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Antipode Act 2: Rough Outline [OUTDATED, pending updates]
Beginning/Twilight Town
• The story begins with Riku, Donald, Goofy, and Kairi resting at night, still lost on that long road.
• However, they are interrupted when a mysterious man in red appears, beckoning Riku and his friends to follow him.
• He leads them through a dark corridor into the old mansion in Twilight Town, where he introduces himself as DiZ and warns of a great danger approaching, far greater than the Heartless. Evidently, an Organization of beings known as Nobodies threatens the very balance of the worlds.
• After some deliberation, Riku offers to help gather information on the Organization. After all, he already has plans to visit other worlds in search of Sora, so he might as well kill two birds with one stone.
• Meanwhile in Hollow Bastion, Sora catches sight of two cloaked figures terrorizing the town. He stealthily follows along, quickly discovering that one of the boys looks identical to Riku, while the other goes by the name 'Sora' and speaks in Ven's voice.
• The two discuss some kind of revenge scheme involving scaring the townsfolk and setting Leon off. Horrified by what he sees and hears, Sora takes off in search of Riku so that he can deliver a warning.
• Back in Twilight Town, Riku helps Kairi purchase a weapon, while Donald and Goofy gather supplies. After picking out a rapier for her, the two meet up with Donald and Goofy and make plans to take off in order to get Kairi some proper training and check up on the outside world.
• Little do they realize, Sora managed to find his way to Twilight Town. By the time they get back to their ship, they uncover a cryptic note, warning them to go to Hollow Bastion before something bad happens. Without any other leads, the group takes off without any hesitation.
Hollow Bastion
• They arrive to a poor welcome; townspeople scatter at the very sight of Riku. Even Leon seems to distrust Riku after he and some other boy supposedly caused mass destruction throughout the town.
• Though Riku tries to make a case for himself, Leon's not entirely convinced. It's not until Kairi, Donald, and Goofy vouch for him that he lightens up and points them in the direction of the impostor.
• They hurry into the Bailey, where they encounter a boy in a black coat. However, they soon realize that it's not Riku's impostor but a younger boy with spiky, blonde hair.
• He accuses Riku of being a replica, leading to an irritating argument. Eventually, he draws two wing-shaped swords and claims that the real Riku is his best friend. Naturally, this leaves Riku on-edge, as he starts to wonder who this boy really is.
• A fight ensues, with the group taking on the boy together. His speedy combos and dashing moves make him a pain to deal with, but they manage for the most part.
• However, before Riku can take him out, he's struck down by a Keyblade. Within moments, he comes face to face with the Replica, who taunts Riku, accuses him of stealing his life, and ends up isolating both him and Kairi by trapping Donald and Goofy behind a barrier.
• What's more, he ends up calling the blond boy "Sora," and when Kairi asks if it's true, he silently confirms it. Riku's left wondering just why Sora would side with an obvious impostor and what happened to his memories.
• But there's little time to dwell on it when the Replica isn't afraid of turning his blade on Kairi. A fight follows, with Riku constantly trying to keep Kairi safe, all while trying to deal with XIII and the Replica on his own.
• The fight goes on for a while, with Riku getting severely roughed up, Kairi having to spam fire spells for support, and the two boys tag-teaming whenever they get the chance. Fortunately, Riku does manage to turn things around with some help from Kairi, and before long the two boys retreat... but not before taunting Riku some more.
• He and his friends are left to ponder what they just learned. Eventually, they head back to the Borough in order to tell Leon what happened.
• He leads them into Merlin's house, where they're reunited with Yuffie, Cid, Leon, and some others including Belle, Beast, and Cinderella. Though Merlin is not there and hasn't been seen in ages, the Fairy Godmother also resides in the house and has been helping out from time to time.
• Leon finally addresses a major issue-- the fact that the door is still open. It leads to a tense conversation between Riku and himself, up until Kairi and Aerith butt in and calm him down... somewhat.
• Riku explains the encounter with the Replica as well as their initial meeting with DiZ, where they learned about the Organization.
• Upon learning that Kairi's only had one week of training, the Fairy Godmother offers to teach her several new spells to make things easier.
• Before he and the others leave, Riku assures Leon and the others that he'll set things right once he finds Sora and deals with the Replica. With that, he and his friends depart to take care of some training in Olympus before resuming their journey.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica returns and gets into an argument with Saïx because he drew too much attention to himself. Of course, the Replica brushes off everything he says and gains quite a crowd in the process. After all, few actually dare to speak up to Saïx.
• Of course, Saïx can do little to stop the Replica, for he's been given direct orders by Xemnas to play along.
• With that, the Replica and XIII go visit with Naminé.
Sword in the Stone world
• Our heroes venture off to the world of the Sword in the Stone, encountering a massive number of Heartless right outside the castle. After putting up a good fight, Sir Ector emerges from inside, awestruck by the group's skill at defeating the Heartless. He even goes so far as to tell Kay that he could learn a thing or two from the likes of them. Unfortunately, while impressed that they eliminated the Heartless, it doesn't take long for him to accuse them of witchcraft and heresy. After all, a woman fighting? Strange, enchanted weapons, and talking animals? While thankful for their help, he orders them to leave immediately, for black magic is not welcome in his castle.
• The group prepares to turn back when Arthur and Merlin appear, along with Archimedes the owl.
• Arthur, unlike Sir Ector, shows genuine appreciation and admiration for the skill of Riku and his friends. He begins asking all kinds of questions, like where they came from, who taught them how to fight, and so on. Of course, before he can get too far, Merlin butts in, giving the group a proper introduction to both 'Wart' and his owl.
• Not only that, but Merlin soon reveals that the Heartless population has increased exponentially since the arrival of strange men in black coats. Yes, it seems that the Organization has already arrived, forcing Riku and his friends to pick up the pace.
• Merlin, however, is one step ahead of them, having investigated the Heartless influx since he sensed a strong influx of darkness in his home world. Thus, he decided to investigate, all while providing Arthur with a proper education.
• There's just a few problems. First of all, Arthur is torn between becoming a squire and furthering his education. Second, Ector keeps accusing Merlin of black magic. It doesn't help that Heartless keep appearing, too, and Merlin points out that the Keyhole has yet to be found.
• But, given that Keyholes often tend to be in crucial locations, Merlin suggests that the group travels to London, where suspicious Heartless activity has surfaced.
• Meanwhile, Sora scours London, fighting off Heartless until he eventually stumbles upon Madam Mim. The two end up fighting one another with Mim utilizing her black sorcery, forcing Sora to stay on his toes.
• When Riku's group arrives in London, they find the place in tatters. Terrible weather brews overhead. More Heartless rampage all around, leaving the streets completely barren. The group splits up, and as Riku and Kairi search for a source, they spot traces of green flames and catch a black figure zipping by. Enormous foot prints suggest that something dangerous is afoot and, before long, they stumble upon Mim in her dragon form.
• She combats the two with her twisted sorcery, forcing Riku and Kairi to use their wits to overcome her. In order to escape, Kairi nails her with a Sleep spell, and the two soon catch up with Donald and Goofy.
• It's a reunion cut short, however, when Mim finally catches up with them. Soon the entire group is forced to combat Mim's sorcery and a swarm of Heartless to boot. She casts silence on Donald, turns Goofy's shield into a pillow, transforms Kairi's sword into butterflies and mesmerizes Riku with illusions.
• Though the group manages to distract Mim a little by comparing her to Maleficent and Sora pelts her with fire from the rooftops, it's not until Merlin arrives that the tides finally turn.
• The two partake in a Wizard's duel, changing into various animals in an attempt to outsmart and destroy one another. While Mim takes on monstrous forms, Merlin eventually overcomes her by changing into a germ.
• With Mim defeated, the group prepares to search for the Keyhole, only to realize that Arthur and Archimedes are nowhere to be seen. So, together they journey to the Churchyard, bumping into a very flustered Archimedes, who leads them straight to Arthur.
• They find him surrounded by a crowd of people who've proclaimed him the new king of England for pulling the sword in the stone. What's more, with the sword pulled, the Keyhole is revealed, and Riku seals the world off from the Heartless at last.
• Before they depart, Riku and friends congratulate Arthur and wish him luck as the king. With that, they depart for the next world: Agrabah.
Agrabah;
• The chapter begins in the Cave of Wonders, where the Replica and XIII track down Jafar's old lamp rather than focusing on their Heartless slaying mission. After a bit of digging, they come across the old lamp and release Jafar from his prison.
• When they release Jafar, he tries to twist the situation around to his advantage, noticing XIII's similarities to Sora. However, neither of them are particularly convinced to grant him freedom.
• They free Jafar, but he has his own plans. Recognizing XIII’s similarities to Sora, he tries to trick him into getting revenge against Aladdin, but he and the Replica seem reluctant.
• Instead, he mentions his desire for revenge against Riku, and Jafar uses this to his advantage by pointing out that there are limits to his power, so long as he's bound to the lamp and that freeing him would allow him to do so much more.
• While he remains suspicious, the Replica plays along, as the power Jafar possesses could easily make life miserable for Riku and his friends.
• They strike a deal: the first two wishes go to the Replica, but if Jafar behaves, they might consider letting him free. Little does Jafar realize, the Replica kept his fingers crossed that whole time.
• At around that time, Riku and co. arrive in Agrabah, only to find it in shambles as Heartless ravage the area. To make matters worse, Iago apparently broke free of Jafar's lamp, for they spot him bickering with Aladdin in the middle of town.
• Everyone except Goofy and Kairi remain suspicious of Iago. While Kairi and Goofy argue that they ought to at least hear him out, Riku, Donald, and Aladdin refuse to take any risks. Eventually, they settle on taking Iago to the palace after nailing him with Stopga, that way they can keep a close eye on him and ensure he doesn't act up.
• They notice hordes of people taking refuge at the palace, and Aladdin soon informs the group that in addition to sandstorms, a powerful Heartless has been laying siege to the city. And, sure enough, Jasmine soon arrives on the scene, warning the group that this mysterious Heartless is approaching the city gates. With no other choice, Riku and co. depart on the flying carpet at once.
• Meanwhile, the Replica and XIII attempt to get Sora's heart back with their first wish. However, Jafar insists that it's impossible, for retrieving Sora's heart would require killing his Heartless, who possesses human-like intelligence and form. The Replica refuses to believe Jafar's words, even after he shows the two boys a faint image of said Heartless.
• As the Kurt Zisa approaches, Jafar points out that the boys have only two wishes left. Rather than fall for Jafar's tricks, the Replica locks the genie back in his lamp, and the two rush into the fray, right as Riku's group swoops in on the carpet.
• This leads to an awkward encounter, as the Replica and Riku bicker, all while trying to deal with Kurt Zisa. While Riku keeps his focus largely on the Heartless, the Replica constantly tries to one-up him. In the end, Riku comes out on top, leaving the Replica furious. It doesn't help that Riku questions XIII's memories and both Donald and Goofy talk over him, explaining to Aladdin that he's a copy. In the end, the Replica unleashes Jafar, wishing to bury 'the Fake' and his friends in an ocean of sand.
• Jafar complies, turning the whole desert into an immense tidal wave, but neither the Replica nor XIII are free from the attack. With no other choice, the two flee through a corridor, and Riku's group quickly soars back to the city via carpet.
• The sand waves pursue them every step of the way, with tornadoes ravaging their surroundings. On the way, they encounter Iago, who begins ranting at the group for locking him up... at least until he spots the approaching storm. Together, the group takes refuge inside one of the buildings.
• When the group discusses Jafar, Iago panics. Apparently he had no idea his former Master had been freed to begin with. This alone frees him of suspicion, and the group finally decides to hear him out.
• Together, the entire group contemplates what to do about Jafar, with Iago pointing out that if they march outside, they'll be putty in Jafar's hands. Before they get too far, though, the storm finally catches up with them, spewing into the building.
• Good thing Genie arrives shortly after, clearing the storm with his goofy, magical antics.
• With that mess outta the way, the group explains the situation to Genie, and eventually they come to the decision to find Jafar's lamp and destroy it for good. Unfortunately, with no leads, they're forced to split up. While Riku, Donald, and Goofy take off to the desert, Kairi and Aladdin rush to the palace to protect Jasmine and the civilians. All the while, Genie uses his powers to scope out the city.
• Iago, however, stays behind, and soon Jafar catches up with him, ordering him to lure Riku, Aladdin, and the others to the desert ruins so he can finish them for good.
• Iago dashes from place to place, directing the group towards the ruins. With no other leads, they follow his instructions, though Iago's nervous behavior leaves Riku slightly suspicious.
• They soon stumble upon Jafar's lamp in the middle of the desert. While Riku finds this even more suspicious, he and the others approach their target and prepare to finish it when, out of the blue, a barrier surrounds them and Jafar bursts into the fray, congratulating Iago on a job well done.
• Furious, the group questions Iago's actions, only for the parrot to point out how he didn't have a choice and that Jafar's way too persuasive. And before the group can even fight back, Jafar uses his magic to incapacitate them. He traps Aladdin in chains, ruptures the ground, turns Donald into a rubber duck and so much more. And, while the Genie tries to fight back, Jafar's power overwhelms him, and soon he's left completely unconscious.
• The ground splits, and the whole group gets bound up in chains as lava rises. Jafar orders Iago to free him at once, but the parrot hesitates. Riku mocks Iago for his cowardice, and while Kairi scolds him, once Donald bursts in and insults him as well, Iago starts getting defensive.
• It's then that Aladdin suggests that if they play along, they might be able to turn the situation around... Especially since IAgo's the one carrying the lamp in the first place.
• One by one, they each push Iago, suggesting that he's only following in Jafar's shadow and that he's the one with the real power. In the end, Iago decides to hurl the lamp into the lava, but not before Jafar knocks him down with it.
• Jafar meets an untimely end, and the desert returns to its original state. However, Iago's worse for wear, and the group mourns for his loss except... Genies can't kill. Iago soon wakes up, filling the group with relief. They all return to the palace and explain the whole story to Jasmine and the others.
• After exchanging parting words with Aladdin, the group takes off, returning to Twilight Town.
• Meanwhile, the Replica and XIII explain their experiences to Naminé, and XIII accidentally lets slip what happened with Jafar. After hearing what went down, Naminé starts to fret. It gets even worse when the Replica starts venting about Riku, leaving Naminé extremely uncomfortable. In order to make up for it, the Replica suggests they make a short getaway to eat some ice cream. Though his suggestion takes XIII and Naminé by surprise, it doesn't take much to persuade them, and soon they depart for Twilight Town as well.
Twilight Town Revisit 1:
*SUMMARY HERE*
Jungle Book;
• Demyx visits the ancient ruins to try and tempt Louie into the darkness by promising man's power. At first it works; Louie completely adores the power of the Heartless and the fire generated by Red Nocturnes. Meanwhile, Axel goes off to deal with Shere Khan in animal form.
• When Riku and the others first arrive in the jungle, they find themselves furiously attacked by a group of Heartless Once they make their way through the mob and start to explore, they encounter a tiger by the name of Shere Khan, who 'welcomes' the group into his jungle, while inspecting them veeeery carefully. He points out that he's the one who rules the jungle, so they had best show some respect. However, he does at least compliment them on their... interesting abilities, pointing out that an oafish ape named King Louie has been using those creatures to try and gain control. A laughable effort, really.
• But if Louie is the source of the Heartless, then it's only natural for Riku to seek him out. So, after some encouragement from Khan, he and his friends head out towards the ruined city.
• Louie yearns for more power. While the Heartless are fine and dandy, he wants to create fire himself. But as Demyx is incredibly lazy and intimidated by all the apes and monkeys, he flees the scene. Little does he realize, Sora witnessed the whole thing and follows him through the dark corridor.
• As the group continues through the jungle, they eventually stumble upon Bagheera, who question's Riku's group and their inexperience with moving about. He also mentions how the Heartless have put the entire jungle on-edge. However, before the discussion gets too far, the sound of a bear's roar draws them deeper into the jungle.
• Soon enough, they encounter Baloo and Mowgli, a human boy who desires to spend the rest of his life in the jungle, despite its dangers and Bagheera's warnings. When Kairi asks what's wrong about him living in the jungle, Bagheera immediately points out that Shere Khan the tiger wishes to kill the boy, and with the 'strange animals' appearing all over the jungle, the only safe haven lies within the village itself.
• Remembering their previous encounter with Shere Khan, the group begins to suspect that something's amiss. Though they try to get more information about the ancient ruins, a giant, chameleon Heartless attacks. Though Riku and friends defeat it, they soon find Mowgli swept away by a group of monkey Heartless.
• With no other choice, Riku's group, along with Baloo and Bagheera, hurry over to the ruins, but although Riku and Donald want to charge right in and Baloo ends up captivated by the swinging tune going on inside, Bagheera insists that they exercise caution and stealth. Kairi, being the smallest of the group, volunteers to scurry around and pick up information. Of course, Baloo winds up dressing up in a ridiculous costume and hopping right in regardless of warnings. At that point, all bets are off, and the rest of the group leaps into the fray.
• Oh, and they show Louie the secret of "man's red flower" all right. A bit of fire magic trashes the Heartless and gets Louie very curious. He claims that if Mowgli can teach a bunch of other animals how to use fire, then he should be able to share it with the likes of him. Of course, Mowgli doesn't know the first thing about magic.
• A wild rumble ensues as the group tries to whisk Mowgli back to safety. All the while, Louie attempts to use darkness to overwhelm Riku and co. only to lose control himself. In an act of sympathy, Riku asks Kairi to cast Sleep on Louie in hopes that it'll quell the darkness in his heart.
&bull, Eventually they all they all escape the ruins, they're battered, bruised, and completely exhausted.
• Meanwhile, Shere Khan meets up with Kaa the python, who let it slip that he'd witnessed the 'strangers' using the power of fire. And given how much power Riku and his friends had already exercised before, Shere Khan finds himself threatened for a change. As a result, he sends Kaa out to 'take care of them'. Besides, there's nothing like a bunch of clumsy animals for a quick bite to eat.
• Unfortunately, things don't work out in Kaa's favor. Rather than getting a decent meal, he ends up totally outnumbered and overpowered, and when he's forced into a corner, he swears he'll reveal anything if they ease up. Riku's group then, with some encouragement from Bagheera, ask about Shere Khan. Kaa does deliver this information, but then he quickly slips off into the tree tops... or so it seems.
• Irritated beyond belief, Riku keeps his distance from the others, lamenting over his loss of human form. Though Kairi tries to cheer him up, it's hard to deny that fighting as animals is hardly an easy task. Little do they realize, Kaa managed to overhear every last word, and he scurries off to Shere Khan to spill the beans. Axel also appears, further tempting Shere Khan to use darkness.
• Hearing the news, Khan decides to put aside his hatred of Mowgli, focusing his efforts on Riku and the Keyblade.
• The next day, when Baloo tries to take Mowgli back to the man village, the kid ends up high tailing it all alone in the jungle. And though Riku's gang tries to hunt Mowgli down, they get intercepted by a group of strange and more powerful Heartless than Louie's army.
• After facing a giant rhinoceros Heartless, Riku ends up separated and encounters Shere Khan. Despite his exhaustion, Riku uses fire to set Shere Khan on edge. And while it does set him off, he demands that Riku hand over the Keyblade, which he does... only for it to return to him the next second.
• Khan tackles Riku into the ground and prepares to kill him when Donald, Kairi, and Goofy rush to the rescue. After freezing Khan with Stopga, they flee the scene, eventually encountering Mowgli on the outskirts on the jungle.
• They manage to talk at least some sense into Mowgli by assuring him that Baloo still cares before Shere Khan returns and uses Heartless to distract Riku and co. while targeting Mowgli himself. Luckily, Baloo arrives and keeps the tiger at bay long enough for Riku's gang to clear the crowd and step right in.
• Riku and friends use fire to push Khan further and further until he eventually transforms into a giant Heartless. While Baloo and Mowgli flee, Riku's crew takes on the former jungle king until he finally meets his demise. At that point Axel, in the form of a jackal, arrives and congratulates Riku on his efforts while leaving some cryptic hints about the Organization's goals.
• Riku wonders if Shere Khan's transformation was his fault, but his friends reassure him. And after sealing the Keyhole and saying their goodbyes, the group departs back to Twilight Town.
Sora's visit in TWTNW;
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Hollow Bastion Revisit;
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Monstro;
• The Replica arrives in Monstro and encounters Pinocchio, who mistakes him for the real Riku. Overjoyed that someone sees him as the real deal, he follows Pinocchio to Geppetto. And after learning about their struggles inside Monstro, he promises to help the two escape once he finishes his mission.
• As they travel through space, Riku and friends get swallowed by a giant whale. They soon find themselves trapped with no hopes of escaping and only a path of wracked old boats to line the way.
• Together they journey across the many ships until they spot Gepetto on the deck of his boat. Geppetto, however, finds their appearance confusing as he believes the Replica to be the real deal. And no amount of arguing from Riku's side convinces him otherwise, as he chooses to believe in the Replica.
• With nothing better to do, Riku and his friends begin to explore Monstro's stomach in hopes of getting to the bottom of things. After navigating through tunnela after tunnel, they encounter both the Replica and Pinocchio.
• The Replica argues that Riku didn't just steal all his friends but Pinocchio's conscience as well, which leads to an argument between the two groups. And when Riku tries to get information from his copy, the Replica runs off after mocking him, determined to finish his mission.
• And Riku, being incredibly reckless, rushes straight for the Replica and instigates a fight. This leads to a fight/chase sequence that leads the entire group right down to the very depths of Monstro's stomach, where the Parasite cage awaits.
• The Replica straight-up tells Riku that he wanted to be the hero for once and that Riku's presence has ruined everything for him. Realizing that the Replica means well, he steps back and lets him do the fighting, all while urging Donald and Goofy to help him out.
• As soon as the Parasite Cage escapes, the Replica falls through the floor and Pinocchio follows. Riku's gang pursues them, only to learn that the Replica went after the Heartless on his own.
• When they reach Monstro's stomach, the Replica reacts not out of thankfulness, but rage. He rationalizes Riku's actions as just trying to look good and tries to force the gang to run off. During this time, he also mockingly hints at the Organization's use of the Keyblade and states that XIII is indeed Sora's Nobody.
• The news hits Riku hard, but before he can dwell on it for too long, the Parasite Cage returns and traps the Replica inside. And, much to his surprise, Riku and his friends rush to his rescue, eventually freeing him from the Heartless. And while he reacts with rage, the sudden tremors inside Monstro prompt him to help the group get back to Geppetto's boat via darkness corridor.
• With Monstro rapidly flooding, both groups must hurry to escape. And in another surprising turn of events, Riku allows the Replica to save Pinocchio and Geppetto, having realized he's not all bad.
• The Repica begrudgingly complies, secretly happy that he gets to make a difference. And once Riku's group flees, they come to the agreement that the Replica really isn't a bad person at all. In the end, they decide to give him a chance the next time they see him.
• But the Replica doesn't take his experiences so well. Devastated that the 'Fake' would help him after all the harm he supposedly did to him and Sora, he has a nervous breakdown. On one hand, he's happy to be alive. On the other hand, Riku's actions delivered a serious blow to his pride. Luckily, his friends manage to cheer him up. While he still loathes Riku, he can at least appreciate his chance to stay with his friends again.
Twilight Town 3;
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Baker Street;
• Riku and friends arrive in the middle of a harsh storm, as countless Heartless terrorize the streets. Together, they fight their wya through the mob, eventually stumbling upon a young mouse named Olivia and an older fellow named Dr. Dawson. After saving them from the Heartless, the group introduces themselves and asks for information.
• Olivia reveals that her father has been kidnapped by a creepy bat with a peg-leg and that she was trying to find a detective named Basil in order to find him.
• With nowhere else to go, they along with Dawson journey to Baker Street, where they meet the eccentric Basil. It doesn't take long for him to deduce that Riku's group are all from another world, and he even brings up that some shady fellows have been appearing as of late, likely conspiring with the evil Professor Ratigan.
• Though Olivia tries to get Basil's attention, he's far too busy performing his wacky experiments and questioning Riku and co... at least until that peg-legged bat comes up, at which point he shifts gears immediately.
• Together, they all journey out to track down Ratigan and the shady individuals conspiring with him. Little do they realize, they're being pursued by his bat flunky, who later sics some Heartless on them at a toy shop, while trying to snatch Olivia.
• During all the ruckus, Donald ends up getting swiped alongside Olivia, and the two of them get brought directly to Ratigan as he makes negotiations with a cloaked figure.
• This intrigues Ratigan. After all, he's never encountered anyone dressed in such unusual clothing, much less a 'sparrow' with a silly, magic stick.
• Though Donald tries to beat back Ratigan on his own and get Olivia and her father to safety, Ratigan's army of Heartless overpower him. Eventually, he gets sealed inside a bottle alongside her.
• Naturally, Riku, Basil, Goofy, Dawson, and Kairi are left with no choice but to pursue Fidget. Luckily, Basil's deductive skills lead them straight to a seedy pub in the middle of the sewers.
• To get in, they all dress up as a bunch of thugs and sit back at one of the tables. During this time, a very... suggestive stage show goes on in the background, leaving Riku completely flustered and momentarily distracted. Dawson gets drugged, Donald and Goofy get caught up watching the show, and it seems only Basil and Kairi have their heads on straight. It's a good thing, too, because Heartless bust into the bar.
• Riku and co. offer to keep the Heartless at bay, while Basil and Dawson get a head start on finding Ratigan. Unfortunately, the two of them end up caught in a terrible trap, one that would tear their hearts out and reduce them to miserable pawns of Ratigan's.
• Although Riku's group eventually makes it to them, their attempts to break the trap are completely futile. It's only when Basil uses his quick wits that he and Dawson break free from the terrible device.
• Once Basil and Dawson break free, they rush to Donald and Olivia's rescue. Then, with no time to lose, they all hurry to Buckingham Palace in order to save the queen from certain doom.
• Though they manage to foil Ratigan's scheme, he refuses to go down without a fight. Calling upon the Heartless once more, he distracts the group long enough to swipe Olivia and take off into the sky.
• In order to keep up, Donald calls for the Gummi Ship, which conveniently shrinks down to mousey proportions. Taking Basil on board, they pursue Ratigan's airship. However, only Riku and Basil get onto Ratigan's ship before he drives it straight into the Big Ben clocktower.
• A vicious battle ensues, with Riku and Basil trying to save Olivia, while dealing with Ratigan and his Heartless army. Though they do manage to save Olivia, Ratigan continues to fight ruthlessly in his attempts to slay Basil.
• It all reaches a boiling point when Ratigan, nearing defeat, caves into the darkness in his heart and becomes a Heartless himself. Both Riku and Basil fight along the hands of the tower, eventually sending Ratigan plummeting to certain doom.
• Riku seals the Keyhole on the clocktower, much like in Neverland. Then, after returning to Basil's office, he and his friends bid the detective, Olivia, and Dawson goodbye.
• Back in Never Was, the Organization discusses their recent successes using Mim, Louie, Ratigan, and Shere Khan. It seems Kingdom Hearts is progressing rapidly, especially with both Riku and his Replica on the move. Though Saïx questions the level of freedom given to the Replica, Xemnas dismisses his concerns. After all, what matters is that they collect hearts. So long as the Replica works for them, they have little to fear...
Halloween Town;
• Our heroes arrive in Halloween Town, only to find it... completely devoid of Heartless. What's more, strange new decorations litter the streets, like a bunch of creepy balloons and strange scarecrows in black coats.
• They stumble across Jack and the Mayor discussing Halloween plans. However, once Jack catches sight of Riku, Donald, and Goofy, he shifts gears completely, welcoming them all back to Halloween Town. He then takes the time to introduce himself to Kairi, and the two hit it off well enough.
• However, when Riku asks about the Heartless, Jack explains that he hasn't seen them at all lately. They've been becoming more and more scarce as of late, leaving the world unusually peaceful. Perhaps a bit too peaceful for Jack's tastes.
• But before they can dwell on it for too long, a series of claw-like protrusions appear from the ground, attempting to swallow the group. Left with no choice, they all put up a good fight, nailing each and every Tentaclaw.
• It's around that time that they catch sight of XIII wandering off towards the graveyard. Forgetting about the Heartless, Riku and the others pursue him, eventually stumbling upon the Replica near the curly hill.
• Jack, of course, has no idea what to think. After all, the last thing he'd expected was to meet another Riku! What's more, his talk of replicas reminds him of something Dr. Finkelstein would create.
• Before they can dwell on it for too long, though, an explosion goes off in the distance, and more Tentaclaws attack. Rather than stick around, the Replica rushes off towards the Manor Ruins, leaving the group to take care of the enemies themselves.
• Once they clear the area, they follow the Replica's path towards the ruins. Riku and Kairi make it through in one piece, but before Donald, Goofy, and Jack can slip through, XIII appears and politely explains that he can't let them through. Though Donald tries to butt his way through, it's no use; XIII just won't budge, leaving Riku and Kairi on their own.
• When they make it to the ruins, they stumble upon a powerful Heartless known as the Leechgrave. What's more, the Replica is already taking it on, dealing with poison, an abundance of Tentaclaws, and other twisted moves.
• He tells Riku to stay out of it, if he knows what's good for him, but Riku refuses. He and Kairi join in the fight, much to the Replica's dismay.
• Further into the fight, Riku gets caught up in the Leechgrave's toxic fumes and, in a surprising turn of events, the Replica pushes him out of the way and even goes so far as to heal him.
• Once the Leechgrave's defeated, Riku tries to get a word with his Replica, but he runs off and disappears into a corridor.
• Riku and Kairi take a moment to discuss the Replica and XIII, just wondering what their deal is. Riku questions the Replica's motives and wonders just who gave him and XIII their fake memories to begin with.
• Little do they realize, Naminé overheard their entire conversation. She'd been coaxed by Axel into trying to approach Riku and Kairi, but after seeing Riku's frustration, she shies away.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica continues to waffle over his feelings towards Riku. The fact that he saved him back in Monstro still haunts him. Sickens him. It just doesn't add up. Why would a replica that stole his friend's heart be so helpful?
Neverland;
• After a stressful set of adventures, Riku tries to unwind by spending some time alone with Kairi. During that time, he decides to sneak out with the Gummi Ship and take Kairi to Neverland. It's just a short little trip, so what's the worst that could happen?
• What they don't account for is the fact that XIII is there. And Riku, being stubborn as a mule, tries once again to reason with the Nobody of his friend, but they end up going in circles until XIII decides he's had enough and challenges Riku to a fair fight.
• As the two boys fight, Kairi tries to intervene, only to get caught in the crossfire. Though she does get a bit bruised up, she eventually decides to nail them both with a Stop spell just long enough to try and reason with them.
• XIII is far more receptive to Kairi's pleas than Riku, and though he doesn't believe his memories to be false, he doesn't outright antagonize her like the Replica has in the past. However, once the conversation gets too close for comfort, he winds up leaving the scene.
• At that point, Riku and Kairi depart for Twilight Town once more.
• Back at TWTNW, the Replica decides that enough is enough. It doesn't matter that Riku saved him before, and it doesn't matter that Xemnas doesn't want him destroyed. In spite of his mixed feelings, he clues XIII in on a plan to ambush him at Castle Oblivion and finish him once and for all.
Traverse Town -> Twilight Town -> Castle Oblivion;
• Riku and co. end up visiting Traverse Town to collect their thoughts and check in on the state of things. After all, if more worlds are falling, then more people are bound to show up.
• However, they end up stumbling upon the Replica before long. Oddly enough, he's dressed not in his coat, but in standard Riku attire, including a paopu-shaped charm on his belt.
• He tries to convince Donald and Goofy to come back to him, that way they can all find King Mickey together, get Sora's heart back, and finally close the door. This leads to the two of them waffling over what to do, while Riku tries to reason with his copy. Even Kairi steps in with some cautious reassurance, but it's no use.
• Donald and Goofy choose to stick with Riku, leaving the Replica furious in the process. He tosses a card to Riku with a vague note attached, telling him to meet at the castle at the end of the crossroads: Castle Oblivion. More importantly, the note says to go alone.
• When the group returns to Twilight Town, DiZ orders Riku to ignore the Replica's threat, for it is likely a trap set by the Organization.
• But Riku decides to go anyway, sneaking out to the Gummi Ship, only to get intercepted by his friends. They tell him straight-up that it'd be reckless to go alone and that they're sticking with him no matter what. Together, they fly off for Castle Oblivion with newfound determination.
• But only Riku makes it inside. Before Donald, Goofy, and Kairi can get in, XIII appears, warning them to leave, or he'll have to use force. This leads to a fight between him and the group. Partially through the encounter, Sora arrives, using his speed to help combat his Nobody.
• All the while, Riku and the Replica fight tooth and nail, neither gaining the upper hand at first. They practically beat each other to the point of exhaustion and still continue their fight.
• As the fight with XIII continues, Kairi begins to worry more and more about Riku. She knows he's strong, but he's not invincible. Fighting someone with his exact skills could lead to the unthinkable, and she quickly grows tired of being helpless. This determination allows her to summon a Keyblade, catching everyone off guard, including Sora and his Nobody.
• Meanwhile, Riku begins to gain an upper hand, driven by thoughts of his friends. He ends up utilizing a few summons as well, namely Tink and Genie, throwing the Replica completely off guard. It gets to a point where the Replica's backed into a corner, unable to fight back...
• At that point, Naminé arrives. She witnesses Riku rushing towards the Replica, ready to deliver the finishing blow when, out of desperation, she begs for him to stop. When her pleas fall on deaf ears, she accidentally ends up severing the chains in Riku's heart, making him collapse on the ground.
• Kairi and the others hear Riku screaming from outside, shove XIII out of the way, and force themselves into the castle. During that time, XIII catches a brief glimpse of Sora as he sinks back into the shadows.
• Kairi, Donald, and Goofy hurry over to Riku's side, only to find him in terrible shape. He wavers between consciousness and unconsciousness, just barely aware of his surroundings. He apologizes to Kairi for screwing up, and then he faints.
• But before the Replica can revel in his victory, Naminé explains the truth. She reveals that she is a Nobody herself, forced to rewrite the memories of XIII and Riku's Replica under orders by the Organization. Even when the Replica accuses her of joking, she affirms that this is the truth and apologizes again and again.
• Despite the tense circumstances, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy accept the apology and leave the castle with Riku in tow, hurrying back to Twilight Town. The Replica's left completely speechless, and XIII wanders off in search of Sora and in order to find himself.
• Kairi conceals the fact that she can wield a Keyblade from DiZ when they return, focusing on Riku's well being more than anything else. Unfortunately, DiZ reveals that Riku's heart has been crushed and that the only way to repair him is to get Naminé to do it for them. However, doing so would require extreme caution, as the Organization will doubtlessly try to get their hands on her once more. Thus, he refuses to allow Riku's friends to do it.
• Instead, he creates a replica from the faulty data in Riku's heart, giving her the ironic name "Xion" as a nod to the Organization's naming conventions. With Xion, he intends to combat the Organization until Riku recovers and use her to kidnap Naminé.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica asks Naminé not to rewrite his memories again. As much as the truth hurts, he's tired of being manipulated and wants to forge his own identity. However, he assures her that it's not her fault; the Organization forced her to give him those memories, and though they're fake, they're still a part of who he is.
• He breaks into Vexen's lab, destroys all the data on the Replica Project, and kills Vexen, absorbing him as he fades. Afterwards, he takes Naminé away from the castle, promising to protect her. After all, with Riku out of commission, the Organization has no choice but to let him live, if they want their previous Kingdom Hearts.
• DiZ deposits Riku inside a simulated Twilight Town to keep him busy until his memories can be restored. The town contains very lifelike replications of the people in Twilight Town and covers all the locations except for the beach. However, Riku very quickly becomes aware that there's something off about the town. Unfortunately, DiZ manipulates the data so that Riku cannot escape until the time comes. The unchained memories in his heart begin to fuse with the data, corrupting it bit by bit...
• Kairi decides that she won't wait around while Riku sleeps. He wouldn't want her to be a sitting duck and let DiZ have his way. Instead, she decides to carry the torch and try and protect the worlds in his absence. After a little persuasion, Donald and Goofy agree, and the three of them begin to sneak out to protect the worlds and seal more Keyholes.
• Sora journeys to the realm of darkness in order to try and close the door.
• King Mickey travels the worlds, trying to unravel the mysteries of Organization XIII. Along the way, he combats many Heartless and also helps seal the Keyholes.
• Xemnas, noticing the increase in active Keybearers, shifts his plans. No longer does he wish to simply complete Kingdom Hearts, but gain an excess of hearts to further his goals.
• Act 2 ends with Aqua, alone in the Realm of Darkness, gazing at the moonlit sky.
Outline is subject to change. This is basically just a rough idea of what's gonna happen in Act 2.
• The story begins with Riku, Donald, Goofy, and Kairi resting at night, still lost on that long road.
• However, they are interrupted when a mysterious man in red appears, beckoning Riku and his friends to follow him.
• He leads them through a dark corridor into the old mansion in Twilight Town, where he introduces himself as DiZ and warns of a great danger approaching, far greater than the Heartless. Evidently, an Organization of beings known as Nobodies threatens the very balance of the worlds.
• After some deliberation, Riku offers to help gather information on the Organization. After all, he already has plans to visit other worlds in search of Sora, so he might as well kill two birds with one stone.
• Meanwhile in Hollow Bastion, Sora catches sight of two cloaked figures terrorizing the town. He stealthily follows along, quickly discovering that one of the boys looks identical to Riku, while the other goes by the name 'Sora' and speaks in Ven's voice.
• The two discuss some kind of revenge scheme involving scaring the townsfolk and setting Leon off. Horrified by what he sees and hears, Sora takes off in search of Riku so that he can deliver a warning.
• Back in Twilight Town, Riku helps Kairi purchase a weapon, while Donald and Goofy gather supplies. After picking out a rapier for her, the two meet up with Donald and Goofy and make plans to take off in order to get Kairi some proper training and check up on the outside world.
• Little do they realize, Sora managed to find his way to Twilight Town. By the time they get back to their ship, they uncover a cryptic note, warning them to go to Hollow Bastion before something bad happens. Without any other leads, the group takes off without any hesitation.
Hollow Bastion
• They arrive to a poor welcome; townspeople scatter at the very sight of Riku. Even Leon seems to distrust Riku after he and some other boy supposedly caused mass destruction throughout the town.
• Though Riku tries to make a case for himself, Leon's not entirely convinced. It's not until Kairi, Donald, and Goofy vouch for him that he lightens up and points them in the direction of the impostor.
• They hurry into the Bailey, where they encounter a boy in a black coat. However, they soon realize that it's not Riku's impostor but a younger boy with spiky, blonde hair.
• He accuses Riku of being a replica, leading to an irritating argument. Eventually, he draws two wing-shaped swords and claims that the real Riku is his best friend. Naturally, this leaves Riku on-edge, as he starts to wonder who this boy really is.
• A fight ensues, with the group taking on the boy together. His speedy combos and dashing moves make him a pain to deal with, but they manage for the most part.
• However, before Riku can take him out, he's struck down by a Keyblade. Within moments, he comes face to face with the Replica, who taunts Riku, accuses him of stealing his life, and ends up isolating both him and Kairi by trapping Donald and Goofy behind a barrier.
• What's more, he ends up calling the blond boy "Sora," and when Kairi asks if it's true, he silently confirms it. Riku's left wondering just why Sora would side with an obvious impostor and what happened to his memories.
• But there's little time to dwell on it when the Replica isn't afraid of turning his blade on Kairi. A fight follows, with Riku constantly trying to keep Kairi safe, all while trying to deal with XIII and the Replica on his own.
• The fight goes on for a while, with Riku getting severely roughed up, Kairi having to spam fire spells for support, and the two boys tag-teaming whenever they get the chance. Fortunately, Riku does manage to turn things around with some help from Kairi, and before long the two boys retreat... but not before taunting Riku some more.
• He and his friends are left to ponder what they just learned. Eventually, they head back to the Borough in order to tell Leon what happened.
• He leads them into Merlin's house, where they're reunited with Yuffie, Cid, Leon, and some others including Belle, Beast, and Cinderella. Though Merlin is not there and hasn't been seen in ages, the Fairy Godmother also resides in the house and has been helping out from time to time.
• Leon finally addresses a major issue-- the fact that the door is still open. It leads to a tense conversation between Riku and himself, up until Kairi and Aerith butt in and calm him down... somewhat.
• Riku explains the encounter with the Replica as well as their initial meeting with DiZ, where they learned about the Organization.
• Upon learning that Kairi's only had one week of training, the Fairy Godmother offers to teach her several new spells to make things easier.
• Before he and the others leave, Riku assures Leon and the others that he'll set things right once he finds Sora and deals with the Replica. With that, he and his friends depart to take care of some training in Olympus before resuming their journey.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica returns and gets into an argument with Saïx because he drew too much attention to himself. Of course, the Replica brushes off everything he says and gains quite a crowd in the process. After all, few actually dare to speak up to Saïx.
• Of course, Saïx can do little to stop the Replica, for he's been given direct orders by Xemnas to play along.
• With that, the Replica and XIII go visit with Naminé.
Sword in the Stone world
• Our heroes venture off to the world of the Sword in the Stone, encountering a massive number of Heartless right outside the castle. After putting up a good fight, Sir Ector emerges from inside, awestruck by the group's skill at defeating the Heartless. He even goes so far as to tell Kay that he could learn a thing or two from the likes of them. Unfortunately, while impressed that they eliminated the Heartless, it doesn't take long for him to accuse them of witchcraft and heresy. After all, a woman fighting? Strange, enchanted weapons, and talking animals? While thankful for their help, he orders them to leave immediately, for black magic is not welcome in his castle.
• The group prepares to turn back when Arthur and Merlin appear, along with Archimedes the owl.
• Arthur, unlike Sir Ector, shows genuine appreciation and admiration for the skill of Riku and his friends. He begins asking all kinds of questions, like where they came from, who taught them how to fight, and so on. Of course, before he can get too far, Merlin butts in, giving the group a proper introduction to both 'Wart' and his owl.
• Not only that, but Merlin soon reveals that the Heartless population has increased exponentially since the arrival of strange men in black coats. Yes, it seems that the Organization has already arrived, forcing Riku and his friends to pick up the pace.
• Merlin, however, is one step ahead of them, having investigated the Heartless influx since he sensed a strong influx of darkness in his home world. Thus, he decided to investigate, all while providing Arthur with a proper education.
• There's just a few problems. First of all, Arthur is torn between becoming a squire and furthering his education. Second, Ector keeps accusing Merlin of black magic. It doesn't help that Heartless keep appearing, too, and Merlin points out that the Keyhole has yet to be found.
• But, given that Keyholes often tend to be in crucial locations, Merlin suggests that the group travels to London, where suspicious Heartless activity has surfaced.
• Meanwhile, Sora scours London, fighting off Heartless until he eventually stumbles upon Madam Mim. The two end up fighting one another with Mim utilizing her black sorcery, forcing Sora to stay on his toes.
• When Riku's group arrives in London, they find the place in tatters. Terrible weather brews overhead. More Heartless rampage all around, leaving the streets completely barren. The group splits up, and as Riku and Kairi search for a source, they spot traces of green flames and catch a black figure zipping by. Enormous foot prints suggest that something dangerous is afoot and, before long, they stumble upon Mim in her dragon form.
• She combats the two with her twisted sorcery, forcing Riku and Kairi to use their wits to overcome her. In order to escape, Kairi nails her with a Sleep spell, and the two soon catch up with Donald and Goofy.
• It's a reunion cut short, however, when Mim finally catches up with them. Soon the entire group is forced to combat Mim's sorcery and a swarm of Heartless to boot. She casts silence on Donald, turns Goofy's shield into a pillow, transforms Kairi's sword into butterflies and mesmerizes Riku with illusions.
• Though the group manages to distract Mim a little by comparing her to Maleficent and Sora pelts her with fire from the rooftops, it's not until Merlin arrives that the tides finally turn.
• The two partake in a Wizard's duel, changing into various animals in an attempt to outsmart and destroy one another. While Mim takes on monstrous forms, Merlin eventually overcomes her by changing into a germ.
• With Mim defeated, the group prepares to search for the Keyhole, only to realize that Arthur and Archimedes are nowhere to be seen. So, together they journey to the Churchyard, bumping into a very flustered Archimedes, who leads them straight to Arthur.
• They find him surrounded by a crowd of people who've proclaimed him the new king of England for pulling the sword in the stone. What's more, with the sword pulled, the Keyhole is revealed, and Riku seals the world off from the Heartless at last.
• Before they depart, Riku and friends congratulate Arthur and wish him luck as the king. With that, they depart for the next world: Agrabah.
Agrabah;
• The chapter begins in the Cave of Wonders, where the Replica and XIII track down Jafar's old lamp rather than focusing on their Heartless slaying mission. After a bit of digging, they come across the old lamp and release Jafar from his prison.
• When they release Jafar, he tries to twist the situation around to his advantage, noticing XIII's similarities to Sora. However, neither of them are particularly convinced to grant him freedom.
• They free Jafar, but he has his own plans. Recognizing XIII’s similarities to Sora, he tries to trick him into getting revenge against Aladdin, but he and the Replica seem reluctant.
• Instead, he mentions his desire for revenge against Riku, and Jafar uses this to his advantage by pointing out that there are limits to his power, so long as he's bound to the lamp and that freeing him would allow him to do so much more.
• While he remains suspicious, the Replica plays along, as the power Jafar possesses could easily make life miserable for Riku and his friends.
• They strike a deal: the first two wishes go to the Replica, but if Jafar behaves, they might consider letting him free. Little does Jafar realize, the Replica kept his fingers crossed that whole time.
• At around that time, Riku and co. arrive in Agrabah, only to find it in shambles as Heartless ravage the area. To make matters worse, Iago apparently broke free of Jafar's lamp, for they spot him bickering with Aladdin in the middle of town.
• Everyone except Goofy and Kairi remain suspicious of Iago. While Kairi and Goofy argue that they ought to at least hear him out, Riku, Donald, and Aladdin refuse to take any risks. Eventually, they settle on taking Iago to the palace after nailing him with Stopga, that way they can keep a close eye on him and ensure he doesn't act up.
• They notice hordes of people taking refuge at the palace, and Aladdin soon informs the group that in addition to sandstorms, a powerful Heartless has been laying siege to the city. And, sure enough, Jasmine soon arrives on the scene, warning the group that this mysterious Heartless is approaching the city gates. With no other choice, Riku and co. depart on the flying carpet at once.
• Meanwhile, the Replica and XIII attempt to get Sora's heart back with their first wish. However, Jafar insists that it's impossible, for retrieving Sora's heart would require killing his Heartless, who possesses human-like intelligence and form. The Replica refuses to believe Jafar's words, even after he shows the two boys a faint image of said Heartless.
• As the Kurt Zisa approaches, Jafar points out that the boys have only two wishes left. Rather than fall for Jafar's tricks, the Replica locks the genie back in his lamp, and the two rush into the fray, right as Riku's group swoops in on the carpet.
• This leads to an awkward encounter, as the Replica and Riku bicker, all while trying to deal with Kurt Zisa. While Riku keeps his focus largely on the Heartless, the Replica constantly tries to one-up him. In the end, Riku comes out on top, leaving the Replica furious. It doesn't help that Riku questions XIII's memories and both Donald and Goofy talk over him, explaining to Aladdin that he's a copy. In the end, the Replica unleashes Jafar, wishing to bury 'the Fake' and his friends in an ocean of sand.
• Jafar complies, turning the whole desert into an immense tidal wave, but neither the Replica nor XIII are free from the attack. With no other choice, the two flee through a corridor, and Riku's group quickly soars back to the city via carpet.
• The sand waves pursue them every step of the way, with tornadoes ravaging their surroundings. On the way, they encounter Iago, who begins ranting at the group for locking him up... at least until he spots the approaching storm. Together, the group takes refuge inside one of the buildings.
• When the group discusses Jafar, Iago panics. Apparently he had no idea his former Master had been freed to begin with. This alone frees him of suspicion, and the group finally decides to hear him out.
• Together, the entire group contemplates what to do about Jafar, with Iago pointing out that if they march outside, they'll be putty in Jafar's hands. Before they get too far, though, the storm finally catches up with them, spewing into the building.
• Good thing Genie arrives shortly after, clearing the storm with his goofy, magical antics.
• With that mess outta the way, the group explains the situation to Genie, and eventually they come to the decision to find Jafar's lamp and destroy it for good. Unfortunately, with no leads, they're forced to split up. While Riku, Donald, and Goofy take off to the desert, Kairi and Aladdin rush to the palace to protect Jasmine and the civilians. All the while, Genie uses his powers to scope out the city.
• Iago, however, stays behind, and soon Jafar catches up with him, ordering him to lure Riku, Aladdin, and the others to the desert ruins so he can finish them for good.
• Iago dashes from place to place, directing the group towards the ruins. With no other leads, they follow his instructions, though Iago's nervous behavior leaves Riku slightly suspicious.
• They soon stumble upon Jafar's lamp in the middle of the desert. While Riku finds this even more suspicious, he and the others approach their target and prepare to finish it when, out of the blue, a barrier surrounds them and Jafar bursts into the fray, congratulating Iago on a job well done.
• Furious, the group questions Iago's actions, only for the parrot to point out how he didn't have a choice and that Jafar's way too persuasive. And before the group can even fight back, Jafar uses his magic to incapacitate them. He traps Aladdin in chains, ruptures the ground, turns Donald into a rubber duck and so much more. And, while the Genie tries to fight back, Jafar's power overwhelms him, and soon he's left completely unconscious.
• The ground splits, and the whole group gets bound up in chains as lava rises. Jafar orders Iago to free him at once, but the parrot hesitates. Riku mocks Iago for his cowardice, and while Kairi scolds him, once Donald bursts in and insults him as well, Iago starts getting defensive.
• It's then that Aladdin suggests that if they play along, they might be able to turn the situation around... Especially since IAgo's the one carrying the lamp in the first place.
• One by one, they each push Iago, suggesting that he's only following in Jafar's shadow and that he's the one with the real power. In the end, Iago decides to hurl the lamp into the lava, but not before Jafar knocks him down with it.
• Jafar meets an untimely end, and the desert returns to its original state. However, Iago's worse for wear, and the group mourns for his loss except... Genies can't kill. Iago soon wakes up, filling the group with relief. They all return to the palace and explain the whole story to Jasmine and the others.
• After exchanging parting words with Aladdin, the group takes off, returning to Twilight Town.
• Meanwhile, the Replica and XIII explain their experiences to Naminé, and XIII accidentally lets slip what happened with Jafar. After hearing what went down, Naminé starts to fret. It gets even worse when the Replica starts venting about Riku, leaving Naminé extremely uncomfortable. In order to make up for it, the Replica suggests they make a short getaway to eat some ice cream. Though his suggestion takes XIII and Naminé by surprise, it doesn't take much to persuade them, and soon they depart for Twilight Town as well.
Twilight Town Revisit 1:
*SUMMARY HERE*
Jungle Book;
• Demyx visits the ancient ruins to try and tempt Louie into the darkness by promising man's power. At first it works; Louie completely adores the power of the Heartless and the fire generated by Red Nocturnes. Meanwhile, Axel goes off to deal with Shere Khan in animal form.
• When Riku and the others first arrive in the jungle, they find themselves furiously attacked by a group of Heartless Once they make their way through the mob and start to explore, they encounter a tiger by the name of Shere Khan, who 'welcomes' the group into his jungle, while inspecting them veeeery carefully. He points out that he's the one who rules the jungle, so they had best show some respect. However, he does at least compliment them on their... interesting abilities, pointing out that an oafish ape named King Louie has been using those creatures to try and gain control. A laughable effort, really.
• But if Louie is the source of the Heartless, then it's only natural for Riku to seek him out. So, after some encouragement from Khan, he and his friends head out towards the ruined city.
• Louie yearns for more power. While the Heartless are fine and dandy, he wants to create fire himself. But as Demyx is incredibly lazy and intimidated by all the apes and monkeys, he flees the scene. Little does he realize, Sora witnessed the whole thing and follows him through the dark corridor.
• As the group continues through the jungle, they eventually stumble upon Bagheera, who question's Riku's group and their inexperience with moving about. He also mentions how the Heartless have put the entire jungle on-edge. However, before the discussion gets too far, the sound of a bear's roar draws them deeper into the jungle.
• Soon enough, they encounter Baloo and Mowgli, a human boy who desires to spend the rest of his life in the jungle, despite its dangers and Bagheera's warnings. When Kairi asks what's wrong about him living in the jungle, Bagheera immediately points out that Shere Khan the tiger wishes to kill the boy, and with the 'strange animals' appearing all over the jungle, the only safe haven lies within the village itself.
• Remembering their previous encounter with Shere Khan, the group begins to suspect that something's amiss. Though they try to get more information about the ancient ruins, a giant, chameleon Heartless attacks. Though Riku and friends defeat it, they soon find Mowgli swept away by a group of monkey Heartless.
• With no other choice, Riku's group, along with Baloo and Bagheera, hurry over to the ruins, but although Riku and Donald want to charge right in and Baloo ends up captivated by the swinging tune going on inside, Bagheera insists that they exercise caution and stealth. Kairi, being the smallest of the group, volunteers to scurry around and pick up information. Of course, Baloo winds up dressing up in a ridiculous costume and hopping right in regardless of warnings. At that point, all bets are off, and the rest of the group leaps into the fray.
• Oh, and they show Louie the secret of "man's red flower" all right. A bit of fire magic trashes the Heartless and gets Louie very curious. He claims that if Mowgli can teach a bunch of other animals how to use fire, then he should be able to share it with the likes of him. Of course, Mowgli doesn't know the first thing about magic.
• A wild rumble ensues as the group tries to whisk Mowgli back to safety. All the while, Louie attempts to use darkness to overwhelm Riku and co. only to lose control himself. In an act of sympathy, Riku asks Kairi to cast Sleep on Louie in hopes that it'll quell the darkness in his heart.
&bull, Eventually they all they all escape the ruins, they're battered, bruised, and completely exhausted.
• Meanwhile, Shere Khan meets up with Kaa the python, who let it slip that he'd witnessed the 'strangers' using the power of fire. And given how much power Riku and his friends had already exercised before, Shere Khan finds himself threatened for a change. As a result, he sends Kaa out to 'take care of them'. Besides, there's nothing like a bunch of clumsy animals for a quick bite to eat.
• Unfortunately, things don't work out in Kaa's favor. Rather than getting a decent meal, he ends up totally outnumbered and overpowered, and when he's forced into a corner, he swears he'll reveal anything if they ease up. Riku's group then, with some encouragement from Bagheera, ask about Shere Khan. Kaa does deliver this information, but then he quickly slips off into the tree tops... or so it seems.
• Irritated beyond belief, Riku keeps his distance from the others, lamenting over his loss of human form. Though Kairi tries to cheer him up, it's hard to deny that fighting as animals is hardly an easy task. Little do they realize, Kaa managed to overhear every last word, and he scurries off to Shere Khan to spill the beans. Axel also appears, further tempting Shere Khan to use darkness.
• Hearing the news, Khan decides to put aside his hatred of Mowgli, focusing his efforts on Riku and the Keyblade.
• The next day, when Baloo tries to take Mowgli back to the man village, the kid ends up high tailing it all alone in the jungle. And though Riku's gang tries to hunt Mowgli down, they get intercepted by a group of strange and more powerful Heartless than Louie's army.
• After facing a giant rhinoceros Heartless, Riku ends up separated and encounters Shere Khan. Despite his exhaustion, Riku uses fire to set Shere Khan on edge. And while it does set him off, he demands that Riku hand over the Keyblade, which he does... only for it to return to him the next second.
• Khan tackles Riku into the ground and prepares to kill him when Donald, Kairi, and Goofy rush to the rescue. After freezing Khan with Stopga, they flee the scene, eventually encountering Mowgli on the outskirts on the jungle.
• They manage to talk at least some sense into Mowgli by assuring him that Baloo still cares before Shere Khan returns and uses Heartless to distract Riku and co. while targeting Mowgli himself. Luckily, Baloo arrives and keeps the tiger at bay long enough for Riku's gang to clear the crowd and step right in.
• Riku and friends use fire to push Khan further and further until he eventually transforms into a giant Heartless. While Baloo and Mowgli flee, Riku's crew takes on the former jungle king until he finally meets his demise. At that point Axel, in the form of a jackal, arrives and congratulates Riku on his efforts while leaving some cryptic hints about the Organization's goals.
• Riku wonders if Shere Khan's transformation was his fault, but his friends reassure him. And after sealing the Keyhole and saying their goodbyes, the group departs back to Twilight Town.
Sora's visit in TWTNW;
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Hollow Bastion Revisit;
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Monstro;
• The Replica arrives in Monstro and encounters Pinocchio, who mistakes him for the real Riku. Overjoyed that someone sees him as the real deal, he follows Pinocchio to Geppetto. And after learning about their struggles inside Monstro, he promises to help the two escape once he finishes his mission.
• As they travel through space, Riku and friends get swallowed by a giant whale. They soon find themselves trapped with no hopes of escaping and only a path of wracked old boats to line the way.
• Together they journey across the many ships until they spot Gepetto on the deck of his boat. Geppetto, however, finds their appearance confusing as he believes the Replica to be the real deal. And no amount of arguing from Riku's side convinces him otherwise, as he chooses to believe in the Replica.
• With nothing better to do, Riku and his friends begin to explore Monstro's stomach in hopes of getting to the bottom of things. After navigating through tunnela after tunnel, they encounter both the Replica and Pinocchio.
• The Replica argues that Riku didn't just steal all his friends but Pinocchio's conscience as well, which leads to an argument between the two groups. And when Riku tries to get information from his copy, the Replica runs off after mocking him, determined to finish his mission.
• And Riku, being incredibly reckless, rushes straight for the Replica and instigates a fight. This leads to a fight/chase sequence that leads the entire group right down to the very depths of Monstro's stomach, where the Parasite cage awaits.
• The Replica straight-up tells Riku that he wanted to be the hero for once and that Riku's presence has ruined everything for him. Realizing that the Replica means well, he steps back and lets him do the fighting, all while urging Donald and Goofy to help him out.
• As soon as the Parasite Cage escapes, the Replica falls through the floor and Pinocchio follows. Riku's gang pursues them, only to learn that the Replica went after the Heartless on his own.
• When they reach Monstro's stomach, the Replica reacts not out of thankfulness, but rage. He rationalizes Riku's actions as just trying to look good and tries to force the gang to run off. During this time, he also mockingly hints at the Organization's use of the Keyblade and states that XIII is indeed Sora's Nobody.
• The news hits Riku hard, but before he can dwell on it for too long, the Parasite Cage returns and traps the Replica inside. And, much to his surprise, Riku and his friends rush to his rescue, eventually freeing him from the Heartless. And while he reacts with rage, the sudden tremors inside Monstro prompt him to help the group get back to Geppetto's boat via darkness corridor.
• With Monstro rapidly flooding, both groups must hurry to escape. And in another surprising turn of events, Riku allows the Replica to save Pinocchio and Geppetto, having realized he's not all bad.
• The Repica begrudgingly complies, secretly happy that he gets to make a difference. And once Riku's group flees, they come to the agreement that the Replica really isn't a bad person at all. In the end, they decide to give him a chance the next time they see him.
• But the Replica doesn't take his experiences so well. Devastated that the 'Fake' would help him after all the harm he supposedly did to him and Sora, he has a nervous breakdown. On one hand, he's happy to be alive. On the other hand, Riku's actions delivered a serious blow to his pride. Luckily, his friends manage to cheer him up. While he still loathes Riku, he can at least appreciate his chance to stay with his friends again.
Twilight Town 3;
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Baker Street;
• Riku and friends arrive in the middle of a harsh storm, as countless Heartless terrorize the streets. Together, they fight their wya through the mob, eventually stumbling upon a young mouse named Olivia and an older fellow named Dr. Dawson. After saving them from the Heartless, the group introduces themselves and asks for information.
• Olivia reveals that her father has been kidnapped by a creepy bat with a peg-leg and that she was trying to find a detective named Basil in order to find him.
• With nowhere else to go, they along with Dawson journey to Baker Street, where they meet the eccentric Basil. It doesn't take long for him to deduce that Riku's group are all from another world, and he even brings up that some shady fellows have been appearing as of late, likely conspiring with the evil Professor Ratigan.
• Though Olivia tries to get Basil's attention, he's far too busy performing his wacky experiments and questioning Riku and co... at least until that peg-legged bat comes up, at which point he shifts gears immediately.
• Together, they all journey out to track down Ratigan and the shady individuals conspiring with him. Little do they realize, they're being pursued by his bat flunky, who later sics some Heartless on them at a toy shop, while trying to snatch Olivia.
• During all the ruckus, Donald ends up getting swiped alongside Olivia, and the two of them get brought directly to Ratigan as he makes negotiations with a cloaked figure.
• This intrigues Ratigan. After all, he's never encountered anyone dressed in such unusual clothing, much less a 'sparrow' with a silly, magic stick.
• Though Donald tries to beat back Ratigan on his own and get Olivia and her father to safety, Ratigan's army of Heartless overpower him. Eventually, he gets sealed inside a bottle alongside her.
• Naturally, Riku, Basil, Goofy, Dawson, and Kairi are left with no choice but to pursue Fidget. Luckily, Basil's deductive skills lead them straight to a seedy pub in the middle of the sewers.
• To get in, they all dress up as a bunch of thugs and sit back at one of the tables. During this time, a very... suggestive stage show goes on in the background, leaving Riku completely flustered and momentarily distracted. Dawson gets drugged, Donald and Goofy get caught up watching the show, and it seems only Basil and Kairi have their heads on straight. It's a good thing, too, because Heartless bust into the bar.
• Riku and co. offer to keep the Heartless at bay, while Basil and Dawson get a head start on finding Ratigan. Unfortunately, the two of them end up caught in a terrible trap, one that would tear their hearts out and reduce them to miserable pawns of Ratigan's.
• Although Riku's group eventually makes it to them, their attempts to break the trap are completely futile. It's only when Basil uses his quick wits that he and Dawson break free from the terrible device.
• Once Basil and Dawson break free, they rush to Donald and Olivia's rescue. Then, with no time to lose, they all hurry to Buckingham Palace in order to save the queen from certain doom.
• Though they manage to foil Ratigan's scheme, he refuses to go down without a fight. Calling upon the Heartless once more, he distracts the group long enough to swipe Olivia and take off into the sky.
• In order to keep up, Donald calls for the Gummi Ship, which conveniently shrinks down to mousey proportions. Taking Basil on board, they pursue Ratigan's airship. However, only Riku and Basil get onto Ratigan's ship before he drives it straight into the Big Ben clocktower.
• A vicious battle ensues, with Riku and Basil trying to save Olivia, while dealing with Ratigan and his Heartless army. Though they do manage to save Olivia, Ratigan continues to fight ruthlessly in his attempts to slay Basil.
• It all reaches a boiling point when Ratigan, nearing defeat, caves into the darkness in his heart and becomes a Heartless himself. Both Riku and Basil fight along the hands of the tower, eventually sending Ratigan plummeting to certain doom.
• Riku seals the Keyhole on the clocktower, much like in Neverland. Then, after returning to Basil's office, he and his friends bid the detective, Olivia, and Dawson goodbye.
• Back in Never Was, the Organization discusses their recent successes using Mim, Louie, Ratigan, and Shere Khan. It seems Kingdom Hearts is progressing rapidly, especially with both Riku and his Replica on the move. Though Saïx questions the level of freedom given to the Replica, Xemnas dismisses his concerns. After all, what matters is that they collect hearts. So long as the Replica works for them, they have little to fear...
Halloween Town;
• Our heroes arrive in Halloween Town, only to find it... completely devoid of Heartless. What's more, strange new decorations litter the streets, like a bunch of creepy balloons and strange scarecrows in black coats.
• They stumble across Jack and the Mayor discussing Halloween plans. However, once Jack catches sight of Riku, Donald, and Goofy, he shifts gears completely, welcoming them all back to Halloween Town. He then takes the time to introduce himself to Kairi, and the two hit it off well enough.
• However, when Riku asks about the Heartless, Jack explains that he hasn't seen them at all lately. They've been becoming more and more scarce as of late, leaving the world unusually peaceful. Perhaps a bit too peaceful for Jack's tastes.
• But before they can dwell on it for too long, a series of claw-like protrusions appear from the ground, attempting to swallow the group. Left with no choice, they all put up a good fight, nailing each and every Tentaclaw.
• It's around that time that they catch sight of XIII wandering off towards the graveyard. Forgetting about the Heartless, Riku and the others pursue him, eventually stumbling upon the Replica near the curly hill.
• Jack, of course, has no idea what to think. After all, the last thing he'd expected was to meet another Riku! What's more, his talk of replicas reminds him of something Dr. Finkelstein would create.
• Before they can dwell on it for too long, though, an explosion goes off in the distance, and more Tentaclaws attack. Rather than stick around, the Replica rushes off towards the Manor Ruins, leaving the group to take care of the enemies themselves.
• Once they clear the area, they follow the Replica's path towards the ruins. Riku and Kairi make it through in one piece, but before Donald, Goofy, and Jack can slip through, XIII appears and politely explains that he can't let them through. Though Donald tries to butt his way through, it's no use; XIII just won't budge, leaving Riku and Kairi on their own.
• When they make it to the ruins, they stumble upon a powerful Heartless known as the Leechgrave. What's more, the Replica is already taking it on, dealing with poison, an abundance of Tentaclaws, and other twisted moves.
• He tells Riku to stay out of it, if he knows what's good for him, but Riku refuses. He and Kairi join in the fight, much to the Replica's dismay.
• Further into the fight, Riku gets caught up in the Leechgrave's toxic fumes and, in a surprising turn of events, the Replica pushes him out of the way and even goes so far as to heal him.
• Once the Leechgrave's defeated, Riku tries to get a word with his Replica, but he runs off and disappears into a corridor.
• Riku and Kairi take a moment to discuss the Replica and XIII, just wondering what their deal is. Riku questions the Replica's motives and wonders just who gave him and XIII their fake memories to begin with.
• Little do they realize, Naminé overheard their entire conversation. She'd been coaxed by Axel into trying to approach Riku and Kairi, but after seeing Riku's frustration, she shies away.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica continues to waffle over his feelings towards Riku. The fact that he saved him back in Monstro still haunts him. Sickens him. It just doesn't add up. Why would a replica that stole his friend's heart be so helpful?
Neverland;
• After a stressful set of adventures, Riku tries to unwind by spending some time alone with Kairi. During that time, he decides to sneak out with the Gummi Ship and take Kairi to Neverland. It's just a short little trip, so what's the worst that could happen?
• What they don't account for is the fact that XIII is there. And Riku, being stubborn as a mule, tries once again to reason with the Nobody of his friend, but they end up going in circles until XIII decides he's had enough and challenges Riku to a fair fight.
• As the two boys fight, Kairi tries to intervene, only to get caught in the crossfire. Though she does get a bit bruised up, she eventually decides to nail them both with a Stop spell just long enough to try and reason with them.
• XIII is far more receptive to Kairi's pleas than Riku, and though he doesn't believe his memories to be false, he doesn't outright antagonize her like the Replica has in the past. However, once the conversation gets too close for comfort, he winds up leaving the scene.
• At that point, Riku and Kairi depart for Twilight Town once more.
• Back at TWTNW, the Replica decides that enough is enough. It doesn't matter that Riku saved him before, and it doesn't matter that Xemnas doesn't want him destroyed. In spite of his mixed feelings, he clues XIII in on a plan to ambush him at Castle Oblivion and finish him once and for all.
Traverse Town -> Twilight Town -> Castle Oblivion;
• Riku and co. end up visiting Traverse Town to collect their thoughts and check in on the state of things. After all, if more worlds are falling, then more people are bound to show up.
• However, they end up stumbling upon the Replica before long. Oddly enough, he's dressed not in his coat, but in standard Riku attire, including a paopu-shaped charm on his belt.
• He tries to convince Donald and Goofy to come back to him, that way they can all find King Mickey together, get Sora's heart back, and finally close the door. This leads to the two of them waffling over what to do, while Riku tries to reason with his copy. Even Kairi steps in with some cautious reassurance, but it's no use.
• Donald and Goofy choose to stick with Riku, leaving the Replica furious in the process. He tosses a card to Riku with a vague note attached, telling him to meet at the castle at the end of the crossroads: Castle Oblivion. More importantly, the note says to go alone.
• When the group returns to Twilight Town, DiZ orders Riku to ignore the Replica's threat, for it is likely a trap set by the Organization.
• But Riku decides to go anyway, sneaking out to the Gummi Ship, only to get intercepted by his friends. They tell him straight-up that it'd be reckless to go alone and that they're sticking with him no matter what. Together, they fly off for Castle Oblivion with newfound determination.
• But only Riku makes it inside. Before Donald, Goofy, and Kairi can get in, XIII appears, warning them to leave, or he'll have to use force. This leads to a fight between him and the group. Partially through the encounter, Sora arrives, using his speed to help combat his Nobody.
• All the while, Riku and the Replica fight tooth and nail, neither gaining the upper hand at first. They practically beat each other to the point of exhaustion and still continue their fight.
• As the fight with XIII continues, Kairi begins to worry more and more about Riku. She knows he's strong, but he's not invincible. Fighting someone with his exact skills could lead to the unthinkable, and she quickly grows tired of being helpless. This determination allows her to summon a Keyblade, catching everyone off guard, including Sora and his Nobody.
• Meanwhile, Riku begins to gain an upper hand, driven by thoughts of his friends. He ends up utilizing a few summons as well, namely Tink and Genie, throwing the Replica completely off guard. It gets to a point where the Replica's backed into a corner, unable to fight back...
• At that point, Naminé arrives. She witnesses Riku rushing towards the Replica, ready to deliver the finishing blow when, out of desperation, she begs for him to stop. When her pleas fall on deaf ears, she accidentally ends up severing the chains in Riku's heart, making him collapse on the ground.
• Kairi and the others hear Riku screaming from outside, shove XIII out of the way, and force themselves into the castle. During that time, XIII catches a brief glimpse of Sora as he sinks back into the shadows.
• Kairi, Donald, and Goofy hurry over to Riku's side, only to find him in terrible shape. He wavers between consciousness and unconsciousness, just barely aware of his surroundings. He apologizes to Kairi for screwing up, and then he faints.
• But before the Replica can revel in his victory, Naminé explains the truth. She reveals that she is a Nobody herself, forced to rewrite the memories of XIII and Riku's Replica under orders by the Organization. Even when the Replica accuses her of joking, she affirms that this is the truth and apologizes again and again.
• Despite the tense circumstances, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy accept the apology and leave the castle with Riku in tow, hurrying back to Twilight Town. The Replica's left completely speechless, and XIII wanders off in search of Sora and in order to find himself.
• Kairi conceals the fact that she can wield a Keyblade from DiZ when they return, focusing on Riku's well being more than anything else. Unfortunately, DiZ reveals that Riku's heart has been crushed and that the only way to repair him is to get Naminé to do it for them. However, doing so would require extreme caution, as the Organization will doubtlessly try to get their hands on her once more. Thus, he refuses to allow Riku's friends to do it.
• Instead, he creates a replica from the faulty data in Riku's heart, giving her the ironic name "Xion" as a nod to the Organization's naming conventions. With Xion, he intends to combat the Organization until Riku recovers and use her to kidnap Naminé.
• Back in TWTNW, the Replica asks Naminé not to rewrite his memories again. As much as the truth hurts, he's tired of being manipulated and wants to forge his own identity. However, he assures her that it's not her fault; the Organization forced her to give him those memories, and though they're fake, they're still a part of who he is.
• He breaks into Vexen's lab, destroys all the data on the Replica Project, and kills Vexen, absorbing him as he fades. Afterwards, he takes Naminé away from the castle, promising to protect her. After all, with Riku out of commission, the Organization has no choice but to let him live, if they want their previous Kingdom Hearts.
• DiZ deposits Riku inside a simulated Twilight Town to keep him busy until his memories can be restored. The town contains very lifelike replications of the people in Twilight Town and covers all the locations except for the beach. However, Riku very quickly becomes aware that there's something off about the town. Unfortunately, DiZ manipulates the data so that Riku cannot escape until the time comes. The unchained memories in his heart begin to fuse with the data, corrupting it bit by bit...
• Kairi decides that she won't wait around while Riku sleeps. He wouldn't want her to be a sitting duck and let DiZ have his way. Instead, she decides to carry the torch and try and protect the worlds in his absence. After a little persuasion, Donald and Goofy agree, and the three of them begin to sneak out to protect the worlds and seal more Keyholes.
• Sora journeys to the realm of darkness in order to try and close the door.
• King Mickey travels the worlds, trying to unravel the mysteries of Organization XIII. Along the way, he combats many Heartless and also helps seal the Keyholes.
• Xemnas, noticing the increase in active Keybearers, shifts his plans. No longer does he wish to simply complete Kingdom Hearts, but gain an excess of hearts to further his goals.
• Act 2 ends with Aqua, alone in the Realm of Darkness, gazing at the moonlit sky.
Outline is subject to change. This is basically just a rough idea of what's gonna happen in Act 2.