Still A Better Love Story Than Twilight (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories) in Gamer's Gaming

The Road So Far…

Sora has finally traveled through all the worlds of his memories from his previous journey. He has trekked through Wonderland, Olympus Coliseum, Agrabah, Monstro, Halloween Town, Traverse Town, Neverland, Atlantica, Hollow Bastion, and the Hundred Acre Wood. He has interacted with the many friends he met along the way. He has even found, and fought, his old friend Riku, who seems to be under the control of the nefarious Organization. All the while, he has regained memories of another old friend, Namine, who apparently is a prisoner of the Organization. Sora has met four of the members of the Organization and fought against three of them. First, he bested Axel, the fiery dual chakram wielder. Next, the fizzled Larxene, the lightning fast knife thrower. Most recently, Sora defeated Vexen, the cool and calculating shield defender. The only one Sora has not fought is the leader of the group, Marluxia, who appears to be pulling all the strings in the castle. However, in giving Sora the Twilight Town world card, it would seem that Vexen has betrayed the Organization in some way, causing Marluxia to send Axel out to destroy the senior member of the Organization. It would appear that a showdown with Marluxia and his flowery scythe is inevitable, as he is in possession of both Namine and answers as to what is going on here in Castle Oblivion. However, on the eleventh floor, Sora has only one path forward and that is through Twilight Town, supposedly created from memories locked on the other side of his heart. What trials await Sora in Twilight Town? What does Marluxia have planned for him? Will Sora ever find out what Vexen did to Riku and how to save both of his friends? What will happen when Sora finally reaches the final floor of the castle? To find the answers, Sora opens the door to Twilight Town and proceeds inside…

Now…

Sora, Donald, and Goofy found themselves in the midst of a peaceful town, dim sunshine floating down into it’s midst. The automatic lights had just come on as dusk seemed to approach. As the trio looked around their unfamiliar surroundings, Goofy asked Sora where they were. Sora seemed to be pretty clueless as well and told Goofy that he had never been there. A trolley rolled on through the town on tracks inlaid into the brick pavement. Donald admitted that he had never been to this town either. Jiminy leaped out, startled, explaining how they hadn’t been anywhere but places from Sora’s memory, up to this point. Sora agreed, but he surely didn’t remember this place. Donald supposed that he could have forgotten this town just as he had forgotten other stuff. Jiminy bemoaned the fact that their memories seemed to be practically gone. Donald and Goofy deflated, but Sora perked up and brought out the star pendant that he had received from Namine. He figured they would be okay since he still had Namine’s good luck charm. Sora explained that there was a special memory that went with the charm. One night, when he and Namine were little, there was a meteor shower. Namine started crying and asked what would happen if a shooting star hit the islands. Sora had told her that if a shooting star came at them, he would hit it right back into outer space. The whole time, he was swinging a toy sword around. Namine smiled, thanked him, and gave him the good luck charm. As Sora drifted into revery, a spectre of Namine appeared behind him and apologized for causing all of this. The spectre promptly disappeared, but Sora was already continuing on with his story. He said that Namine’d had that charm ever since she was a baby. So Sora had promised her that, from then on, he would bring her good luck and keep her safe. But then, Namine had left the islands and Sora had forgotten all about her until they had come through the castle. Sora was sad that he had let her down, but as the trio made their way further into town, Sora received the Key to Beginnings card. In the area he was in, Sora fought through Heartless he had faced many times before, but now, they seemed to be alot more powerful. Sora had his struggles, but managed to survive the Heartless onslaught and proceed to the only exit, a door in the east part of the area. Using a Moment’s Reprieve card, Sora progressed into the next area. Expect to be attacked by the Organization at any time, Sora figured it would be good to have a place to check his deck after exploring each room. In the Moment’s Reprieve room, there were two exits, a north and a south door. Sora went south first, using an Almighty Darkness card to open the door. After fighting through the overpowered Heartless inside the room, Sora used an Alchemic Waking card on the only other door in the room, a door to the east. After facing down the waves of Heartless once more, Sora used a Guarded Trove card to open the one other exit, a door to the east. In the Guarded Trove room, Sora fought his way to the treasure chest and received the Warpinator sleight. Using a Stop, Gravity, and Aero magic card combination would allow Sora to eliminate the closest enemy, thought it wasn’t always successful. With no way to progress further in this direction, Sora retreated all the way back to the Moment’s Reprieve room and made his way through the north door, using a Calm Bounty card to move on. Sora received a Cure magic card from the chest inside the room before making his way to the west. There was a Key to Rewards door waiting there and Sora still had a Key to Rewards card in his deck, so he used it to open the door to a greater treasure. The chest in this room revealed the Stardust Blitz sleight. Using a Donald friend card and a Fire magic card, Sora could knock up to three of Donald’s fireballs towards an enemy. With the sleight now in his arsenal, Sora moved back to the Calm Bounty room and proceeded to the only other door in the northern part of the room. Using a Martial Waking card to open the door, Sora moved on to the next room. Sora used the advantage of having his attack cards powered up to mow through the Heartless in the room, finally making it to the room’s lone exit, and the only door that remained untouched in Twilight Town, the Key of Beginnings door. Sora sacrificed the cards need and made his way into the room for what he figured would be a battle of immense proportions.

The door opened into a wooded clearing in front of a wrought iron gate. The gate stood closed in front of a mansion of some sort. Sora looked from side to side with a worried countenance. Goofy asked Sora what was wrong. Sore told him that something felt really strange. Sora was sure that he didn’t know the mansion or the town, yet something was starting to feel very familiar about it. Donald figured that Sora must have come here sometime before. Sora told him that definitely wasn’t the case, and that was what was strange. Sora approached the gate. Behind him, Goofy supposed that it could be like with Namine, that Sora had just forgotten about it like he had forgotten lots of other stuff and that was why he remembered this place now. But Sora disagreed. That wasn’t it either. It was different somehow. Sora said that with Namine, his memories had come drifting back to him, little pieces at a time. But not now. It wasn’t memories, but just this idea that he must have been there before. Suddenly, a voice rang out from out of sight asking Sora if he was feeling nostalgic. Vexen materialized by the gate from a dark portal. He told Sora that he had a question for him. His memories of Namine or his feelings here. Which of the two felt more real to Sora? Sora told him that the memories of Namine felt more real, of course. Sora told him that whatever it was that he was feeling in this place, it was just another one of Vexen’s mean tricks. Vexen chuckled and told Sora that the memory’s whiles could be cruel. In it’s silence, we forget. In it’s obsession, it binds our hearts. Sora yelled at Vexen to quit speaking in riddles. Vexen said that he had already told Sora. This place had been created solely from another side of his memory. It was on the other side of Sora’s heart that the memory of this place existed. It was Sora’s heart that remembered. Sora denied it, saying that he had no idea what this place was. Vexen said that if Sora were to remain bound by the chain of his memoires and refused to believe what was truly found inside his own heart, then he should throw it away. He was not a Keyblade master, just a slave to twisted memories, exactly like his Riku, worth nothing. His Riku? Worth nothing? Sora didn’t have much time to ponder the words as Vexen drew his icy shield from out of nowhere. Sora’s anger got the better of him and he raged out at Vexen, yelling that he had had enough. Sora yelled that Vexen was the one that had changed Riku. Every word Vexen had said was a lie. Sora would never throw away his heart. Sora drew his Keyblade and told Vexen that he was going to take him down and save Riku and Namine. THAT is what was in his heart. Sora charged the cold scientist and the battle was on. Vexen’s attacks were pretty much the same as in their previous battle. His ice blasts, shield attacks, and icicles raising from the ground were again supplemented by the ability to seemingly break Sora’s card attacks at will. However, Vexen had also learned a new Ice Sword slice attack that knocked Sora for a loop. However, with a clever use of his Elixir card and consistent use of the Firaga and Sonic Blade sleights, as well as a timely use of the Shadow enemy card, Sora emerged victorious over the frozen foe once more and receive Vexen’s enemy card as a reward. Vexen was amazed that Sora had so much strength, even at the mercy of his memory. Sora said that none of that mattered. He just wanted Riku back to normal. Vexen laughed. Put Riku back? Vexen said that the Riku that Sora spoke of had but one fate: to sink into the darkness. And Sora would share that fate! Vexen told him that if he continued to seek out Namine, the shackles would tighten and Sora would lose his heart and end up becoming Marluxia’s pawn. Sora was puzzled. Marluxia? What did Namine have to do with- … Suddenly, a fiery chakram flew out from behind Sora and slammed into Vexen, striking him down. Sora spun around and saw Axel standing there. Axel asked if he had caught Sora at a bad time. Vexen slowly turned over and tried to regain his footing, asking Axel why he had attacked him. Axel told him that he had come to stop him from talking too much by eliminating his existence. Vexen begged Axel not to do it, but Axel told him that they were just Nobodies who have no one to be, yet they still “were”. But now, Axel said, Vexen could be nothing instead of just being a Nobody. Vexen was off the hook. Vexen continued to beg, saying that he didn’t want to- … But Axel just snapped his fingers and said goodbye before Vexen could finish his sentence. Suddenly, flames shot out from inside Vexen’s body and the scientist faded into dark pieces of nothingness. Sora looked on in horror. He finally spun around as the final vestiges of Vexen slipped away into the ether and asked what the hell were these people. Axel told Sora that he didn’t know. He often wondered that himself. The fiery redhead disappeared into the dark portal once more, leaving Sora alone and clueless as to what was really going on. Sora left the area and found himself in yet another Conqueror’s Respite room. Checking his deck once more, Sora wandered back out into the eleventh floor of Castle Oblivion.

Meanwhile, in the Organization headquarters, Larxene and Marluxia stand next to the giant crystal ball, watching the events in the other part of the castle. Axel reappeared nearby to a hearty congratulations for ridding them of that blabbermouth, Vexen. Instead of acknowledging Larxene’s praise, Axel asked Marluxia if he had used Vexen to test Sora’s strength. Larxene told him that they weren’t just testing Sora, but Axel as well. They hadn’t been sure if Axel had it in him to take out a fellow Organization member. Larxene guessed they had all the proof they needed now and told Axel to join up with her and Marluxia. With the three of them, it would be child’s play to take over the Organization. Axel assumed that was where Sora came into the plan. Larxene told him that since he wanted to see Namine, they would just give him what he wanted. Marluxia looked to the side of the room where Namine sat and told her to be happy. The time was drawing near for her to meet the hero she had been longing for. Namine said that she was glad, but seemed to be sadder than ever. Larxene walked up and knelt beside the blonde girl. Larxene warned Namine that she better not do anything to betray Sora’s feelings. Namine said that she understood. Marluxia told Namine that all she had to do was layer Sora’s memories and bring his heart closer to her. With that final bit of advice, Marluxia and Larxene both disappeared into portals of darkness, but Axel remained behind. Namine whispered Sora’s name and said that even if he came for her, what then? Back on the eleventh floor, Sora emerged and found Riku standing, waiting for him. Sora was startled by the boy’s presence, but ran towards him anyway. Riku warned Sora that he would hurt Namine if he went any further. Sora couldn’t understand why Riku still seemed to want to fight. Vexen was gone now, so Riku was free. Riku spat back that it didn’t matter what happened to him. Riku claimed that he was protecting Namine from Sora. That was what was in his heart. He had made a promise to Namine to keep her safe. Sora couldn’t understand what he was hearing. Riku recounted how there was a meteor shower one night when they were little… stop me if this sounds familiar… Namine had gotten scared and Riku had told her that if any shooting stars came their way, he would knock them back into outer space… gee, this really sounds familiar… Sora burst out, saying that Riku had made a promise with a toy sword. Riku was startled. How could Sora have known that? Sora said that he had made the same promise to Namine in the same way on the same night. Riku called him a liar and said that he wasn’t even there that night. Sora said that Riku was the one that wasn’t there. It was the night she had given her good luck charm to him. Riku, again startled, asked what Sora was talking about. Sora reached into his pocket and brought out the good luck charm that he had gotten from Namine, the golden star. Riku stumbled backwards and commanded Sora to tell him where he had gotten the charm. Suddenly, a light seemed to snap behind Riku’s eyes. He grasped his head and told Sora that he had made a good try at fooling him. Sora was confused. Riku told him that Sora’s must be a fake, because he had the real one with him. Riku reached into his clothing and produced an identical charm. Sora couldn’t believe his eyes. There were two charms?!? Riku yelled that fakes should be destroyed and charged into battle against Sora. Riku attacked with a multitude of sleights and attacks, but Sora somehow managed to drive him back once more, receiving a Mega-Potion card as a reward. Riku stood back, breathing heavily and stunned at losing to Sora once more. Overcome by his failure, Riku turned and sprinted away up the stairs to the twelfth floor. Sora called out to him, but it was no use. However, Sora, as well as Donald and Goofy, noticed that Riku had dropped the good luck charm that he had gotten from Namine. Donald asked if that was Namine’s good luck charm. Sora agreed and pointed out that it looked just like his. He wondered how Riku had gotten in but, as he picked it up, a bright light shone out. When the light died, Sora was no longer holding a charm, but another world card. It was a card for the Destiny Islands! With this new card in hand, the trio made their way towards the stairs to the twelfth floor. However, Donald and Goofy hung back. Donald said that he had no idea what was going on. Sora turned back and told them that they should keep moving. It didn’t matter that they didn’t know what was going on. Donald shot back at him that it did matter. How could Riku and Sora have the exact same memory? Donald told them that they couldn’t both be right. Sora got very defensive, wondering why Donald would think that he was wrong. Sora told him fine, don’t believe him. Goofy told Sora that Donald didn’t mean that. They were just kinda worried. Sora suggested that they just ask Namine. That would clear things up. Sora insisted that they didn’t have time to just sit around, so they needed to get going. Donald and Goofy looked at each other, confused by the harshness in the voice of their friend Sora, and worried by the unexplained mysteries of the castle. Goofy finally asked Sora what had happened to him. Sora asked what the hell that meant. Goofy explained that Sora got awfully touchy when it came to stuff about Namine, but before they came to the castle, Sora hadn’t even remembered what her name was. Donald added that now, Namine was the only thing Sora talked about. Goofy said that it didn’t make any sense and maybe Sora should slow down and think ahead about some of these things. Sora’s expression grew darker and darker as his friends spoke. Sora asked what was wrong with them. Did they just want him to abandon Namine? Donald told Sora that they weren’t saying that at all. Sora got more and more angry, telling them that they could just do whatever they wanted. They could lay back and take a nap for all he cared. He was going to find Namine. Sora spun around and ran up the stairwell to the twelfth floor, leaving Donald and Goofy behind. The two partners looked at each other, clueless about what to do about Sora. Back in the Organization headquarters, Namine sat slumped in her chair. Axel approached Namine and told her that she was all that Sora had left now. So, he figured, if she didn’t stop thism nobody would. Namine became startled, but told Axel that it was too late. Axel told her that she shouldn’t give up just yet. Axel, playing coy, walked to the other side of the room and asked Namine if she had noticed that Marluxia wasn’t around. Namine asked Axel what he was suggesting. Axel told her that he just meant that there was nobody there who would want to get in her way. Namine sucked in a breath and stood up, running to the other side of the room and out of sight. Axel said that she just needed to make it count. As Namine left the room, Axel said that THIS should be interesting. Axel, continuing to talk to himself, told Sora to make it enjoyable. It was the least he could do for Axel after all. Axel chuckled, then suddenly clutched at his chest. He realized that he was enjoying this. Axel looked up into the air and told him the those guys were something else. Umm, okay.... Anyhow, back with Sora, the boy wonder finally had made it to the twelfth floor landing. He pulled out the Destiny Islands card and looked at it as Jiminy jumped up to his shoulder. Jiminy began to tell him that that was no way to treat his friends, but Sora told him to just keep it to himself. Alone, Sora approached the world door and raised the Destiny Islands card in front of it, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead on his own....