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Kingdom Hearts Dark Road: Difference between revisions
→Story: commented note on partners; rewriting some parts with more info; episode 5 info; putting "x years later" time-skips into sub-headers
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==Story== | ==Story== | ||
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<!-- Base time period (+0) -->Two years after Xehanort's arrival in Scala ad Caelum, Xehanort, now a Keyblade wielder, and his classmates [[Eraqus]], [[Urd]], [[Bragi]], [[Vor]], and [[Hermod]] are told by their master [[Odin]] that seven upperclassmen - [[Heimdall]], [[Helgi]], [[Hoder]], [[Sigrun]], [[Vala]], [[Vali]], and [[Vidar]] - have gone missing | Note: In episodes 1-3, the game will sometimes prompt the player to pick a "partner" character (i.e. the one that isn't Xehanort or Eraqus) in a cutscene. Whoever is chosen will appear in cutscenes and use the "partner" lines, until the story asks the player to choose again. For example: Vor requests to be on Xehanort's team at the end of episode 2, however he can choose to take someone else, and that person will take Vor's lines in episode 3. Due to this, the "partner" lines cannot safely be used for characterization, as any of Urd, Bragi, Vor, or Hermod could be saying them. | ||
A partner cannot be chosen from episode 4 onwards, so cutscenes from that point on have no variations. | |||
--><!-- Base -2 years -->Living quietly on [[Destiny Islands]], Xehanort wakes from a recurring dream about [[Player (KHχ)|Player]], though he does not recognize anybody in it. He begins to contemplate the existence of other worlds outside his home, when he is greeted by a mysterious brown hooded figure. Unbeknownst to him, this figure is [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness|Ansem]], his Heartless from the future, who tells him it is his destiny to travel to other worlds. He then opens a portal to [[Scala ad Caelum]], a world where Keyblade wielders are trained, and instructs Xehanort to enter. He travels through the [[corridor of darkness]], where the darkness begins to slowly infect his heart. | |||
<!-- Base time period (+0) -->Two years after Xehanort's arrival in Scala ad Caelum, Xehanort, now a Keyblade wielder, and his classmates [[Eraqus]], [[Urd]], [[Bragi]], [[Vor]], and [[Hermod]] are told by their master [[Odin]] that seven upperclassmen - [[Heimdall]], [[Helgi]], [[Hoder]], [[Sigrun]], [[Vala]], [[Vali]], and [[Vidar]] - have gone missing while training for their [[Mark of Mastery exam]]. However, fellow underclassman [[Baldr]] has not been informed, as to not worry him over his older sister Hoder. While the underclassmen are far from ready, Odin tasks the youths with finding the missing seven by scouring the many worlds. | |||
Before they leave, Xehanort and his classmates discuss the state of the worlds: even long after the events of the [[Keyblade War]], many fragments of the world are still forming, and those that have already formed flow on different time frames — while one may be far in the future in terms of technology, another may be still in the beginnings of bearing life or basic technological advancements. With that in mind, and the order not to interfere in the affairs of other worlds, Xehanort and his friends begin their search. The group first travel to [[Agrabah]], only to find the world uninhabited yet full of [[Heartless]]. Xehanort suspects the world is still growing and has not developed living beings yet. | Before they leave, Xehanort and his classmates discuss the state of the worlds: even long after the events of the [[Keyblade War]], many fragments of the world are still forming, and those that have already formed flow on different time frames — while one may be far in the future in terms of technology, another may be still in the beginnings of bearing life or basic technological advancements. With that in mind, and the order not to interfere in the affairs of other worlds, Xehanort and his friends begin their search. The group first travel to [[Agrabah]], only to find the world uninhabited yet full of [[Heartless]]. Xehanort suspects the world is still growing and has not developed living beings yet. | ||
They next go to [[Wonderland]], where they find the world has some inhabitants, including the [[Queen of Hearts]], who appears to have darkness in her heart. After experiencing the Queen's darkness, Xehanort and Eraqus begin to deduce their own theories about the nature of darkness, and suspect the upperclassmen were consumed by darkness themselves. | They next go to [[Wonderland]], where they find the world has some inhabitants, including the [[Queen of Hearts]], who appears to have darkness in her heart. After experiencing the Queen's darkness, Xehanort and Eraqus begin to deduce their own theories about the nature of darkness, and suspect the upperclassmen were consumed by darkness themselves. Xehanort and Eraqus simultaneously recall a statement from Brain that darkness can hide within people, and they wonder if they could fight a being whose darkness was so deep-rooted that it was unaware of it. | ||
Xehanort and Eraqus are curious about the Queen's darkness, and decide to continue investigating Wonderland while the rest of the group proceeds into other worlds. After observing the residents' fear of the Queen, Xehanort finds that the Queen's darkness is born of her anger, and that her darkness maintains the world's order. Due to the vow that Keyblade wielders should not disturb world orders, Xehanort reasons that the upperclassmen may have been defeated in a world ruled by darkness, unable to oppose it. Xehanort concludes that pursuing darkness will be necessary to finding the upperclassmen. The underclassmen regroup to share their findings, and recall a lecture from Odin, where they learned that darkness in ancient times would spread and infect people - but that as time went on, people began to spawn their own darkness through negative emotions. Eraqus recalls a conversation with Baldr a week prior, where he expressed concern over Hoder's well-being during her Mark of Mastery training. | |||
Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor continue their search by investigating the [[Dwarf Woodlands]], though Vor gets separated from the group and encounters the [[Magic Mirror]]. After regrouping, the trio approach the Magic Mirror, and are told that the upperclassmen are each acting alone. Eraqus begins to ask about Vidar in particular, but he appears in-person before the question can be asked. Vidar voices his distrust of Xehanort, then offers for Vor to join the upperclassmen's mission. Vor agrees and leaves with him, as she was earlier told by the Mirror that staying with her friends would stagnate her growth as a Keyblade Master. Eraqus and Xehanort recall a meeting among the underclassmen where they discussed why they wanted to become Keyblade Masters: Eraqus initially treated it as a family obligation, but later resolved to defeat darkness; Bragi wished to do what is right; Urd wished to learn about and explore the worlds; Baldr wanted to protect what's important to him; Hermod wanted to uphold the greater order; Xehanort wanted to reunite with the friends in his dreams; Vor tries to think of a reason, but ultimately refuses to answer. | |||
The underclassmen try to inform Odin of Vor's departure, but are unable to contact him. Eraqus and Xehanort get into an argument over whether to search for Vor, or to keep pursuing the upperclassmen - ultimately, Eraqus and Bragi leave to ask the Magic Mirror about Vor's location, while Xehanort, Urd, and Hermod decide to search for the upperclassmen in new worlds. However, Eraqus and Bragi are unable to approach the Mirror due to [[The Queen]] guarding it, and leave to pursue other methods. | |||
Xehanort, Urd, and Hermod arrive at Beast's Castle, where they find that two upperclassmen have stolen the Beast's rose. The group is suddenly attacked by Heartless, one of which lures Urd away from the group, into an ambush in the ballroom. Just as Urd is about to be overwhelmed, Vala, who was watching from above, casts [[Faith]] to defeat all of the Heartless. Vala is impressed by Urd's determination, and offers for her to join the upperclassmen's mission, but Urd insists that her mission is to bring the upperclassmen home. Vala concedes and has Vali give the Beast's rose to Urd, stating that the object is essential to that world's order. Vala and Vali leave through a portal, though unbeknownst to them, Xehanort has overheard the conversation. Xehanort, Urd, and Hermod return the rose to the Beast, and promptly leave the world to continue their search. | |||
At a windy balcony in Scala ad Caelum, Vidar approaches Odin and attempts to say goodbye - but Odin warns him that the thirteen ancient darknesses may be upon them soon. These darknesses are considered "true darkness", have no form, and are the source of most darkness in the world. Seven darknesses were imprisoned in the Lost Masters; four were trapped in the "Realm Between" of the data world; and two were supposedly destroyed with the collapse of the world, but there is no proof of that. Odin advises Vidar to recognize the differences between true darkness and other forms of darkness he might face. | |||
=== 1 Year Later === | |||
<!-- Base +1 year -->Xehanort, clad in his Keyblade Armor, walks alone in a corridor of darkness. He reflects on recent events: he and Eraqus are to be tested for the Mark of Mastery, but they first must travel to other worlds to broaden their horizons - normally, this would be a Keyblade wielder's first glimpse of these other worlds. Xehanort turns his thoughts toward his Keyblade armor, which he notes is protective against darkness, yet some of it still seeps through into his heart. Despite this, he wonders if his heart is strong enough to withstand the darkness on its own, and whether he is the "child of destiny". He dispels his armor, but immediately collapses to the darkness and is found by the [[Master of Masters]], who describes him as "the singularity". | |||
The Master takes Xehanort to the Keyblade Graveyard, where he introduces himself as a former Keyblade wielder. Xehanort is initially distrustful and summons his Keyblade, which the Master then summons out of Xehanort's hand and into his own, before returning it. He advises Xehanort to not go unprotected in corridors of darkness, and gifts him a black coat, which he remarks is less suited to combat than Keyblade Armor, but protects against much more darkness. He also requests that Xehanort look into people's hearts, to see how complex emotions or differences in power can harbor light or darkness. | |||
=== 4 Years Later === | |||
<!-- Base +4 years -->Xehanort, having just put fresh flowers on four gravestones, says his goodbyes to Eraqus and states he is going off on his own, to see what Odin has not shown them. While Eraqus is against the idea, he does not stop him, knowing that he will be back since they need to settle the score for their games. Xehanort then returns to Wonderland to find that the Queen of Hearts, who had forgotten him during his last visit, is still possessed by darkness as he awaits his trial. | |||
=== 6 Years Later === | |||
<!-- Base +6 years -->Xehanort and Eraqus become Keyblade Masters. Eraqus, considered the "true heir", is bequeathed the Master's Defender Keyblade, while Xehanort is bequeathed the No Name Keyblade, so that he might inherit the resolve of the Lost Masters. | |||
Xehanort | === 7 Years Later === | ||
<!-- Base +7 years -->Xehanort and Eraqus get into a disagreement regarding Kingdom Hearts. Xehanort insists that summoning Kingdom Hearts is the only way to protect the world, but Eraqus opposes using such a drastic measure. The duo clash Keyblades as the scene fades. | |||
<!-- Base + | === 54 Years Later === | ||
<!-- Base +54 years -->At the Land of Departure, Xehanort and Eraqus get into a heated argument about Xehanort's interest in the [[χ-blade]] and starting another Keyblade War. Eraqus is unable to sway Xehanort with words and attempts force, but Xehanort retaliates with darkness. Eraqus's face is scarred, and he is shocked that his old friend would be taken by darkness. | |||
<!-- Base +64 years --> | === 64 Years Later === | ||
<!-- Base +64 years -->Xehanort returns to the Magic Mirror and asks if the friends in his dreams truly existed at all. The Mirror states that some of them still live, and reveals the location of [[Ventus]] at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]]. | |||
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