Part 9: Day 14: Friends

In other games this title would be normal. In this one though, it's foreboding.

Music: Sacred Moon


It's you and me again.
Okay.
Check in with Saix when- Well, you know the drill. I don't know what they've cooked up for us, but let's get it done with style, huh?
Right.
Oh, by the way, Roxas, today will be your first really-real mission. That means you should definitely prep your weapon beforehand. Oh, and if you want to practice what you've learned so far, we've got the Holo-Missions all set up for you.
Holo-Missions?
Yup. Basically, they're a way to re-experience missions you've already been assigned.







Holo-missions are good if you want to redo a mission for grinding. I won't use it, but it's there.



For some reason the top screen has TWNTW as the world in this screen.



The layout for the holo-missions is the same as the layout for missions from Saix. That I haven't shown yet.



The Skill Gear gives a new weapon. For Keyblades it's called Missing Ache. The weapon name will be different if you played multiplayer and the character uses a different weapon.

This weapon gives +5 strength and +3 critical %. The description means that the ground combo will consist of 4 hits. What it didn't say is that the air combo will be 2 hits only. That's...kind of a big deal.

The good thing in this game is that you automatically have Combo Master, so you can try out the Keyblade without any enemies. The bad thing is that you have to be in a mission to use it and you can't change equipment during missions so it can be annoying going back and forth. I'll equip it just for the stat boosts.



We can see what the Keyblade looks like. This one's not too bad, I guess.





Here, take this and take a hike. (Obtained: Potion)

Thanks, Larxene! The one in the brackets is the information bar. Some people will give items if we talk to them on certain days, which is why we've been talking to them every day (aside from the usual RPG tradition of bugging everyone). If we try to talk to her again...

Get lost. You're blocking my light.

You know, if you want light you can just ask Roxas to make it for you. Light is his element, after all.





Wait, wait...I'm getting an idea... Nope, it's gone.







As I said, holo-missions and Saix's missions have the exact same layout.



The clear bonuses are the ones you will get for completing the mission the first time only. The game doesn't tell us which one you won't get if you don't complete the mission fully, but it doesn't really matter since I'm going to do them fully anyway. The random bonuses are the ones you get by praying to the RNG. In this mission, it's Fire Recipe/Blazing Shard/Moonstone/Potion.

I'll just post the Summary for later missions unless there's something interesting in the others. And yes, there's these for the previous missions too. You can see it when picking holo-missions.

Music: Lazy Afternoons
Music: Sinister Sundown




Yup.
......
......
Sheesh, don't talk my ear off. ...You ready or what?
What? Oh...oh, yeah.



The red parts is the area transition that's available.



There's nothing here, but it's a nice touch that it's called "Under the Tracks" instead of "The Usual Spot".



There's Shadows here. They don't give Hearts, so they don't count toward the mission status.



This chest contains a potion.





Great... Aerial heartless while we only have two-hit air combos... Dick move, game.



You know, as a reminder that we're playing on Proud Mode. And that the party members are still useless. You can't see it here, but Axel is just standing there following me and not attacking the enemies. You had one job!

To be fair, this battle is actually not that hard if you read the reports and know that you can avoid the Possessors by jumping. And if the Keyblade didn't encourage you to do ground combos.



Of course. More aerial heartless. And a new one! That's Scarlet Tango. It attacks by launching fireballs that bounce around. It attacks slowly but the only way to stop the attack is to kill it. As you might guess, it's immune to fire which is the only magic we have now. Great.



Limit actually works longer the lower your HP is when you start it. It's indicated by the white line in the HP bar. You can see how limits can be amazing.
You can also see how Axel is definitely not amazing. You know, Vexen used to be my least favorite member of the Organization. After seeing how much they help against the enemies, Axel has taken that spot. Conglaturations. A winner is you.



Screw you, Axel.



We can open these chests during battle, but it's easier to do it after. They contain Shining Shard (synthesis item) and Potion respectively.



When going back there's actually a ground enemy (beside Shadows).



This is early. Bulky Vendors have no attacks. They just escape after a certain amount of time. They move faster after getting damaged, but Fire takes care of them.

Bulky Vendors apparently operate on the same rules as Pureblood Darkness. They don't give out Hearts and won't increase the mission gauge, probably so you weren't fucked if it escaped. It gives a ton of money, though.



Just kill the Heartless on the way back and you'll finish this mission fully.





I was just gonna report to Saix and then go to my room like I always do.
Go to your room!? Oh, Roxas, Roxas...





Last one there has to buy the winner an ice cream!
Oh, sure, now you tell us!
No fair, Hayner!
Better get flyin' if you don't wanna end up buyin'!

The three of them run past Roxas and Axel.



Hmm... Must be some kids who live here.
Really? They sure acted weird.
Yeah How do you figure?
Why did those last two seem to enjoy getting pushed around like that? They were even making those "ha ha" noises.
You mean laughter? Sometimes people with hearts do that even when it doesn't make any sense.
Oh... Then I guess they're different from us.
C'mon, let's get some ice cream.
Why?

Axel: Because I got an ice cream addiction.

Whaddaya mean, why?
Because we're friends.

Axel: I've been in only two missions with you but sure, I won't pass up a chance to spread ice cream addiction!



And that is the source of Roxas' famous quote that we'll hear at the end of this game.

Sort of... That, or laugh at stupid stuff that doesn't make any sense. Like those kids we just saw-they were friends. C'mon, I'll show you how it works.



Pence exits stage right and Hayner enters stage left.

Yes it was! I saw you drop it! You owe me an ice cream! Get back here, Pence!

Same thing but with Hayner and Olette.

Come on, Hayner! You can go one stinking day without ice cream!

Music: At Dusk, I Will Think of You...


KH 358/2=179 Days of Falling Salty Diabetes
Twilight Station Tower: 2
Sea-Salt Ice Cream: 4

Let's meet up for ice cream again after your next mission. I mean, who wants to spend their days just bouncing between work and the castle, right?
Ha ha, not me! Hey, I laughed... I guess we really are friends.

Music: Crossing the Finish Line


I'll explain what the 2 next to Block is, but Block is still the same as the other games. It...blocks...attacks.

New reports:




There's no monologue anymore!