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Part One: A Comprehensive Look At ‘Kingdom Hearts” (2002) Story; Part Two: A Comprehensive Look At ‘Kingdom Hearts” (2002) Story; Part One: A Comprehensive Look At “Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories” (2007); Part Two: A Comprehensive Look At “Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories” (2007); Part One: A Comprehensive Look at “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007); Part Two: A Comprehensive Look At “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007) (You are here.)
The prologue to “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007) introduces us to Roxas, Sora’s Nobody, born after Sora released his heart in Hollow Bastion in “Kingdom Hearts” (2002) (KH1). He was a member of the mysterious Organization XIII, first introduced to us in “Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories”(2007) (Re:CoM), but defected in search of a reason why the Keyblade chose him.
He is different from the rest of the Organization because he craves autonomy and lays claim to his own heart even though others like DiZ try to force an identity onto him. In the end, despite his protests and defiance, Roxas had no choice but to return to Sora. This is where the main story of “Kingdom Hearts II” (2007) begins. What is in store for Sora after a year of sleep?
The Real Twilight Town
Sora awakens to Donald and Goofy waiting for him. The trio is overjoyed to be reunited, but they’re confused as to how they ended up asleep in such a strange place. No one, not even Jiminy, recalls the events at Castle Oblivion. Jiminy’s journal is blank except for one sentence: “Thank Naminé.”
Sora, Donald, and Goofy (SDG) head into town and come upon the Usual Spot. Sora comments that he thinks he’s visited the town before but dismisses the thought. Roxas’s memories have clearly left an impression on Sora. SDG meet Hayner, Pence, and Olette (HPO) who inform them that someone with big round ears was looking for them. It is the King and he is at the station! The trio quickly make their way there but are stopped by Nobodies. The group is soon tired out by the battle, but King Mickey arrives in time to save them.
The King instructs them to get on the train and leave town. He gives them some money and disappears. Sora deduces that if the King has escaped the Realm of Darkness, then Riku must have as well. HPO arrive to see them off, feeling that it was something they had to do. When Sora goes to pay for the tickets, Olette notices that his money pouch is exactly the same as hers, meaning that Sora’s is the one from the data Twilight Town. Before boarding the train, Hayner asks Sora if he’s sure they haven’t met before.
Sora is certain they haven’t, but a single tear suddenly falls from his eye. Once aboard the train, Sora expresses that he feels sad. These are Roxas’s fealings seeping through from the other side of Sora’s heart. Roxas’s connections are being felt through Sora. and have even resonated with the real HPO. Meanwhile, Axel, Naminé, and “Ansem” are gathered atop Sunset Hill, discussing what will happen next. Naminé has someone she wants to see and Axel feels the same.
“Ansem” has orders from DiZ to eliminate them both since DiZ has no further need of them, but he decides to let them go instead. This reveals that Axel is no longer working with the Organization, but has instead been secretly helping DiZ.
The Tower
SDG arrive at a mysterious tower. They meet a person named Pete at the entrance, who claims he’s sent Heartless inside to try and turn the tower’s sorcerer into a Heartless. He also shares that he has a debt to repay to Maleficent, so he’s been recruiting more Heartless for her army. Donald and Goofy are acquainted with Pete, who was banished by the King to another dimension. Maleficent set him free and agreed to help him conquer the worlds.
After a brief scuffle, Pete reveals that the sorcerer is named Master Yen Sid, King Mickey’s teacher. SDG leaves Pete to go and meet the Master. They note that there are too many Heartless in the tower, meaning the worlds may not be at peace. SDG meet Master Yen Sid who informs them of the current situation. Their previous endeavors made a significant impact on the Heartless, but so long as darkness exists in a single heart, the Heartless cannot be eliminated, for they are darkness incarnate. In theory, if everyone’s heart was filled with light, there would be no more Heartless.
The Nobodies are born when someone with a strong heart and will becomes a Heartless. This person leaves behind a Nobody “shell” that possesses a will of its own. Nobodies don’t truly exist. They cannot feel emotions because they have no hearts. Organization XIII is comprised of stronger Nobodies that command the lesser Nobodies, like the Dusks. Their goal is unclear. King Mickey sensed the danger and went to fight it back in KH1.
On his journey, he found the Realm of Darkness’s Keyblade, Kingdom Key D, which is the gold Keyblade he now wields. SDG decides to find the King first before looking for Riku. Yen Sid explains that after SDG’s last adventure, the worlds have returned to their original state, meaning the pathways between them are gone. However, the worlds have created new pathways that can be utilized by unlocking special gates. How the gates are opened is unknown, but the Keyblade will guide Sora. With that, the trio is on their way. However, another problem has arisen: Maleficent has returned.
Hollow Bastion
SDG land in the town in the shadow of the castle that is now under construction. They encounter Yuffie and she guides them to Merlin’s house where they are reunited with the rest of their friends: Leon, Cid, and Aerith, now known as “The Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee.” Leon comments that a while back, everyone suddenly remembered SDG. This lapse in memory was due to Naminé undoing the chain of memories in Sora’s heart.
Once she put the links back in their proper order, everyone who had a connection to Sora recovered their memories of him. Aerith gives the trio honorary membership cards for the Restoration Committee. SDG follow Leon to the bailey, where they witness a sea of Heartless surrounding the castle and Nobodies lurking around it. Sora explains the current Nobody situation to Leon but is interrupted when a group of Nobodies at the Organization’s command appears. After defeating them, the Organization reveals itself; all except a lone member soon leave.
This Organization member talks to Sora, saying that he’ll “remind” him who he’s dealing with and that “he” gave the exact same look Sora is giving him. He leaves Sora wondering whom he was speaking of. Sora pulls out his membership card and it lights up, revealing a glowing keyhole in the sky. Sora unlocks it, opening a new path between the worlds.
Meanwhile, the remnants of the Organization discuss what should be done about Sora. They decide to leave him to his own devices, but their leader orders them to guide him to their desired path.
The Land of Dragons
SDG arrive in a bamboo thicket where they meet a familiar friend, Mushu. He was contained in a summon gem, a crystal that allowed Sora to call into battle individuals that did not fall into darkness during the destruction of their worlds. in KH1. (( “Summon Gems.” Kingdom Hearts Wiki. ))
The trio meets Mulan (going by Ping), who is joining the Imperial Army disguised as a man. They go down to the camp, where Heartless appears. Once SDG deal with them, Shang, the commander welcomes all of them except Ping to his army. Sora vouches for Ping and suggests Shang test him to prove his worth. After successfully completing the tests and gaining the respect of the other soldiers, Shang allows Ping to join his troop.
In the village, Mushu sees a suspicious person whom he believes to be Shan-Yu, the leader of the Hun army. The group tracks the person to a cave outside the village. They’re ambushed by Heartless under Shan-Yu’s control, but make it out all right. They go to report back to Shang, but find the village burned down. The group chases Shan-Yu to the summit, where they fight an army of Heartless. Ping saves everyone and leaves Shan-Yu buried in the snow. Mushu then accidentally reveals that Ping is a woman. Shang spares Ping’s life and discharges her from the troops.
Now as Mulan, she and SDG learn Shan-Yu is alive. The group goes to warn Shang at the Imperial City, but Shan-Yu is already there. They face Shan-Yu at the gates and subdue him. After their victory, the Emperor honors Mulan for her bravery and gifts her Shan-Yu’s sword. The sword glows, revealing another gate for Sora to unlock.
Olympus Coliseum
SDG land in the Underworld where they save a woman named Meg from Heartless. She knows Hercules and shares that he’s been fighting at the Coliseum every day, but he’s on the brink of exhaustion. Hades has been sending powerful opponents against Hercules and Meg was going to get Hades to stop. SDG offers to go in her place. As they make their way through the cave of the dead, they encounter a frightened Organization member who dashes past them and disappears.
In Hades’s chambers, Pete suggests that he send a dead opponent against Hercules. Hades releases a prisoner and proposes that he’ll set the prisoner free so long as he fights and wins against Hercules. However, the prisoner declines and attacks Hades. SDG arrive and join the fray, but they feel strange fighting in the Underworld. The prisoner helps them escape. Once they’re safe, he introduces himself as Auron.
Hades and Pete devise a plan to use Sora to open the Underdrome, the Underworld’s Coliseum. Once this is done, they can have Hercules compete and finally defeat him, turning him into a Heartless. However, since the Keyblade only works for Sora, Hades plans to use Meg to get Sora to unlock the Underdrome. Back at the Coliseum, SDG reunites with Hercules, who explains to them that they need to find the Olympus Stone in order to counteract the curse that prevents them from using their full power in the Underworld.
However, the Stone has been stolen by an Organization member, and SDG plans to get it back. Hades arrives, stating that he’s trapped Meg in the Underworld. Hercules can’t save her because he has a match with the Hydra, so SDG goes to find Meg instead. Down in the Underworld, they encounter the Organization member from before, Demyx, who calls Sora Roxas. Sora doesn’t respond to the name, so Demyx attacks. After the battle, Demyx, asks Roxas to return to them. He disappears, leaving behind the Olympus Stone he stole, allowing the trio to use their full abilities again.
The group finds Meg locked away, but Sora unlocks the cage and with the help of Hercules, the group fights their way through Heartless. Everyone then rushes back to the Coliseum to find the entire place destroyed by the Hydra Hercules failed to kill. Hercules finally feels defeated and is unable to fight. SDG steps up to fight the monster. Once this is done, Hercules is still not feeling his best. Sora reassures him that he deserves to rest and hands the Olympus Stone to him. It glows, revealing a new gate for Sora to unlock.
Beast’s Castle
The trio arrive at a gloomy castle and hear Beast’s roars. A Heartless appears and they chase it into another room with a glowing red rose. More Heartless appear, but eventually Beast arrives and they leave.
They explore the castle and run into Belle. She explains to them what’s been happening — Belle and Beast haven’t been talking and he’s locked his servants in the dungeon. SDG offers to go set the servants free. In front of the dungeon, they meet a talking wardrobe who explains that she was once human. An enchantress cast a spell, turning the servants into talking objects and the prince into a Beast as punishment for his cruelty.
DG saves the servants, who explain that there is a way to reverse the curse. However, Beast has been distrustful lately. Everyone escapes through a secret passage, and Cogsworth leads SDG to Beast’s room. They listen in on a conversation between Beast and an Organization member. The Organization member is manipulating Beast’s heart, making him distrustful of Belle. SDG steps in and the Organization member disappears, leaving Beast to deal with them.
Beast attacks them and after bringing him back to his senses, he reveals that the man is named Xaldin. He manipulated Beast, turning all of his negative emotions into anger. Sora encourages a guilty Beast to go and talk to Belle. They search for Belle and learn she has chased Xaldin.
They find her in the ballroom and defeat a Heartless. Goofy explains that the Organization was most likely trying to turn Beast into a Heartless so they can gain control of his Nobody. Belle and Beast reconcile, but she’s upset that he didn’t trust her. Lumiere explains that Beast needs to learn to love and earn love in return before the last rose petal falls to break the curse. The rose reveals another gate, which Sora unlocks.
Disney Castle
SDG land in a Heartless-filled Disney Castle: home to Donald, Goofy, and the King. Sora meets Queen Minnie and she leads him to where the Cornerstone of Light, Disney Castle’s magic artifact is kept.
The room is covered in thorns and an apparition of Maleficent appears, who has summoned the Heartless to take the castle. The only thing preventing her from conquering the castle is the Cornerstone. Her image disappears and SDG go ask Merlin for help. Merlin summons a magic door that leads to another world. Merlin informs SDG that there is an identical door within the world that their enemy must be using to access the Castle, and they enter the world to lock it.
Timeless River
They enter a world that is reminiscent of old black-and-white cartoons. The Cornerstone of Light sits atop a hill where SDG encounter Pete, whom they go after. After a quick fight, SDG realizes that this Pete is not the perpetrator.
SDG eventually learn that they are in the past before Disney Castle was built. Maleficent ordered Pete to go into the past and steal the Cornerstone. SDG finds and chases after him. They stop Pete from stealing the Cornerstone and face off against him. Pete escapes through his door and Sora locks it. They return the Cornerstone to its rightful place and return to the castle. The thorns disappear and the Heartless leave. The Cornerstone reveals another gate for Sora to unlock and they continue onward.
Port Royal
SDG arrive to find the citizens being terrorized. Down at the dock, Pete meets with cursed pirates, warning them against Sora’s magic. SDG arrives and a fight ensues. The trio chases after the pirates and finds them carrying away a young woman named Elizabeth. They meet a man named William who wants to save her, so they team up.
They meet Captain Jack Sparrow and ask him to lead them on a chase for the Black Pearl, the pirates’ ship. On the Black Pearl, Elizabeth is a prisoner to Captain Barbossa who took her for the cursed Aztec medallion she possesses. He needs her blood to break their curse. Jack leads the group to the Isla de Muerta where Barbossa is. Once she is saved, Elizabeth tells Will that she took the medallion from him when he was a child. Will realizes that it was his blood that the pirates needed to break the curse.
The pirates come up on the group and a battle for the medallion begins. Barbossa captures Elizabeth and Will offers himself in exchange for everyone’s freedom. Barbossa accepts the terms but leaves behind Heartless. Once the Heartless are cleared, they chase Barbossa back to the Isla de Muerta. SDG frees Will; he and Jack break the curse and kill Barbossa. Jack has control of the Black Pearl once again and his compass reveals another gate.
Agrabah
SDG runs into Iago. He claims that he’s a new bird and begs them to put in a good word with Jasmine and Aladdin. After Iago helps them with a few Heartless, Sora is willing to believe him and they all go to the palace.
At the palace, Jasmine shares with them that Aladdin has been acting strange lately. SDG finds him in the city returning a lamp Abu had stolen. He explains that he misses Genie and Carpet ever since they left to explore the world.
Iago reveals that the lamp was Jafar’s. They go to speak with the peddler who agrees to sell them the lamp if they bring him a valuable treasure. They go to the Cave of Wonders to look for some. Pete finds them there and overhears their plans. When they return to the city, Pete has stolen the lamp. Genie returns and Pete summons Heartless to deal with all of them. After the fight, they bury the lamp beneath the palace. A gem that Abu stole from the Cave reveals another gate for Sora to unlock.
In a strange world, Pluto follows a stranger into a dark portal. On Destiny Islands, Kairi meets Axel who offers to take her to Sora and Pluto arrives then. Axel tries to convince Kairi to go with him, claiming they both have someone they miss. However, Kairi follows Pluto into a portal instead. She awakens in Twilight Town.
Halloween Town
Jack Skellington has brought Christmas cheer to Halloween Town. SDG meets with Jack, and Sally and finds Dr. Finkelstein working on an experiment with the help of Lock, Shock, and Barrel (LSB). Sally is apprehensive of Jack’s ideas, but he ignores her and goes off to fetch Santa Clause for the festivities.
Meanwhile, LSB encounter Maleficent who has plans for them. Jack leads SDG to Santa who shares that Sora isn’t on his Nice list because he told everyone seven years ago he didn’t believe in Santa. A noise comes from within the workshop and they discover it’s LSB and they chase them back to Halloween Town. Maleficent revives Oogie Boogie and leaves LSB to deal with SDG. Meanwhile, Santa has wandered into Halloween Town and Sally warns him to go back.
Maleficent instructs Oogie to kidnap Santa so they may turn him into a Heartless. Sally tells Jack what’s happened and the group races off to save Santa. They find Oogie at Santa’s workshop and defeat him. The suit that Sally made for Jack reveals another gate. Before they leave, Santa recalls that it was Riku who told Sora Santa wasn’t real. Sora asks if he knows where Riku is, but he doesn’t. Although, he tells Sora that if he believes in Riku, he will find him.
Pride Lands
SDG arrive in this new world as animals. They find themselves in the middle of a hyena den, but luckily the hyenas are called away by someone named Scar. SDG goes exploring and save a lioness named Nala from Heartless.
She shares that the Pride Lands have become dangerous ever since Scar and the Hyenas took over. She asks for their help to take down Scar. They agree and go to Pride Rock. Nala introduces Sora to Rafiki who says that Sora doesn’t have the right qualities to be their next king after Scar is defeated. Scar, accompanied by Pete, finds SDG. Nala helps them escape.
Once safe, Nala explains that the only other person who could challenge Scar was Simba, but she’s convinced he’s dead. Sora reassures her that he’s safe since he fought alongside them before as another summon. They all go in search of him. They find Simba at the oasis. He recognizes his friends and they’re happily reunited. Nala asks Simba to return to Pride Rock. He, however, feels that he can’t return because of his guilt. An image of his father tells him to remember who he is and this gives him the courage to face his past.
They all return to face Scar. Pete appears and reveals that anger and jealousy have turned Scar into a Heartless. After an intense battle, Simba is victorious and reclaims the throne. The spirit of Mufasa reveals a new gate.
Return to Twilight Town
When SDG arrive, Nobodies have attacked Seifer and his group. After dealing with the Nobodies, an Organization member appears asking for Axel who is no longer acting in their best interest. The man warns Sora to not let his guard down since Axel will try to turn Sora into a Heartless. He expresses that it would “break their hearts” if something were to happen to Sora.
Donald points out that Nobodies don’t have hearts. The man clarifies that they do remember what it was like to have one and they know how to injure one. Before leaving, the man encourages Sora to continue fighting the Heartless and warns him to not be reckless lest he ends up like Riku.
Seifer orders Sora to leave town but gives him the Struggle Tournament trophy in recognition of his strength. Pence arrives and brings Sora to the station. Hayner and Olette explain that Kairi was in Twilight Town looking for him. However, Axel arrived and took her away. Sora tries to cheer everyone up, but even he is feeling dejected by the situation. Everyone takes a moment to look at the sunset through the crystals from the trophy. Sora’s blue crystal reveals another gate and he feels determined to look for Kairi and Riku on the new road.
Back with the Organization, the man Sora encountered reports to their leader. The leader predicts Sora will begin to doubt himself, causing him to hesitate which will turn to anger. The anger will push Sora to get rid of his apprehension and move forward, pushing him along a path to a future that the Organization desires. The man inquires about Axel, causing the leader to wonder how long Axel will continue to chase “the illusion of friendship, when he himself lacks emotion.”
New Roads
Sora starts this new journey at a disadvantage: the Organization’s plans have been in motion since before Re:CoM and yet he is unable to remember having ever met them. This proves to be a problem since it allows them to manipulate him into performing in their best interest. Not only that, Sora has found himself once again having to search for both of his friends. With Riku in the wind and Kairi kidnapped, Sora now has to be more aggressive in his search efforts.
Furthermore, Sora has to contend with two groups now. Maleficent and Pete on one side are threatening to turn some powerful allies and enemies into their Heartless subordinates. Meanwhile, the Organization is doing the same, but in the hopes of acquiring powerful Nobodies.
Sora is fighting a battle on two fronts. His enemies evade him at every turn and continue to reappear no matter how much he fights. Yet he still holds on to the hope of finding his friends again. The latter half of the story will show the Organization pushing Sora to his limits as we learn whether or not he can save his friends.