"Episode 5: Darkness" is the fifth and final cutscene of a five-part video summary of the story of the Dark Seeker Saga. It is made available from the Kingdom Hearts III Main Menu after the Dive to the Heart tutorial is complete. Narrated by Chirithy, it summarizes Master Xehanort's attempts to re-create the χ-blade and create Kingdom Hearts, and the efforts of various Keyblade wielders in thwarting his plans.
Story[edit | edit source]
Master Xehanort has made two attempts to start the Keyblade War between light and darkness, hoping to forge an ancient weapon called the χ-blade. The first attempt saw him split the heart of Ventus, creating a being of darkness named Vanitas and leaving Ventus a pure light. Though Xehanort's hope was to have the two clash to forge the χ-blade, his plan was thwarted by Ventus, Aqua, and Terra. Sadly their victory came at a cost, with Ventus falling to a deep sleep, Aqua falling to the Realm of Darkness, and Terra falling to the control of Master Xehanort's heart.
Master Xehanort's second attempt saw his heart and body act separately. His heart, Ansem, manipulated Riku and Maleficent into gathering the Princesses of Light. His body, Xemnas, gathered thirteen darknesses to form Organization XIII. Though his plan was to have the twenty beings clash, this time Xehanort's plan was thwarted by Sora and his friends.
Worringly, now Master Xehanort has returned, promising a third attempt at creating the χ-blade.
Transcript[edit | edit source]
"The Nightmare" begins to play.
A black book floats on screen. A No Name Keyblade is embossed on the cover's center. Embossed above the Keyblade is the title "DARKNESS". Below the image are the embossed words "The Story So Far" and, on the line below, "KINGDOM HEARTS III". Chirithy runs onto screen and around the book, while a title in white fades in across the scene:
The Story So Far
KINGDOM HEARTS III
DARKNESS
Chirithy spins on one leg and poses with an arm in the air. The camera zooms in on the padlock on the side of the book, the keyhole of which begins to glow blue as Chirithy starts to narrate.
Chirithy: "Who are we fighting? How did this all begin?"
The book opens and the pages flip before settling on a page featuring a bright watercolor of Master Xehanort sitting on a white throne. The camera zooms in on the title below the picture. It reads:
KINGDOM HEARTS
The Thirteen Seekers of Darkness
And the Great Battle to Come
Chirithy: "And why did it take us so long to notice?"
The camera pans across to the next page, which has two lines of text in its center:
Master Xehanort has returned.
All that has transpired was exactly as he planned it.
The page turns and on the next page we see a watercolor of Master Yen Sid sitting in The Mysterious Tower. King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are standing at his side. Sora and Riku are standing on the other side of his desk. The camera zooms in on the image and the image becomes a cutscene. We see Yen Sid addressing his guests.
Master Yen Sid: "As a Keyblade Master, Xehanort had a gift like few others."
The scene changes to Riku standing in a black void. Across from him is Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, an arm reached out in beckoning towards Riku.
Riku: "Ansem. Or...Xehanort. You used to be a Keyblade wielder. But darkness stole your heart, and the Keyblade with it."
The camera zooms out and the cutscene turns back into a picture in the book. We pan across as the book flips many pages and then zoom in on an image of Xehanort's back. The camera pans around to reveal Master Eraqus standing behind him.
Chirithy: "Twice now, Master Xehanort has sought to drag the World into a great Keyblade War between the forces of light and darkness."
Master Xehanort: "They say ruin brings about creation. So what, then, would another Keyblade War bring? I must have these answers."
The scenes changes to one of Xehanort gesturing enthusiastically in the Keyblade Graveyard.
Master Xehanort: "The χ-blade needs to be forged, and with it, the door to the Keyblade War unlocked!"
"Black Powder" begins to play.
We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of Xehanort's face, to a cutscene also set in the Keyblade Graveyard. Xehanort holds his Keyblade with two hands, pointed at the ground, and a yellow powered shot begins to form at its point. We are shown Ventus, lying unconscious on the ground, his eyes shocked open as the yellow power hits him in the chest.
Chirithy: "But both times his ambitions have been thwarted. In his first attempt, he divided a boy's heart into two beings—"
We see a page in the book titled "VENTUS". A large picture of the boy wielding his Keyblade takes up the right side of the page. The text that fills the rest of the page is indecipherable.
Chirithy: "a pure light named Ventus"
The camera pans across to the next page, which is titled "VANITAS". A large picture of the him takes up the center of the page. The text that fills the rest of the page is indecipherable.
Chirithy: "and a pure darkness named Vanitas."
The camera pans out to show the two pages side by side. The crease between the two pages is marked with a faded image of the χ-blade.
Chirithy: "The two were to clash and forge a relic known as the χ-blade."
We return to watching Ventus gasp as his heart is divided. The scene then changes to Xehanort standing across from the newly formed Vanitas.
Master Xehanort: "Empty creature from Ventus riven...to you, the name Vanitas shall be given. "
We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of Ventus standing on the beach of Destiny Islands. Vanitas can be seen behind him.
Vanitas: "So what are you waiting for? Join with me right here and now. Become the χ-blade."
Ventus barely turns his head to respond.
Ventus: "He told me, the only way the χ-blade can be forged is if you and me fight. Well guess what?"
The camera zooms in on Vanitas, his face fully obscured by his helmet.
Ventus: "I'm not fighting."
We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of the back of Terra's head. The camera pans out to show he is standing in the Keyblade Graveyard.
Chirithy: "Three students of Master Eraqus, Xehanort's former brother-in-training,"
We see a close up of Aqua approaching the scene, then zoom out to show Ventus arriving as well.
Chirithy: "rose up in order to stop the χ-blade from being forged."
We return to the book, a single page turn, and then zoom in on a picture of Ventus' sad face. Terra has a hand on his shoulder.
Ventus: "I may have to fight Vanitas after all. If I do, guys... I want you to—"
Terra: "The three of us can never be torn apart, all right? I'll always find a way."
We return to the book, a single page turn, and then zoom in on a picture of Terra, Aqua, and Ventus activating their Keyblade Armour in the Graveyard. The outfits are summoned and Terra forges ahead.
Chirithy: "They fought bravely."
We see Xehanort standing atop a cliff, waving his hands to control unseen power. Next we see Ventus rushing to Aqua as she has been knocked down. She struggles to one knee and points her Keyblade behind her, summoning a tornado of broken Keyblades.
Chirithy: "And their strong bond allowed them to triumph over Xehanort."
The scene changes to Ventus attacking Xehanort from behind, only to strike nothing when the Master warps away. Next Xehanort is lifting Ventus into the air, smirking as he freezes the boy's body with magic. Then we see Aqua on the ground, a frozen Ventus cradled in her arms, looking terrified at something up above. We get a flash of what Aqua is seeing: Kingdom Hearts, forming above the mountains.
Ventus: "I've got a better idea. How 'bout I destroy you both?"
We are then in the Dive to the Heart, where Ventus stands confused. Laughing, Vanitas floats down from above to land behind him. He is holding the χ-blade, which pulses with power.
Vanitas: "The χ-blade is made of your heart, too, idiot. If you destroy it, your heart will vanish forever."
Ventus: "Whatever it takes."
"Destati" begins to play.
The two are shown airborne in battle, both about to strike the other with their Keyblades.
Ventus: "Anything to save Terra and Aqua."
The χ-blade is shown floating in the air. Suddenly, it explodes in a bright yellow flash, debris flying everywhere. We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of Ventus' face, his expression serene. Slowly, Ventus is engulfed by white light.
Chirithy: "But, all three paid a terrible price, and their destinies were sealed."
We see little pieces of χ-blade debris rising through the darkness. Amongst them is a small, pinkish orb of light. We then see Ventus sitting fast asleep in a white throne, Aqua at his side, watching him intently.
Chirithy: "The destruction of the χ-blade plunged Ventus into a deep sleep."
We see Aqua falling in the darkness, one arm extended and clinging desperately to Terra's hand. We see her place her Keyblade in Terra's hand, then watch as she sinks into the black below.
Chirithy: "Aqua sacrificed herself to the realm of darkness to save Terra."
We are shown Braig, Dilan, and Ansem the Wise walking through Radiant Garden. They discover Terra, now with white hair. Near his unconscious body, Aqua's Keyblade Armour and Keyblade lay in an empty heap.
Chirithy: "And, by the time he was found, Terra was going by a different name."
Terra opens his eyes, which are revealed to now be yellow.
???: "Xeha...nort."
The person who is no longer Terra passes out. We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of Cinderella and Princess Jasmine when they were entombed under Hollow Bastion. The camera pans across to show Aurora, Snow White, Alice, and Belle also captured. Maleficent is then shown walking towards an orb floating in the middle of a room.
Chirithy: "Master Xehanort's second attempt to start the Keyblade War involved pitting seven pure lights against thirteen darknesses."
We see a picture of Xehanort printed in the crease of a page of the book. The image breaks apart in watery drops and slowly fades away. The camera then zooms out to show the empty two page spread.
Chirithy: "His heart and body acted separately."
With the same liquid effect, the left page fills with new images: a picture of Ansem in the bottom right; his name in bold letters in the center left; two boxed pictures at the top and one bottom left; and indecipherable text filling the rest of the space. The camera zooms in on the top right image—it is of Kairi, unconscious in a glass coffin. It pans to the left to show an image of Maleficent, laughing maniacally. The camera then pans to the final image in the bottom corner, which shows the moment the princesses had been used to open the final keyhole.
Chirithy: "His heart, Ansem, manipulated Riku and Maleficent into capturing the seven pure lights he needed, the princesses of heart."
The camera flicks across to the right page, which has been filled. A picture of Xemnas takes up the bottom left, his name center right, and indecipherable text the other spaces. The camera flicks up to the top of the page, which features the title "ORGANIZATION XIII" and a line of grey background portraits of all of its members. The camera then pans out to show the now filled two page spread in full.
Chirithy: "His body, Xemnas, founded Organization XIII, who would serve as the thirteen darknesses."
We are shown Ansem floating in darkness. The camera moves past him to show Sora, Donald, and Goofy floating in the background.
Chirithy: "But his plans were dashed by Sora and his friends, who defeated Ansem and Xemnas."
The camera zooms in on Sora's face as he lets forth a silent gasp. The camera changes to show Ansem's back, revealing he is floating in front of the Door to Darkness. An orb of green and purple energy blasts from and then collapses into Ansem's center, and then bright light begins to radiate from his body, growing until the screen is engulfed.
Ansem: "Light... But why...?"
We see Sora and Riku holding the Kingdom Key aloft during their battle against Xemnas. The camera changes to a shot from behind them as a beam of light bursts from the Keyblade, heading right for Xemnas, who floats before them. We see a full shot of Xemnas as the light shoots straight through his body. We return to the book, many page turns, and then zoom in on a picture of Young Xehanort talking to Riku.
Young Xehanort: "Organization XIII's true goal is to divide Xehanort's heart among thirteen vessels."
Riku: "Thirteen...Xehanorts?"
Riku gasps and looks up, revealing he is in the Round Room. The camera circles the room.
Riku: "What is...?"
Dark portals open atop each chair, depositing the cloaked figures of Xigbar, Xemnas, Ansem, and five people with their hoods drawn.
Young Xehanort: "The real Organization XIII."
We return to the book, a single page turn, and then zoom in on a picture of the Round Room surrounded by a purple-splotched white barrier.
Chirithy: "Now, Master Xehanort has warned of a third attempt to start his war."
The purple splotches fade and the barrier runs clear, revealing Riku and King Mickey standing in the center of the room, cloaked figures filling the seats above them. The two look around and Mickey gasps.
King Mickey: "Master Xehanort! We were right about you!"
Riku gasps and follows Mickey's line of sight. The camera pans up to reveal Master Xehanort—the only seated person not wearing a cloak—sitting staunch in the highest seat, between Ansem and Xemnas. Both Mickey and Riku scowl at his presence.
Master Xehanort: "All of this was decided."
The camera travels across the top of the room, giving a full pan of the now occupied chairs.
Master Xehanort: "My twelve selves would welcome me here on this day, when I would return a complete person. It is the future which lies beyond my sight."
Xehanort stands in his chair and holds his hand out to Mickey. Wisps of darkness start to flake off his body.
Master Xehanort: "Let us finish this at the fated place, once your lights and my darknesses have joined together!"
We once again return to the book and hover over the picture of Master Xehanort's gleeful expression. Below the image are two lines of text reading:
Not even time itself can contain Xehanort's ambitions, but the End is near.
The book closes and spins around to show us the front cover. The padlock locks itself.
Chirithy: "Thirteen darknesses. Seven lights. The End is coming..."
The screen fades to black.