Beneath the cute Disney charm, there's a lengthy and complex story involving light versus dark.
The Command Deck from Birth by Sleep is gone and has been replaced by a Command Menu that acts more akin to Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, as the game is meant to prepare players for Kingdom Hearts III. Shotlocks return from Birth by Sleep, as does the Focus Gauge, although there is only one Shotlock, Prism Rain, and it must be unlocked near the beginning of the game. Meanwhile, Kairi is instructed to train under the wizard Merlin so she can become a Keyblade wielder, although needs to be reassured when she hears her fellow pupil, Lea, was formerly Axel.Īqua controls similarly to her scenario in Birth by Sleep. Riku and Mickey receive new garments made by Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, and they depart to find Aqua and return her to the Realm of Light. Yen Sid explains this was done to prevent Riku or Sora from attempting a doomed rescue of Aqua, then he reveals a safe means of entering the Realm of Darkness has been found. Having learned the role he unknowingly played in sealing Aqua's fate, Riku demands to know why King Mickey kept it secret. Later, on Destiny Islands, she watches as the worlds are restored before being plunged even deeper into the darkness, where she finds Ansem the Wise at the Dark Margin. When the Demon Tide attempts to attack Riku, Aqua sacrifices herself to keep it at bay, vowing to act as a Wayfinder for anyone who falls into the darkness, and to return to her friends eventually. The two Keyblade Masters team up to help Sora and Riku close the Door to Darkness so they can save the worlds from the Heartless. While they struggle, Aqua is pulled deeper into the darkness, where she is found by King Mickey. Suddenly, he is overtaken by Terra-Xehanort and she learns Xehanort is trying to find the Chamber of Waking, before the real Terra begins to fight back and confesses Xehanort is a part of him now. In Enchanted Dominion, she catches up to Terra and Ventus again, and this time Terra responds, telling her the real him is lost in shadow.
In the remains of Dwarf Woodlands, she defeats the Phantom Aqua, a ghostly copy of herself. Aqua learns time does not flow in the Realm of Darkness by exploring the remnants of Castle of Dreams, and begins seeing silent illusory versions of Terra and Ventus.