of each member from left to right then top to bottom, with digital panels in the floor before the stele acting as epitaphs depicting the member's title and weapon. Demyx's stele incorrectly has number XI instead of IX. These stele actually operate as portals to other rooms in the castle, while the doorway to the next room takes the place of a stele for Xemnas. The stele for the destroyed members of the Organization have been smashed, but the epitaphs remain active for those that are conscious—therefore the epitaph representing Roxas, who has already been reunited with Sora, remains active, although his stele is smashed, while the stele for Luxord and Saïx remain active portals even after their epitaphs go dark with their destruction. Zexion's own epitaph was damaged to the point it no longer depicted his weapon, while Roxas's depicts the Oathkeeper and Oblivion he obtained after leaving the Organization. Sora and his friends pass through the graveyard on their way up the tower, but are forced to put an end to Luxord and Saïx in order to open the way to Xemnas.

Konton no Hazama (混沌の狭間) is an area favored by Luxord. The area is sloped and leads to a steep drop downwards. The top of the area can be partially seen from Naught's Approach.

Madowashi no Kūkan (惑わしの空間) is a large chamber with a clear view of the Kingdom Hearts moon, and appears to be where Saïx spends a large amount of time.

Kokū o Mezasu Michi (虚空を目指す道) is an exterior passage which leads to Xemnas's tower. Eerie red and blue vapors leak from Ruin and Creation's Passage and out onto the walkway.

Hakai to Sōzō no Kairō (破壊と創造の回廊) is the biggest area in the castle with platforms floating in the air. Invisible paths can be used to reach each platform and eventually navigate to the other side. The room is filled with swirling red and blue smoke, with some collecting in a spiral at the top of the chamber. There are numerous windows at the sides of the room.

The Kokū no Saidan (虚空の祭壇) is a giant tower that is high above the rest of the castle. Hidden off the side is a glider. Xemnas often comes here to commune with Kingdom Hearts or present it to the other members. After Sora and his friends confront Xemnas here and he retreats into this Kingdom Hearts, the worlds create a doorway leading within so that Sora and his friends to follow him. The tower later collapses after Xemnas's Dragon Form collides into its side.

Kioku no Yugami (記憶の歪み) is a strange, wavering illusion of the Memory's Skyscraper that Xemnas draws Sora into for a battle. As it is an illusion, Sora cannot "return" here, but a simulation of it can be found within the Garden of Assemblage.

Kyomu ga Tsudou Basho (虚無が集う場所), known to Organization members as the Round Room (円卓), is a circular room containing throne-like chairs ranging in height, where the Nobodies of Organization XIII can gather and discuss developments and for Xemnas to give out orders. There are thirteen throne-like pillars which each member uses as a seat, but these pillars can move up or down at the user's will, or at the leader's. Out of respect for their leader, the other members keep their thrones below Xemnas's, and later, Xehanort's.

The seats are arranged in a circle with Xemnas at the prominent seat. At Xemnas's left are the odd numbered members, and to his right are the even numbered members, increasing in numerical value up until number thirteen, Roxas's seat. The "fourteenth member", Xion, has no throne as she was neither a true member nor even a real Nobody, but a replica meant to absorb Roxas so she would gain his powers, thus the reason for the group's name remaining as "Organization XIII". In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Riku and Mickey Mouse battle Ansem, Xemnas, Young Xehanort, and the other members of the real Organization XIII in Where Nothing Gathers, while attempting to rescue Sora, who was rendered comatose and captured by Master Xehanort to become a new vessel for himself, who sits in Xemnas's throne while watching the struggle. After the battle, Master Xehanort lifts the throne Sora is in and tries to put a fragment of his heart on him. Fortunately, Lea appears and rescues Sora. Shortly afterwards, Donald and Goofy also appear and literally fall on top of Ansem's Guardian, which had captured Riku and Mickey, just before the real Organization XIII vanishes and each of his members returns to its own time.

The World of Nothing
After Xemnas's first defeat within Memory's Contortion, he flees into his Kingdom Hearts. However, a door appears that leads Sora and his friends within that Kingdom Hearts to an area named "The World of Nothing". The first area inside the door is , a passageway resembling the Dark City where skyscrapers suddenly erupt from the ground in order to repel Sora. A strange black-and-white tunnel leads from this room to a platform looking out on the gigantic Nobody that Xemnas is riding. From there, Sora can climb falling skyscrapers to walkways surrounding the lower cannons of the Nobody, . Once he destroys those, Sora swings his way up to the ship's Energy Core, which is kept in a room appropriately named . After disabling the ship's energy core, he makes it up , where Xemnas sits in his Keyblade Armor, enthroned atop the dragon Nobody's head in a chamber equipped with the weapons of the defeated Organization members. After completely destroying the gigantic Nobody, Sora and Riku are left in Kyomu no Sekai (虚無の世界), a nearly-empty void of shifting greys and whites where Xemnas makes his last attempt to destroy them. He fails, however, and the boys are deposited at the Dark Margin.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
The Yami to Hikari o Tsumugu Niwa (闇と光を紡ぐ庭) is a room in the castle that serves as a lounge for the Organization's members, as well as the place where the members receive their mission briefings from Saïx. The room is wedge shaped with one wall made entirely out of 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, dressed in the Organization coat, that allows Roxas to synthesize panels and access a shop that uses heart points as currency.

The castle has a room with a computer that seems to contain information on all the Organization projects including the Replica Program and Castle Oblivion. In the Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days novel, this room is said to be Saïx's study room.

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. In the Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days novel, this room is said to be in Castle Oblivion, and was Vexen's research room.

Each of the members of the Organization has an individual bedroom in the castle. The rooms are white with metal-like walls, a single bed with the headboard in the shape of the Nobodies' symbol and a window showing the heart-shaped moon of Kingdom Hearts.

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. Sora visits a dream of a dream of the Dark City of The World that Never Was, which appears more contorted and ethereal than the city initially appeared in Kingdom Hearts II, similar to the World of Nothing within Kingdom Hearts, while Riku visits a dream of the Castle That Never Was. Although the locations of the areas Riku visits can be pinpointed, whether or not the locations they visit exist in the real world version of the world is not yet known.

Side:Sora
The Yumesakai no Gairo (夢境の街路) is a large urban area beginning with an enclosed alley featuring a save point and a Moogle hologram. Up a long flight of stairs lies a piece of 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. Another building has similar white stripes and can be destroyed by using a Reality Shift. The pattern on these stripes are similar to the ones seen in the area of the final battle against Xemnas in Kingdom Hearts II. 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 Memory's Skyscraper and flows through the streets. 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. Beyond this tower, the pavement is revealed to be floating and broken, away from the rest of the city and leads off into a more urban area.

The Avenue to Dreams directly leads to the Yugami ni Michita Machi (歪みに満ちた街), which seems to emerge from a canyon of strange blue-green rock. This area does not have a save point. Much of the architecture here is coated in blue-green mist. Many buildings float of their own accord, attached to chunks of rock separate from the road, and several shake and swing. The blue markings appear again on the shaking section that is able to launch Sora skyward. Beyond several overturned buildings, a path of broken pavement and destroyed buildings forms an upward spiral. Neon strips and signs on the buildings can be traversed with Flowmotion. In several places, floating buildings marked with red symbols will hurtle toward Sora and must be destroyed with a Reality Shift or they will cause damage. Unlike the other areas, the Castle that Never Was cannot be seen from here.

The Kyōmu no Shin'en (凶夢の深淵) features a large open plaza surrounded on three sides by skyscrapers, with a crashed truck (identical to the one near Memory's Skyscraper) 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 cliff faces and leading toward what appears to be Memory's Skyscraper and the Castle That Never Was seen from the left. Several neon strips appear here that can be traversed through Flowmotion, as in the Contorted City area. It is the area where Sora fights Xemnas.

Side:Riku
The Gensō no Hajimari (幻想のはじまり) is the lowest known area 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 damages enemies of the Organization. It must be destroyed by entering the shield through a portal and using a Reality Shift on it. This will cease its attack, destroy the shield, and create a walkway to the upper levels.

The Genwaku no Horō (幻惑の歩廊) initially appears as a shifting maze. Scattered throughout the maze are devices that require the use of a Reality Shift to destroy. 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 area beneath it. The large spinning ring, the large crater underneath the castle, and several support beams can be seen from the walk.

Kyojitsu o Tsumugu Kairō (虚実を紡ぐ回廊) is 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 rises seemingly magically to higher floors.

The Konton o Miorosu Basho (混沌を見下ろす場所) is primarily a large, slightly curved balcony. The only way out of it is to take the elevator back to the lower levels, or to use Flowmotion on the massive pipes attached to the walls. Several other, smaller balconies sit on the wall with no way on or off but through Flowmotion. Eventually, up the wall, one reaches another small balcony attached to a larger one by a staircase. A narrow bridge off this area connects to the multi-turreted tower, where Riku fights the Anti Black Coat Nightmare, that can be traversed by using Flowmotion on a large pipe. The roof of this tower is also considered a part of the Verge of Chaos. This very tower can be seen far away from outside the castle, where its location is on its left side.

The Toki no Saidan (時の祭壇) is an area visited only during the battle with Young Xehanort. After being possessed by his future Master Xehanort self, Young Xehanort transports Riku and himself to the Sanctum of Time in a similar fashion to how Ansem, Seeker of Darkness transported Riku to the facsimile of Kingdom Hearts in the final battle of Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories. The battlefield is a large circular area with several cogs and clockwork devices integrated below the floor as well as atop pillars on either side of the battlefield, and it 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 symbol.

Yami e no Sasoi (闇への誘い) is an arena-shaped area with a spiraling violet vortex below. Streams of darkness rise around the central area. This is where Riku fights Ansem, Seeker of Darkness the first time during his Mark of Mastery exam. A platform may appear in the area if Riku uses Reality Shift on Ansem.

Yami no Hate (闇の果て) is a long arena that has huge dark pillars that resemble the ones found in the Realm of Darkness and a violet spiral in front of the place. In the back, there is a bottomless abyss. This is the place where Riku fights Ansem, Seeker of Darkness in his second form.

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