Well... hello. First and foremost, this chapter needs to be an apology. I had truly planned on coming back to finish this story up some day, but as I was reviewing the plans I had made for it I realized it sounded like a lot of work. And as much as I still love Kingdom Hearts and love writing, after finishing The Tides Go Out I found that I struggled to write any of On the Way to a Smile. As I read through the document, I realized that the only part I was truly looking forward to writing was the part near the end of Smile with Xion, Chirithy, and the Realm of Sleep.
That being said, I also didn't want to leave the people who read this series hanging. Hundreds of thousands of words, years put into it, so many people who favorited and followed and reviewed this story. Thank you all, for all of it. And so to give you some closure, below is the entire document from this point in the story to the end that shows how the story would have gone. Please forgive my note-taking style, it is very haphazard and sort of a "write as you think" way, but I hope it is coherent enough.
On a brighter note, I've been considering a new story starring Naminé and Riku (and not in the same canon as RtT). This would be much shorter, so definitely not as likely to burn me out. It would also be a very different tone; less an epic adventure, and more along the lines of the first 9 or 10 chapters of The Tides Go Out, which were my favorite parts to write of this entire saga. Please keep an eye out for it.
I apologize again, but from here on out On the Way to a Smile and its the final story Resting Tides are officially cancelled. But please, enjoy reading below the notes I had written about where the story was going to go.
May your hearts be your guiding key.
Chapter 13: On Top of the World
-Aqua stuck around
-liken it to Shibuya but not quite as crowded, still crowded though
-They run into the group during the harbor battle. Get caught up in chase scene, introductions and catchup afterward.
-more detailed catchup at Fred's house
-Baymax's name is nagging Lea, once his green armor comes off "That's that medical robot from Traverse Town…" "You've met Baymax and my brother?"
-While gang explains plot of movie so far, get to healthcare chip. "Oh it's like his heart."
-Fred and Lea hit it off. Fred's in love with Lea's fire powers, makes a bunch of guesses about Cissnei's power and is disappointed she doesn't have any
-Also loving Aqua's armor
-Lea and Hiro bond over lost friends. Baymax gives Lea a hug after determining he also needs to cope with loss, Lea struggles against it
-Lea embarrassed to be part of a superhero team but eventually gets into it. "It's like the comic books I read as a kid came to life. Come on Cissnei, live a little!"
Chapter 14: Battle on the Big Bridge
-Laughs and toys around as they test out their suits
-While Hiro and Baymax are doing their flying, others go to test their superhero swag. After some playing around get a call from Hiro saying they saw someone weird, a stranger in armor like Aqua's at the Golden Gate Bridge. GASP.
-At bridge, Lingering Will is fighting someone in a black coat. When he speaks, Lea recognizes his voice from his dream.
-Youngnort says something about them getting in the way, and when asked he had been there to get Pete off Shibuya since he was wasting his time to find a shard there but word it vaguely like he's not working with them.
-Here to stop Lea from interfering further (Fred: "Enough expository banter!"), summons something that's "not a Heartless" (dream eater inspired by Gilgamesh)
-As he vanishes, Lingering Will chases him, Aqua apologizes, looks torn, Lea tells her to follow.
-fight the Dream Eater. Fred "It's morphing time!" Gogo "You're already in costume, you idiot!"
Chapter 15: Heartless
-Hiro returns with news about the island he and Baymax found
-At lab, Cissnei shocked and explains to Lea that the portals are tech-based corridors of darkness.
-they have to explain who Professor is to Lea and Cissnei after identity reveal
-During Baymax's rampage, Lea mentally compares Baymax to a Nobody as he has lost his 'heart' (compare healthcare chip to heart) and has no moral restraint anymore.
-Rampage lasts longer than in movie
-Lea is the one who restores programming.
-Cissnei advises Lea to leave Hiro be, but he pays a visit to Hiro in garage when he's repairing Baymax anyway.
-Conflict between them about "not really gone." Lea needs to believe it's true while Hiro doesn't.
-Ihares more about his loss of Roxas and "the girl I can't even remember" who he briefly mentioned earlier. Baymax gives both a hug which they don't resist, though Lea complains briefly.
Chapter 16: I Will Always Be With You
-In the final battle, Lea's trap is lack of oxygen, because no oxygen=no fire. Later, Cissnei with Gogo and Lea with Fred in fight. Fred purposefully imitates Lea's chakrams when he uses fire signs.
-LEA NEEDS TO RIDE BAYMAX WHEN THEY FIGHT YOKAI
-The portal, Lea and Cissnei warn Hiro that shit ain't gonna fly it goes into the Realm of Darkness. When Hiro goes anyway, Lea follows him because he knows RoD best of anyone there (b/c Axel).
-Heartless attack destroys Baymax. Portal closing, no time to drag him back with them.
-"Baymax… I am satisfied with my care."
-Don't bring Baymax back, or at least don't show it. Story is about coping with loss dammit and Hiro can do that now.
-Aqua returns to Radiant Garden having lost both the Lingering Will and the boy in black. Hopes Lea and Cissnei have better luck…
-sleeping world scene with Chirithy and "girl" bonding, "boy" comes in later
Olympus Coliseum
-KH2 didn't happen
-Ven is here to see Herc. Lea surprised they know each other. Does Lea even know Herc?
-See Herc first, Phil after Hades
-Figure maybe Hades has a way to get "her" (Xion) back. Some Underworld shenanigans, where they meet Hercules
-Herc doesn't know Lea, surprised to see Ven. Herc playfully teases him about his size.
-Cloud there because he feels he owes Herc an apology for KH1. He's not fighting, Tifa has ordered him to take it easy since she learned he has geostigma. Also he doesn't want anyone touching him
-Phil mistakes Ven for Roxas and calls back to "don't be a stranger, kid." Lea explains no he's Ven, Phil "Whoa! The kid from all those years ago?! You don't look a day over fifteen. Eesh, can't believe I never noticed the similarities."
-"Hey, where's Zack?" "I haven't seen him in years he vanished not long after you left."
-Cloud overhears them talking. "Zack? Zack Fair?" All of them sit down and piece things together.
Chapter x: To Be a Hero
-Cloud was experimented on as a kid with darkness etc, and Sephiroth was the result, which left Cloud's heart shattered – basically it's Ven and Vanitas. This is in the far basement hall outside Chamber of Repose. Deemed a failure, Cloud is tossed out into the streets of the city.
-The darkness when Sephiroth and Cloud were split apart sent ripples through space that ended up dragging Zack to Radiant Garden, where he finds Cloud. "This kid needs me. It's what a hero would do… What Terra would do."
-Zack has no idea wtf but he's more worried about Cloud than learning where he is.
-Zack sees all the sick people (geostigma) and tries to get the barely-alive Cloud out, unaware of the quarantine. Cissnei (sent to investigate an anomaly [him arriving]) blocks him from leaving because of quarantine but directs him to a haven: a church. Aerith is there too.
-Zack, Cissnei, and Aerith form a friendship while taking care of Cloud. Talk about dreams, Zack says "embrace your dreams" line
-Zack catches geostigma and hides it from the others, pushing through for Cloud.
-Fun memories in the church
-When Sephiroth wakes up, Even discovers Cloud may have survived the heart shattering and orders the Turks to find him, though doesn't say why, just that he was a military trainee.
-Even has also ordered the Kingsglaive (elite of the military) to go after him, holy shit this is a big deal why does Even want this kid.
-Tseng reveals he was keeping an eye on them and knows she's friends with them, and tells Cissnei to hurry.
-Cissnei has to report their location. Zack's pissed off "We're friends…right?!" Cissnei's upset too but "This is my job!"
-Cissnei calls Tseng, Zack tries to stop her, she holds up hand and says target got away. Warns her the military will be coming after her.
-Cissnei leaves, Zack tries to chase after her but coughs up geostigma sludge, horrifying Aerith
-Aerith promises she won't tell the Kingsglaive where they went. Zack takes Cloud and runs, faceless nameless Kingsglaive soldiers surround them. "Boy oh boy. The price of freedom is steep." And "Embrace your dreams. If you want to be a hero, you need to have dreams."
-He survives the fight, barely, and continues on through rainy ruined city while bloody and limping.
-Heartless start appearing, Zack has no idea what they are. Already exhausted from the fight with the soldiers and geostigma, he dies protecting Cloud.
-Zack lies in the rain, bleeding out the chest where his heart was (plus blood from earlier). "You'll be…my living legacy" scene.
-"Hey…" [desc, sees terra not angeal] "Would you say…I became a hero?"
-Aerith finds barely living Cloud and takes care of him. Put up Zack's sword in the church as a monument, with "embrace your dreams"
-Cloud barely conscious but "Thank you…" [desc] "I won't forget."
-Tifa finds them while searching for survivors. So overjoyed to find Cloud he's been missing for months. She takes them to Cid and the other Traverse Town gang. They evacuate the world.
-Herc has a public appearance in Thebes and invites everyone to come by. Cloud heads home, others go and surprised at his starkness.
-Using Kain instead of Auron. Dissidia quote: "I'm about to teach you pathetic mockeries the difference between you and a real man."
-Hades is working w/ Maleficent to find shard
-Garland, Hades notes he almost envies the dead. Gotta have him fight Kain at some point. "You offer your life in exchange for theirs?" "Of course not. I offer yours."
-maybe Hades tries tossing Garland into pit (Styx?) when he's angry but no sell
-Ven, Herc, and Lea GET UP ON THE HYDRA'S BACK while Phil and Cissnei evacuate people from the city.
-Cloud goes home with Cissnei and Lea. Ven's gonna go find Aqua.
-Garland stops by Hades and extends an invitation from Maleficent out to him…
-More Chirithy and "nameless girl". Chirithy vaguely alludes to losing its Keybearer before. Stay together.
Radiant Garden
-Cissnei goes to help Leon with cataloging stuff
-Bartz and the chocobos again. They've started using them as labor animals for farms.
-Reeve grats Bartz on his fine job raising the chocobos then goes to talk to Leon and Ienzo about water Materia.
-They've been working on making it off screen.
-Lea somehow gets his hand on the nethicite Cid has that he meant for Claymore.
-Cloud's geostigma is getting a lot worse, Denzel and Marlene tending to him.
-Cloud decides it's time for final confrontation with Sephiroth. Lea and Tifa follow him, he's not going alone. Leave Denzel and Marlene with someone.
-Fight in the church
-Sephiroth and Cloud pre-fight Dissidia dialogue (not the battle scene, the talking scene)
-Nethicite absorbs Descend Heartless Angel, it's enough to cause it to explode though.
-Cloud loses hard because geostigma, but then "I am your living legacy" and Omnislash
-Cloud falls on his knees after Sephiroth's dead and starts coughing violently, black sludge oozing out of his wounds. Welllll SHIT
-use the water materia here to help calm Cloud down, signifies they've mastered Materia manufacturing.
-Cid's pissed off the nethicite exploded but oh well
-Mickey stops by for a visit. He suggests Lea check DiZ's computer since he knows Tron was guarding important research data.
-Cissnei comes back
Destiny Islands
-Sora doesn't know where he is, but then finds Naminé. "Namine is that you" "Wait Namine" "why am i—" scenes from 3D.
-Run into Roxas, first thing he says: "I'd ask if you miss her, but we both know you've forgotten. Bet you feel pretty empty."
"I don't know who she is… But, there's hurt right in my heart…where she used to be."
"That hurt will drag you down into the darkness. You have to get rid of all of it."
"No, I don't. I can keep the hurt because it reminds me of something important. It lets me know that what I've forgotten is crucial. That's enough. I won't run from it."
[fight]
"You idiot. You've lost your memories, and the only thing you found in return is hurt. And by deciding that hurt was the key to remembering, you gave up all hope of ever being free from it! Don't you see that? It's a wound that will never mend. That hole in your heart will grow bigger, until darkness finally claims it!"
"I may end up falling into the darkness, but I'll carry this with me. I'll only get rid of it when I remember everything, and not a day sooner than that. I'll keep the hurt with me for the time being. It's all that I have. It's what holds the pieces in place. I accept that."
"…Heh."
"Something funny?"
"My role was to see if you were ready to take ownership of the hurt inside you. And now that role is done. I know you'll find the answers you're looking for, because you're me. And you can feel what I felt—for her."
-Maybe then "no roxas you're you" and visions are of Xion stuff from Days. No 'did they cause this' b/c there's no 'they'
-World fades around Sora as he clutches his heart, comes to in front of Naminé in a white void.
-Conversation from Coded, adapted so talking to real Sora and only about Xion, not everyone. "DiZ told me…" is about data in computer, not inside Sora.
-"She looks so familiar, and… Wow. Something…terrible happened…didn't it?"
-"A remnant exists still, and she's sleeping, but she was pulled into a nightmare by someone who doesn't want her to be saved."
Twilight Town
-Cissnei's still here
-Empty mansion, stops by Naminé's room.
-Find Digital Twilight Town program and activate it
Virtual Twilight Town
-Wake up at station and make way to old mansion. Meet Tron.
-HPO in KH3 clothes
-Everyone there remembers Xion. Tron theorizes it's because of the way computer memory works. This is where Lea finally learns her name, from Tron.
-Cecil working on missing persons' case for Xion
-Name confusion when they meet Terra Branford
-Roxas hasn't been the same since she just vanished and HPO are worried.
-Rainy day
-Roxas has been avoiding everyone, depressed, grouchy. Scene where Hayner yells at Roxas on side of the road, Roxas says nothing then "No one would miss me." Hayner punches him in the face "That's not true, you idiot! We would."
-Digital Roxas really throws Lea off.
-The mansion is guarded by a mystery man in black and blue. The library and lab in mansion are gone and Naminé's room is empty.
-Tron wonders why Lea isn't blurry and 'wrong' to the inhabitants of the town and figures it must be because he entered through TT instead of a back door like Sora did
-This world was created as the plan for Roxas like KH2, but when that didn't work out DiZ used it to store his research data.
-Roxas followed Lea since Lea seems to have recognized him
-Explore replica plot more with Tron since he's not the original, and Roxas because Roxas overhears that it's a simulation. But Roxas doesn't care.
-Roxas overhears Lea talking to Tron about Xion. "I want Xion back! I want my life back!" and "Please! Take me to her!" "…I… […] …I can't, Roxas." "Then…then give her this. Please. And tell her…I'll always love her." It's the box containing the locket "I will, Roxas. I promise."
-Mansion leads to a System Sector that leads to digital Rising Falls.
-"You were not the visitor I had expected." Lea and DiZ paraphrase discussion from the end of 3D, bit from Cissnei too
Destiny Islands
-Donald and Goofy are visiting when Lea and Cissnei arrive
-Picks up Sora. Sora tells Lea about his dream, and though he can't remember the person Lea is looking for he remembers meeting her, and the hurt will stay inside his heart until he does find her.
-Riku isn't sure he isn't just making her up, Kairi says Sora should go but be back soon
The World That Never Was
-Cissnei's still here.
-TCTNW is all that's left, rest is all voidy and floaty. Castle is still thorny from Maleficent. Dodge her and patrols of her Sleeping Beauty minions.
-Hall of Empty Melodies platform is destroyed from Saïx vs Riku
-Lea smacks himself for never thinking of checking here
-Find a portal (like Josh's from 3d) at the Altar of Naught. Cissnei will stand guard while they enter, Lea gives her the Star Shard in case things go south.
-They feel suddenly very sleepy when approaching it.
Chapter x: Pieces of their Dreams
-What IS this place? Sora figures the portal to wherever this place is appeared because the world collapsed during Xemnas fight in RtT. So it's been here this whole time?
-Lea recognizes it from his dream
-something Ephemer and Skuld, maybe hearing echoes of their quotes from x, Lea recognizes the names from his dream in chapter 8…
-Dream Eaters trying to stop them, Lea recognizes the symbol from San Fransokyo
-Nightmare Chirithy is acting all Cheshire cat with them, asking what "she" is to them. Seems quiet on the last encounter.
-at the plaza "How did you get here?" hooded YMX, he's asked that before so Lea "You again?"
-Armored Xion Nightmare (Xion's armor from Days but black) attacks wielding an unfamiliar Keyblade (Starlight). Fights like Armored Ventus Nightmare.
-Lea paraphrases Riku vs Anti Black Coat to show to readers this is keeping Xion trapped
-After defeat, turns out the armor was Chirithy. Chirithy was the partner to a Keyblade wielder once upon a time, but they died a long long time ago, so long ago that Chirithy can't remember their face or name. Chirithy began to fade away without them, until "he" (time traveling Yougnort) saved him, gave him a lifeline with the darkness, and he became a Nightmare. Chirithy was so so lonely, just didn't want to be alone anymore, and so Youngnort told him about a Keyblade wielder. Chirithy created a home for her based off of his memories, so that he wouldn't have to be alone
-Chirithy reveals Xehanort's name and then they know he exists in all of part 4, but they don't know anything about his origins yet.
-But now he knows how much they truly care for her, he can't keep her from her friends—her family.
-Chirithy only says what his name is at the very end, as he dies and crying
-"May your hearts be your guiding key." to Lea and Sora before fading away
-Chirithy dies from battle wounds, which causes Daybreak Town to fade away and they're standing on a Dive to the Heart.
-Find Xion with silver hair and golden eyes. Sora doesn't recognize her and she doesn't recognize either of them, but when she and Sora touch there's a bright flash of light.
-Youngnort watches this with grit teeth and clenched fists.
Twilight Town
-No Cissnei here.
-Xion has silver streaks in her hair.
-"Man I miss the old times. Still got it memorized? [something something] the three of us sat right here and watched the sunset."
-Xion "It's just not the same without Roxas, is it?" Lea "Maybe, but he's where he belongs." Sora off-screen "Well, I hope I can be a good understudy." Sits down with them.
-something about handling this apparent new Xehanort ("how's he Xehanort he's a kid") and whatever Maleficent's doing when they run into them, but not now
-Remembering something, Lea gives Xion Roxas's box. Note with it:
"Thinking of you wherever you are…"[Xion reads this part out loud]
"Xion, I don't know where you are or what happened. I miss you every day. But…I'm sure you had your reasons for leaving. I hope that, someday, you'll come back. Until then, I'll wait for you. I'll stay for the sunset, and I will always be there. Just like I promised."
"Merry Christmas, Xion."
"Love, Roxas."
It has the locket, Xion looks at beach picture inside and starts crying.
- "Lea?" "Hm?" "Let's go down to the beach tomorrow, okay?" pause, think "…Yeah, Xion. It's a promise."
Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow.
However, that parting need not last forever...
Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short time... That is up to you.
Remember the Tides IV:
Resting Tides
-Maleficent has Xehanort's Keychain and wants the other 7 Shards using it. Xehanort's Keyblade can something something Realm of Sleep, maybe release nightmares irl who knows. There's the portal in TWTNW so she knows about it.
-Maleficent is using the Book of Prophecies she found to learn about this all. There's a gap between when Luxu's Keyblade shattered in TTGO and when she assembles the pieces at the end of this, since the Keyblade provided the info for the book.
-Shards attract the Heartless, not controlled by villains. Maleficent is using plant creatures from her shitty movie.
-7 Shards of Xehanort's Keyblade cause darkness to coalesce on worlds and summon Heartless. The boss Heartless are manifested through the Shards (like LoZ Mirror of Twilight). Potential for one to possess someone
-Maleficent gets most shards, though heroes get 2 or 3.
-Donald and Goofy part of group again just like old times.
-Ven and Aqua focusing on returning Terra
-Xion starts using Water spells not Aero. Also has silver streaks in hair?
Long, long ago, all the worlds were still one. One day, this would be called the age of fairy tales.
It all began here in Daybreak Town.
The Master of Masters had an eye that gazes into the future.
He bestowed upon five of his six apprentices a copy of the Book of Prophecies, in which was written the events to come.
Remember the Tides IV:
Resting Tides
Destiny Islands
-School's started so first couple chapters there. 9 like RtT?
-Couple months after Smile. 1.5 years since TTGO, 2 since RtT, 3 since KH1, 13 since BBS.
-"The closest thing Destiny Islands had to a 'downtown'."
-Xion tapping finger on steering wheel waiting for Sora somewhere. "The young woman" while in the car. Desc Xion's outfit and slightly older figure, wearing locket and Stitch's charm. Don't reveal it's Xion or that it's Sora she's waiting for at first
-History class w/ Milo Thatch. He talks about some lost societies, mostly Zanarkand which has ruins sunken in the water around the islands. Briefly touch on Daybreak, an ancient society that most doubt exists, but he mostly focuses on Zanarkand.
-talk about the legend of Moana and Maui in class
-Scene where Xion calls Sora's parents mom and dad, thinks nothing of it. Later that night overhears them talking and they're so happy she called them that.
-YRP, Kairi is Yuna's adopted sister and Rikku is their cousin.
-PE class, Xion's good at it
-Riku looking into colleges
-Car trouble at some point? Call Cidney or however it's spelled from ff15
Radiant Garden
-Just visiting
-Bartz and the chocobos cameo
-Aqua and Ven still hunting ways to save Terra and are major players. Lea wonders if however Sora got Xion back might work?
-Xion all awkward around Ven b/c Roxas
-Lea and Xion reconnect after a few months
-Cloud wasn't doing so hot last time we saw him, wrap up Geostigma subplot
-Denzel and Marlene are there too
-Xehanort's gone but Maleficent ain't
Enchanted Dominion
-Need dirt on Maleficent, what's she up to?
-Don't see plant monsters yet
-Right at the end, YMX
-Learn about the Keyblade shards when Maleficent brags about having MX's Keychain.
Radiant Garden
-Regroup, gotta find shards before Maleficent
-Split up to cover more ground (because that's a lot of people to manage)
-Shard 1/7: Kingdom of the Sun
-The Emperor's New Groove cast was in Traverse Town, they know Heartless
-The movie already happened, Kronk's a good guy and Yzma turned human same way as in Kronk's New Groove
-Keep the comedy
-Pete (perfect one for comedy) wants Yzma because she has a Keyblade shard as a piece of jewelry and won't give it up
-When they first arrive they get lunch, Kronk's the first guy they meet. Pacha family stopping by?
-They have to learn what happened somehow and just telling them'd be weird
-Do they know Yzma's evil when meeting her?
-Kronk's shoulder devils talk to Sora
-At some point Donald runs off to palace to tell Kuzco Yzma's alive
-Kuzco takes Donald to the lab to make sure Yzma hasn't been there. "Pull the lever, Donald!"
-Donald ends up fighting Pete inside the lab.
-Yzma recruits Kronk again despite his misgivings. "Pull the lever, Kronk!" "WRONG LEEEVEEERRRrrr…!"
-Pacha, Sora, Goofy, and Xion head out to the palace later
-Using the Keyblade shard Yzma summons Supai from the Nazca Lines, not a Heartless. Chapter Snuff out the Light
-Pete takes the shard afterward
-Shard 2/7: Voodoo Bayou
-spooky haunted New Orleans ghosts
-Shard 3/7: La Cité des Cloches. Villain possessed by shard. Who though? A Gypsy this time. Kefka?
-Shard 4/7: Beast's Castle, Aqua and Ven and first time, Belle and Beast recognize Keyblade.
-Meet Firion in woods when they land. Because of Firion's interest in the rose, when it goes missing Beast thinks he took it and goes nuts (it was Garland)
-Beast possessed by Shard but gets over it
-Not movie or KH2, original w/ Garland
-Garland brushes off most attacks. He appears to die, but returns
-Shard 5/7: Atlantica
-gang reunites
-This is the first time they've ever come here in RtT
-Maleficent is using Ursula like she used Hook in Never Land
-Shard 6/7: Island of Ohana, group sticks together after Atlantica, first time in that world except for Xion. Lilo has adopted Oliver. Aqua and Ven see Stitch again, first time seeing Ven since BBS. He doesn't know his name is Stitch ofc he used to be 626
-Great reunion, it's been since TTGO
-Pete. He was here way back in RtT so Lilo and Stitch know him (at least I think they saw him?)
-OC plot
-Shard 7/7: Castle Oblivion. Lingering Will is there. Group's still together.
-Xion gets possessed by Shard, it triggers a fragment of Xehanort that Yougnnort put inside her (hence silver hair in RoS)
-Lingering Will charges at Xionort, screaming XEHANOOOORT all the time
-Xionort escapes with the shard, Youngnort "Yes… This just might take her out of the picture."
Disney Castle
-No Xion obviously
-Sora moping, can't believe what he did. Can't sleep. Sora v real-Roxas battle in heart. "You were supposed to protect her!" sora accepts roxas's anger, he has every right to be "You…accept it? Don't make me laugh!" "It's time you learned what real hurt is!" crying, voice breaking during whole fight
-When Sora wakes up, Lea has barged into the world after he got the news.
-Got to go find and save Xion. Lea says there's only one place she'd go.
Twilight Town
-Clock tower. Lea joins them
-Shard-Xion fights like Armored Ventus Nightmare. Have big philosophical stuff and ask questions while Xion is like this.
-After Xion is freed and they finally get shard 7, gets pulled into a portal and vanishes. Sora and Lea recognize it as the same type of portal from TWTNW.
-They notice a guy in Org coat, was it YMX, was he the one to open portal? He vanishes before they can say anything.
Disney Castle
-Lea wants to go to TWTNW and jump through that portal, but they can't with Maleficent holding the Shards. It's too dangerous.
-Pete attacks to get the 3-4 shards the good guys have. Arrested, talk with PJ, but Maleficent gets the shards
-Garland fight. Partway through, "We will never come to accept one another. We shall always be in conflict!" turns into Chaos w/ darkness
Daybreak Town
-Xion wakes up here. After learning name, callback to Milo's lessons
-Meet the Foretellers, who long ago in the age of fairy tales started the Keyblade War, sending their Unions to fight over Kingdom Hearts.
-"The fated land will be the battleground for a great war. Light will see defeat and expire, while darkness prevails evermore."
-Daybreak Town was destroyed but a dream of it still exists in the Realm of Sleep. They're dreaming memories of the Foretellers but they know they are.
-Daybreak Town is locked in early morning. Time doesn't pass, people don't age, only Foretellers know they're in the Realm of Sleep.
-Xion befriends Ephemer and Skuld, and Chirithy she remembers Nightmare one
-After Xion's sacrifice, a dream lingered of her in the Realm of Sleep and someone kept it imprisoned in nightmare so that she could not return but Sora and Lea saved her.
-This time they dragged her in to their Daybreak, to warn her.
-Now that Maleficent has Xehanort's Keyblade, Luxu's Keyblade, shit's gonna get bad BECAUSE SOMETHING SOMETHING MASTER OF MASTERS MADE IT. They need the seven Princesses of Heart
"Every Keyblade Master is bequeathed a Keyblade of his very own. With the passing of time, as you can imagine, more and more Keyblades were forged to be handed down. But of all the Keyblades in existence, Master Xehanort's is the most ancient."
Explain how it was Luxu's
-Daybreak Town is under attack! YMX with twin swords. At the end, he takes off his hood and finally reveals he's a time traveler "I am Xehanort from the most distant past"
-doesn't really go into his plan, just who he is
-Fight him with Ephemer and Skuld and Chirithy
-Foretellers reveal that, whoever it was not even they know, was the one who brought Xion to the Realm of Sleep last time. They assume to take her out of the picture.
-Foretellers open portal to let her out.
-"May your heart be your guiding key."
Virtual Twilight Town
-Xion doesn't go straight to others. They dropped her off in (real) TwiTown, so…
-Xion goes there post-Xionort, feeling broken and lost, and the locket makes her want to be with Roxas again.
-Town full of bugs and Blox. Tron corrupted (Rinzler but not called Rinzler).
-Xion meeting Tron first time when he's Rinzler, but Sora told her about him. Why is he fighting her?
-Data-Roxas and Xion reunion, teary, "I love you", see she's wearing the locket, but Xion can't stay.
-Meet digital DiZ and he says this is because the system is falling apart. It was built around holding Roxas, modified for Xion…but without either of them, its very foundations are starting to collapse. He programmed it that way, and he regrets it.
-Enter a System Sector and travel deep inside to reboot system.
-Bugged Darkside is at the end, between her and the reboot controls. Partway through, not-Rinzler appears and fights her too.
-Xion tries to get to Tron during 2v1. "I…fight for the Users!" Tron sacrifice against Darkside.
-YMX again or is it too soon?
-Consider what it means to be "real" and is this murder even if a new person with their face will wake up? And Roxas will have never known her, this is just after "I love you" bomb
-End without revealing her decision, her hand is right on the switch
Radiant Garden
-Xion reunites with everyone (esp. Lea and Sora) and she tells them everything including that Youngnort is apparently a time traveler ("well isn't that lovely"). They need to gather the Princesses. Split up, gather most off-screen.
-The kids have to go home because school commitments. Everyone else will get them when they have the Princesses.
Destiny Islands
-Can't really keep their focus.
-Gotta gather Kairi too
-Kairi has her Keyblade
-Lots of moping/contemplative Xion, struggling in classes especially since it's her first real school.
-Ask Milo about Daybreak Town. Though what she doesn't already know, idk
-YRP
-One day find YMX on the play island, but he doesn't fight them.
Wonderland
-Lea and Cissnei, because Axel's been there a few times
-Alice isn't there though she's in her own world
[princess world]
-Leon and Yuffie, the princess remembers them from Hollow Bastion KH1
[princess world]
-Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Choose one DG's been to.
-YMX appears, D&G first time seeing him hoodless, Mickey's first time period
Destiny Islands
-Aqua and Ven have followed Lingering Will here, stuff with Riku.
-Compare Lingering Will and Xion
-Bring DI gang to others for final battle
The World That Never Was
-While Princesses are being gathered, Riku, Aqua, Ven, Xion, and Sora attack. Kairi insists on coming she has her Keyblade.
-Summon Stitch for first time since TTGO (though just met with him earlier this fic)
-"You seek to reach Maleficent, but you shall not. If you intend to climb to the top, then I, Garland, shall knock you all down!"
-Garland sees Xion as a kindred spirit, both artificial
SOMETHING TERRA
AND CLOSE THE REALM OF SLEEP PORTAL
IS THAT HOW TERRA? DO FORETELLERS BRING HIM BACK
-Maleficent flees
-YMX appears and says this can't be stopped now.
Radiant Garden
-yay Terra's back and Princesses gathered, except Aurora obviously since Maleficent went back to that world
-YMX attacks. Things are wrong, Xion never should have survived her battle with Roxas so long ago, and now YMX is doing everything in his power to set things right. If Maleficent completes her plan and unlocks the Realm of Sleep's power, he can use it plus the Keyblade to revive Master Xehanort.
-When YMX pulled Xion into a nightmare of Daybreak Town he put a piece of Xehanort's heart inside of her which is why her hair had silver streaks. The Keyblade shard activated it and made her Xionort.
Enchanted Dominion
-Bring Princesses (except Kairi she's already in group) and meet up with Aurora
-Maleficent is at the fairy moors instead of her castle.
-Summon Stitch
-Lea goes BURN BABY on plant guys. Fight Diablo or Garland?
-Diablo is glass cannon
-"Destiny is at hand! We might as well enjoy it." vs Garland. Partway through "At the end of the dream…even chaos…tears itself apart!" feral chaos. "So you have freed me from the cycle without end… This is…my final fantasy…"
-HOW DOES GARLAND STOP SHRUGGING STUFF OF? SWORD OF TRUTH OR JUST LIGHT
-Diablo turns into wyvern in final fight. Before he dies he goes raven and tries to flee.
-YMX appears, all going according to plan. Xion and Sora have to fight him and stop him from reaching Maleficent. "TIME STOP" and shit. At the end he starts to fade "No… NO! Not now! I can't be out of time, I can't…!" vanishes
-Final chapter nameOnce Upon a Dream
-Maleficent Dragon empowered by Keyblade and Realm of Sleep vs Sora and Xion, dual wield, fights like 2FM Roxas and also uses Magic Hour.
-Basically it's End of an Era vs Bahamut, Foretellers=Louisoix and Princesses=Archons
-Foretellers appear and work with Princesses to stop WHATEVER MALEFICENT'S DOING WITH LUXU'S KEYBLADE/SLEEPING WORLDS
-Around the channeling Princesses, Keyblade from each of their worlds appear (Kairi has hers already)
-Foretellers "Swords of truth, fly swift and sure, that evil die and good endure!" the seven Keyblades seal the thing and empower Xion and Sora, letting them finish Maleficent Dragon with Eternal Session.
-the process brings Daybreak Town out into the real world
Daybreak Town
-now out of the Realm of Sleep, new for everyone but Xion
-Ephemer and Skuld
-Party after Maleficent Dragon, Foretellers name Xion and Sora Masters.
-Sora "You know we could probably bring back Roxas the same way we did you and Terra" leave it ambiguous what Xion chooses
Ending
-Short scenes of everyone, all worlds, all the way back to RtT. Including Radiant Garden.
-Seriously, every world even the 1-shots like Pooh. Well I guess except Space Paranoids.
-YMX on Destiny Islands
-End with Xion on Twilight Town clock tower and she hears footsteps behind her. End as she turns around and hugs "him". Roxas? Who knows.
Start scene with "beyond" line
Mix Xion scene and stanzas together, paragraph(s)-stanza-paragraph(s)-stanza
End with "but we'll" line
Beyond the path without you
Is a forgotten promise to keep.
We may have walked side by side,
But now we go on back to back.
And though our paths may not cross,
All paths are connected somewhere.
When I arrive at where you are,
We may not appear to be as we were...
But we'll make another promise to keep.
Resting Tides
On the Way to a Smile
The Tides Go Out
Remember the Tides
-THE END-