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In the last part of Kingdom Hearts II, we are left with a few final questions: what has become of Rik; what does the Organization plan to do with Kairi; what is their plan; and will Sora see his friends again?
All will be revealed in this final act.
- Part One: “Kingdom Hearts” (2002)
- Part Two: “Kingdom Hearts” (2002)
- Part One: “Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories” (2007)
- Part Two: “Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories” (2007)
- Part One: “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007)
- Part Two: “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007)
- Part Three: “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007) (You are here.)
Return To Hollow Bastion
Sora, Donald, and Goofy (SDG) learn that Yuffie and Cid have found Ansem’s research computer. It contains information on the Heartless and the Organization. SDG head to the castle postern where Aerith tells them the King is with Leon. SDG find themselves in Ansem’s study to meet a mysterious woman named Tifa. She says she’s searching for someone, looks around the study, and leaves.
Leon leads SDG to the computer room. As Sora attempts to use the computer, a warning appears from the computer’s Master Control Program (MCP). It warns that if they continue to misuse the computer then defensive action will be taken. Donald steps on a key and the MCP declares they are under arrest. A bright light from the machine behind them digitizes them and sends them away.
Space Paranoids
SDG find themselves in a digital world. A man named Commander Sark throws them in prison. There they meet a man, or rather a program, named Tron.
He explains that they are inside Ansem’s computer. The system was used for town maintenance and his private research. Tron further explains that the MCP controls the entire system and is very likely to “de-rezz” them for being “users” (humans). Tron decides to help them return to Hollow Bastion. Back with the others, Tron asks them to find his user. He has the password to access the “DTD” which is a dataspace that has access to all of the User’s research. This is what the MCP is after.
Tron shares that after he faced the MCP before, a lot of his functions were appropriated. Getting access to the DTD will allow him to regain his original functions and he can put the entire system back to how it was before the MCP took over. SDG agree to help and ask who Tron’s user is — it’s Ansem the Wise. Tron sends SDG back to Hollow Bastion.
Back in the research lab, Leon loses hope in finding the password since Ansem has already been defeated. Tifa returns then and takes another look around the study. She reveals a hidden drawing behind Ansem’s portrait. It shows the dataspace and reveals “DTD” to be “Door To Darkness.” King Mickey arrives on the scene and he reminds everyone that the real Door to Darkness was opened by the seven princesses. This gives Leon an idea as to what the password is.
Sora explains that they are trying to access Ansem’s research data. Mickey believes that they’ll be able to find Ansem, but Sora reminds him that they had already defeated him. Before Mickey can clarify what he means, SDG have to return to Tron. SDG is sent to the game grid where Sark forces them to play some games. They escape the grid and find an injured Tron in the holding cell. They take him to the dataspace room to enter the password.
Tron is able to restore all his functions, however, the MCP has gained full control of the system. It discovers an emergency destruct program for the town, but Tron changes the password before the MCP can activate it. Tron leads everyone to the I/O tower to stop the MCP from uploading a hostile program. Once done, Tron begins to work on taking back system control.
Sora explains to Tron that they didn’t get the password from Ansem and that he was their enemy. Tron explains that Ansem is his enemy too because when he modified the original system for his own use, he brought back the MCP. Tron explains that they won’t have to worry about the MCP for a while and that he’ll keep an access channel open for them to use the computer.
Essentially, he’s created a link between their worlds. As he sends them back to Hollow Bastion, Tron explains that Sora, Donald, and Goofy are the new password.
Confusing Answers
With access to the DTD, Sora asks the computer about Riku and Kairi but gets no answers. After fumbling with the computer, they discover an image of a blond man. Mickey arrives and shares that the image is of Ansem the Wise.
Confused, Sora shows the King the portrait in the study. It is of a silver-haired man whom SDG know to be “Ansem.” Mickey clarifies that the silver-haired man tried to take over Kingdom Hearts, but what they defeated was his Heartless, Ansem Seeker of Darkness (Ansem SOD). The silver-haired man isn’t the real Ansem, he just used the name. Now Mickey is trying to figure out what happened to the real Ansem — Ansem the Wise.
Mickey explains that Ansem the Wise should know everything there is to know about Organization XIII’s plans and what’s been happening to the worlds. Goofy brings up a point that if the imposter Ansem lost his heart and a heartless was born, does that also mean a Nobody was formed as well? Mickey confirms and shares that Nobody is the leader of the Organization.
Chamber Of Repose
Later, a hooded Organization member accesses the computer and opens a door to another area of the lab. As he descends into the unknown, a voiceover of Ansem the Wise speaks with someone named Xehanort, forbidding him from continuing his research on the heart of all worlds. The Organization member enters a white room with a destroyed blue armor lying on the floor which he refers to as “friend.”
In a flashback at the Organization’s base, we see former members of the Organization Zexion and Vexen, before their demise in Re:Chain of Memories (Re:CoM). Another hooded member, Xigbar, joins Zexion.
He speaks of a battle once waged between key blade wielders and the only one to come out of it was an unconscious, amnesic Xehanort. He was found by Ansem the Wise (Ansem) soon after. Xehanort later lost his heart, creating Ansem SOD and Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII. The Chamber of Repose is where Xehanort and Ansem conducted research on the darkness in people’s hearts. Ansem ordered the area sealed off but once Xehanort got rid of Ansem, he undid the seal and created the Chamber of Repose. Xigbar asks Zexion if he knows who Xemnas speaks to in the chamber, but Zexion doesn’t.
He changes the conversation to the Organization needing to get the Castle Oblivion ready, but they only have eleven members at the moment, Marluxia being the newest one. Xigbar shares that the Chamber of Repose has a twin, the Chamber of Waking. The Chamber of Waking was created by someone else and it is located inside Castle Oblivion.
That is what Xemnas is after, where he will find his other “friend.”
Battle For Hollow Bastion
Back in the present, Heartless and Nobodies have invaded the town. Leon’s group is scattered fighting Heartless across the area. King Mickey advises Sora to leave the battle to the rest of them and to go find Riku and Kairi. However, Sora joins the fray anyway. Sora encounters Demyx and a battle commences. Sora defeats him and Mickey arrives. Just as they’re all about to go help their friends, Heartless cause a boulder to fall from the cliff.
Goofy is hit and knocked unconscious. Mickey, Sora, and Donald are devastated by what happened and go forth to avenge their friend. Sora is joined by Leon and company as he cuts his way through the Heartless. At the Crystal Fissure, Goofy reunites with everyone, completely fine from his injuries. They head into the Great Maw where they finally meet Xemnas. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy chase after Xemnas, leaving Sora behind to deal with a thousand Heartless alone.
Sora reunites with the group and they confront Xemnas. He escapes with Mickey following him into the dark corridor. Axel appears then and explains that the Organization has been using Sora to destroy the Heartless as part of their plan. Every Heartless slain by the keyblade releases hearts which is what the Organization wants. Sora asks about Kairi, but Axel is hesitant to give an answer.
The man Sora met in Twilight Town — Saïx — appears and Axel flees the scene. Sora begs Saïx to let him see Kairi, going so far as to grovel. But Saïx denies him. This angers Sora and Saïx encourages him to direct that anger towards the Heartless. Saïx explains the released hearts gather in darkness and together form Kingdom Hearts. The Organization will then be able to use Kingdom Hearts to become whole again.
Maleficent appears then and comes between Saïx and SDG, allowing them to escape. However, she makes it clear that she is only doing this so they can get rid of the Nobodies for good, which in turn will benefit her in her endeavors. Maleficent is subdued and Saïx leaves SDG to deal with more Heartless. Sora is overwhelmed by the fact that his actions are benefiting the Organization.
Maleficent is able to help SDG escape and save them from dealing with the Heartless for now. In an unknown realm, SDG encounter a hooded stranger who leaves behind a box before disappearing. In the box is a picture of the group from Twilight Town with Roxas.
Revisit Land Of Dragons
SDG join up with Mulan to chase after a hooded Organization member. Sora faces him, but the person wields a familiar sword. After the fight, Sora suspects that the man is actually Riku. The man escapes and a giant Heartless dragon appears from the mountain, heading straight for the Imperial City. The group races to warn Shang of the danger.
They sneak into the palace and Sora confronts a man in black. But it turns out to be Xigbar. He leaves them to deal with his Nobodies and escapes. Afterward, everyone meets the Emperor. He explains that a young man in black had subdued Shang and had come to warn them about the giant Heartless. Sora asks if he gave a name and the Emperor says no, claiming that the man was rude. Sora concludes that it had to have been Riku.
The Heartless dragon arrives and Mulan and SDG go outside to handle it. After defeating the Heartless, Goofy wonders what Riku is doing with the Organization, but Sora isn’t concerned since he now knows Riku is okay.
Revisit Beast’s Castle
Beast and Belle are preparing for a romantic ball. However, they’re interrupted by Xaldin. He declares he’ll take something Beast holds dear. After fighting off Xaldin’s Nobodies and confirming Belle’s safety, Beast realizes that Xaldin took his rose.
In his frustration with losing the rose, Beast takes his anger out on Belle and blames her for throwing the ball. Sora intervenes and reminds Beast that it’s not Belle’s fault. Beast decides the only course of action is to ask everyone, including Belle, to leave the castle. Beast has resigned himself to being a beast and alone. Sora gives him a pep talk about how Beast gives them all courage. Beast has renewed their drive to get the rose back.
They find Xaldin in the entrance hall. He states that the Organization wants Beast’s Heartless and Nobody to bring them closer to achieving Kingdom Hearts. Xaldin kidnaps Belle with the rose and leads the group out to the bridge. Belle manages to escape from Xaldin and the battle begins. After Xaldin is defeated, Beast awkwardly asks Belle to stay with him.
She agrees.
Revisit Olympus Coliseum
Hades announces the opening of the Hades Cup and he “invites” Hercules to compete, or else he will never see Meg again. SDG team up with Hercules and enter the tournament. After a few rounds, Hercules still isn’t feeling like a hero. Auron arrives but behaves as if he doesn’t know SDG.
They follow him into the Underworld and witness an exchange between Auron and Hades; Hades is controlling Auron with a statue; he forces Auron to defeat Hercules and SDG. SDG report back to Hercules and form a plan. Hercules agrees to fight Auron one on one in the finals to give Sora time to look for the statue.
SDG find the statue and return just in time to stop Auron from defeating Hercules. Auron has his free will back. Hades kidnaps Meg and throws her into a pit of souls. Hercules rescues her and his confidence returns. He realizes that a hero is measured by the strength of his heart. Hercules and SDG face off against Hades and manage to subdue him. Back at the Coliseum, SDG get a constellation in their honor, finally marking them as true heroes.
Revisit Port Royal
SDG help Captain Jack defeat cursed pirates. Someone has touched the Aztec gold. Elizabeth asks Jack to take her to the Isla de Muerta to look for Will because he hasn’t returned. Jack escorts everyone to the island and they find Will unconscious on the Interceptor. They save him and he explains that he was attacked by an Organization member who took the gold.
The member arrives with a large Heartless and the gold. After the Heartless is defeated, he reveals himself to be Luxord. He takes four medallions, the Heartless returns cursed, and sends the team flying onto the Interceptor. Luxord gives the orders to blow up the ship. Luckily, SDG and Jack survive and are shipwrecked. Together they look for the missing medallions. Elizabeth arrives with the Black Pearl and saves them.
They return to Port Royal and face the cursed Heartless. Once they defeat it, Luxord steals the released heart and escapes.
Revisit Space Paranoids
Hollow Bastion is overrun by Heartless. The MCP is using the computer to send out Heartless and take over the town’s control system. Cid is developing an eradicator program to finish off the MCP, but they’ll need Tron to use it and unfortunately, he’s stuck in the game grid. SDG go to help Tron. They learn that the MCP is planning to wage war against the users. They all head to the I/O tower to retrieve the eradicator program.
They take the fight to the MCP and are finally able to defeat it and Sark. Tron bids them farewell, promising to meet again, and goes forth to take control of the system. Back in Hollow Bastion, the Heartless problem has diminished and Tron has given the users access to the system again.
Tron discovers data from the system archives and allows everyone to see the town the way it originally was. All of the original inhabitants of the world remember the town’s true name: Radiant Garden.
Return To Twilight Town
SDG make their way to the mansion and find Hayner, Pence, and Olette (HPO). HPO believe there is an alternate Twilight Town considering there are two of Olette’s pouch and two of a one-of-a-kind blue crystal. If these items came from the alternate Twilight Town then whatever is missing from the real Twilight Town must have ended up there, like Kairi.
Mickey appears then and shares that he’s found out that Ansem snuck into Organization XIII’s stronghold. Everyone heads into the mansion and they locate the computer. Pence works the computer and sends SDG and the King to the simulation Twilight Town. They find the entrance to the Realm of Darkness. Upon going through the entrance, they enter an in-between space.
There they run into Axel who helps them fight the Nobodies. He admits that he kidnapped Kairi, but she got away from him. Then Saïx caught her. Axel gets rid of the Nobodies but at the cost of his life.
As he fades away, Axel apologizes for what he did to Kairi. He admits that he kidnapped her because he wanted to see Roxas again. Roxas was the only one who made Axel feel like he had a heart and Sora makes him feel the same. He tells them Kairi is in the castle dungeon and opens a portal for them into the Nobodies’ world.
The World That Never Was
SDG have to fight through Nobodies in Dark City to get to the castle. In front of Memory’s Skyscraper, Sora meets Roxas. They have a battle within the Station of Serenity in Sora’s heart. During the fight, Roxas demands to know why Sora was chosen to exist over him. He realizes that it’s Sora’s bonds with others that give him strength and that’s why he was chosen.
In a flashback, we see Roxas’s first meeting with Xemnas in front of the mansion before he joined the Organization. Xemnas promises to give Roxas purpose and marks him with an “X,” giving him the name “Roxas.”
Roxas’s “heart” connects with Axel’s and they talk about their uncertainty in having hearts of their own. But they are certain in placing their faith in Sora. They reminisce on the beginning of their friendship and bid farewell as they fade away. Back in the Station of Serenity, Roxas accepts Sora as a “good other” and he finally assimilates with Sora’s heart.
The Castle That Never Was
In the castle, Saïx holds Kairi captive as bait for Sora. Naminé appears and helps Kairi escape. Saïx intercepts them, but Riku arrives to save Kairi. Saïx escapes and Riku finally removes his hood, revealing that he looks like Xehanort’s Heartless. SDG enter the castle and encounter Saïx. He tells Sora that the Organization has no further need of him. Kingdom Hearts is nearly complete. He summons a hoard of Heartless so Sora may release one final batch of hearts.
Kairi arrives to help and is given her own keyblade by Riku. Together they fight off the Heartless. As Mickey fights through the castle, he runs into DiZ who turns out to be Ansem. Ansem explains that he felt responsible for dealing with Xemnas alone since Xehanort was Ansem’s apprentice. But he was also obsessed with getting revenge on his apprentices who stole everything from him. Ansem explains that he found Riku wandering the darkness after he and Mickey separated. He blames himself for Riku’s appearance now. When he found Riku he still looked like himself because he had a strong heart.
But Ansem asked him to look for Roxas because it would help Sora. After his first fight with Roxas, Riku realized in order to fight in the realm of darkness, he would have to immerse himself in darkness which altered his appearance. When Riku brought back Roxas, that was when he began referring to himself as “Ansem.” Now Ansem wishes to make amends with everyone.
Back with Sora, Xigbar arrives and addresses Sora as Roxas. He mocks his competency, claiming he isn’t half the hero the “others” were. They engage in battle and Xigbar is defeated. Sora reunites with Kairi and Riku. Riku explains that he didn’t want to be found in the state he was in, and that’s why he was helping from a distance. He admits that he had to become Ansem SOD himself if he wanted to use the power of darkness. He can’t change back until the battle is over. Sora accepts Riku and they all go forth deeper into the castle.
After defeating Luxord and Saïx, Sora finally realizes why the Organization has been calling him Roxas. After he had rescued Kairi in Kingdom Hearts (2007), Sora lost his heart and that’s when Roxas was born. Riku theorizes that perhaps he didn’t have to fight Roxas at all because the Roxas left the Organization to meet Sora. Ansem is attempting to encode Kingdom Hearts.
But he realizes that the power of Kingdom Hearts, the power of any heart, is too great to be controlled. Sora and company arrive on the scene and Ansem entrusts Sora with stopping Xemnas and apologizes to Roxas. Ansem’s machine explodes with him caught in the blast. The explosion leaves a giant hole in Kingdom Hearts, releasing hearts into the city and creating Heartless. The explosion also purified Riku of Xehanort’s Heartless and he’s regained his normal appearance.
The Superior Of The In-Between
With everyone gathered, Xemnas poses a question: why do they hate the darkness? Mickey explains that they don’t hate it, it’s just scary. However, the world is made of light and darkness, they must coexist and darkness is half of everything. Riku elaborates that people fear what lurks in the darkness.
Xemnas asks another question: if they accept darkness, but choose to live in the light, why do they hate those that are forced to exist in between, the Nobodies? Riku states that it’s because Nobodies mess up the worlds. Xemnas counters that Nobodies have no other choice.
However, he admits that as a Nobody, he cannot feel sorrow for whatever befalls the worlds and their inhabitants. Xemnas becomes one with the remnants of Kingdom Hearts and disappears. The worlds create a doorway into Kingdom Hearts for the heroes. SDG and Riku head into battle against Xemnas.
In the end, Xemnas begins to fade away, believing he needs more hearts and rage to win. Sora explains there’s more to a heart than rage and hatred. Naminé appears and opens a dark corridor to Destiny Islands, allowing everyone to escape. Naminé tells Sora that they were able to meet again as they promised.
She’s speaking to Roxas, and his spirit appears to speak to her. Roxas realizes that any time Sora and Kairi are together, Roxas and Naminé will be together as well. Everyone enters the corridor, but Xemnas closes it before Sora and Riku could go through and takes them to a realm of nothingness. The final battle begins. With Xemnas defeated, Sora and Riku find themselves on the Dark Margin on the border of the realm of darkness.
One Sky, One Destiny
As they rest on the shore, they find the letter Kairi wrote. She talks about wanting to see Sora again and how she will make it happen. All the worlds are connected and they share in the same sky and the same destiny. After Sora reads the letter, the Door to Light appears and Sora and Riku step forth into it. They reunite with everyone on Destiny Islands.
Everyone has returned home and is able to relax, appreciative of their small world knowing that it’s part of something bigger. Kingdom Hearts II focused on fulfilling promises. Sora helped Donald and Goofy find the King, he brought Riku back home, met Naminé thus fulfilling his forgotten promise, and returned Kairi’s good luck charm.
Through this journey, we also saw Sora, Riku, and Kairi go through significant character growth. Sora has matured, coming to understand the strength of his heart. Riku let go of his darkness and learned to rely on his friends. And Kairi took control of her destiny, willingly jumping into the darkness to find her friends and coming out of it a keyblade wielder herself.
The adventure doesn’t end here. King Mickey sends a mysterious message to the Destiny Trio. It’s connected to the secret ending (( Meluso, Maria. “Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix: How to Unlock The Secret Ending Movie.” Screen Rant, 5 April 2021. )) where we are introduced to three armored keyblade wielders. In a field of thousands of keyblades, they battle an older man and a masked boy. In the wake of this battle, Kingdom Hearts appears in the sky with King Mickey watching from a distance.
Who are these new keyblade wielders? What event led to such a solemn landscape? And why does one of the keyblade wielders look like Roxas?